UniFi – Maintaining Connectivity with your UniFi Devices

A UniFi device with an Offline state has lost communication with its application host meaning that you will be unable to manage its configuration. This does not necessarily mean it has stopped working. As long as it is powered on with connectivity to the rest of your network it will continue operating in a “Self-Run” state using the last known UniFi configuration.

A UniFi device can go offline for a number of reasons, but this is most common for those with third-party equipment, or those that choose to self-host the Network Application instead of using a UniFi OS Console.

Here are the most common reasons why UniFi devices go offline:

Physical Connection Issues

Device connection can be disrupted by faulty cabling, power supply issues, or other problems with your physical networking hardware. First, ensure that your device is being powered by Power-over-Ethernet (PoE). Then, replace its cabling, confirm that both ends are securely connected, and try a new port to rule out physical damage. 

Device Cannot Obtain an IP Address from Your DHCP server

This is most common for users with a third-party DHCP server. To fix this, start by verifying that the device has been assigned a correct IP and gateway. You can do this by reviewing your server’s DHCP leases, or you can scan your network with the WiFiman mobile app (Android / iOS). 

Note: 192.168.1.20 is used as a fallback IP address, so its usage may indicate that your device cannot obtain another IP from your DHCP server.

Please also verify that your DHCP server’s network is added as a member of all your switch port profiles. Additionally, ensure that UDP Ports 67 and 68 are open on any firewalls on your network. Otherwise, none of your devices will be able to obtain an IP address and connect to your network.

Your Wirelessly Adopted Devices Have Poor Connectivity

A wirelessly adopted device is like any other wireless client. See Optimizing Wireless Client Connectivity for more details.

Firewall Blockages

This is the most common for users self-hosting the Network Application, especially on Windows hosts. For troubleshooting purposes, we recommend temporarily disabling your firewalls to verify if they are preventing your UniFi devices from coming online.

Please also note that some Windows updates can reconfigure your firewall settings. As such, please ensure that your firewall is set to Private. 

Next, verify that TCP Port 8080 and UDP Port 10001 are both open. For instructions on how to verify other required port configurations, see our Required Ports Reference.

If you have any Layer 3-adopted APs, please disable any custom firewall rules blocking traffic across VLANs between your UniFi device and the Network Application. 

Your Network Application Host Moved or Its IP Address Changed

If you change the location of your UniFi Network host, your devices could still be attempting to communicate with its old IP address. If the old and new IPs are on the same Layer 2 network (i.e,. same subnet and VLAN), your devices will be able to re-discover and reconnect to your host. 

If you moved the Network host to a new VLAN, however, you must use Layer 3 Adoption to re-establish connectivity. This should only be done by advanced users. Otherwise, we recommend reconfiguring your setup so that your Network Application and UniFi devices are on the same Layer 2 network.

Those who have performed a Layer 3 adoption should also verify if their public IP address has changed. This happens if your ISP provides IP addresses via DHCP. An IP address change will leave your L3-adopted devices still trying to communicate with the old IP address. We recommend using a Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service to avoid this. 

The Management VLAN Is Not a Member of Your Switch Port Profile

Your UniFi device’s Management VLAN must be a member of all switch ports. The Management VLAN configuration is found in the Settings tab of the device’s properties panel, which can be accessed by selecting it on the UniFi Device page.

Packet Loss and High Latency Between the UniFi Network Application and Device 

The UniFi Network Application has a 60-second disconnection threshold, meaning that it will wait one minute for a response from the device before declaring it disconnected. Packet loss and increased network latency can occasionally trigger device disconnections.

Expedite Your Support Request

Prior to reaching out to support, we recommend gathering/verifying the following information. Including these details in your request will expedite your support experience.

  • How are you hosting your UniFi Network Application (i.e., UniFi OS Console vs. self-hosted)?
  • What is your UniFi Network Application version? Please refer to our Software Releases page to confirm if you have the latest version.
  • What is the model and firmware version of your device? Please refer to our Software Releases page to confirm if you have the latest version.
  • Does your device frequently change statuses, or is it stuck in an Offline state?
  • When did this issue begin? Did you make any notable changes prior to it occurring?

Also, please provide a copy of your support file, along with the MAC address(es) of all affected device(s). More detailed instructions can be found here.