A smart plug after a power outage does one of three things: it comes back on, it stays off, or it restores whatever state it was in before. Which one you get depends on the brand and model, and manuals rarely say. Test yours before you plug in anything that matters.
The stakes are real. In one Emporia forum thread, a user reported that after a brief outage only 4 of their 16 plugs recovered. The 12 that didn’t included a refrigerator, a freezer, an ice maker, and a wine fridge. That is one person’s report, not a lab result. But it shows why this is worth five minutes of your time.
What a Smart Plug Can Do When Power Returns
Think of it as a setting the maker chose for you, and sometimes didn’t tell you about.
| Behavior after an outage | What it means | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Restores last state | On stays on, off stays off | Lowest surprise for most uses |
| Always off | Comes back off, whatever it was doing | A fridge or router stays dead until you notice |
| Always on | Comes back on, even if it was off | Something you switched off restarts unattended |
| User-selectable | You pick one of the above in the app or settings | Best case, if the plug offers it |
Screenshot this table before you shop.
What Users and Makers Report, Brand by Brand
None of these are our tests. They are manufacturer statements and forum reports, and several are years old, so firmware may have changed the behavior.
| Plug | Reported behavior | Source type |
|---|---|---|
| D-Link smart plug | Returns to the last known power state | D-Link’s own FAQ |
| Wyze Plug | Four indoor plugs came back in their prior state after about 2 minutes without power; two Amazon plugs in the same test did not turn on | One forum user’s informal test |
| TP-Link Kasa HS110 | Mixed: one 2018 poster’s test showed last-state restore, while a 2019 poster said the app only offers a restore setting for bulbs | Forum users |
| Emporia plug | One reply said the plug returns to the state it was in; other posters in a separate thread said theirs came back off | Forum users |
| Sylvania Smart+, GE, Linear, Schlage | Off | SmartThings community FAQ (older list) |
| Leviton, IKEA Tradfri, TP-Link Wi-Fi pocket sockets | Previous state | SmartThings community FAQ (older list) |
| Bosch Plug Compact | Stays off; a forum user said Bosch calls this a safety choice | Second-hand forum report |
| Shelly devices | A “Power on default mode” setting with On, Off, or Restore Last Mode (one forum thread covers a Shelly dimmer) | Shelly forum thread |
Notice the conflicts. For the Kasa HS110 and the Emporia plug, two sets of users describe opposite results. That isn’t a contradiction we can settle from here. It’s a reason to run your own test.
Why the “Wrong” State Is Dangerous
There are two failure directions, and both show up in forum threads.
- It stays off when it shouldn’t. A Bosch user wrote that a plug on a fridge socket, used only to measure power, stayed off after an outage, so the fridge could lose cooling. An Emporia user said they lost two freezers while away and got no alert.
- It turns on when it shouldn’t. A SmartThings poster described a TP-Link plug that came back on and left an electric fire running in a little-used room, possibly for about a day. Their takeaway was to be careful with anything flammable near a plug.
That’s why we don’t suggest putting heaters, irons, or similar heat-making appliances on a smart plug. Check the appliance’s own manual first, and if it doesn’t clearly say it’s fine, leave it off a plug.
Schedules Can Break After an Outage Too
State isn’t the only problem. A plug that reboots after an outage may forget what time it is.
A community member answering a Kasa HS105 post explained it this way: after a reboot the plug can lose the correct time, and schedules can’t run until it gets the time from the internet. That’s one user’s explanation, not an official TP-Link statement. Another forum poster said their Kasa plug stayed off through a 10-hour-plus outage and left their cameras unreachable.
If your schedule stops after a power cut, try this in order:
- Wait a few minutes for the router and the plug to reconnect.
- Open the app and confirm the plug shows as online.
- Check the time and location settings. TP-Link’s own help page for Kasa schedule problems says to confirm the time zone and sync the location under Me > Settings > Location and Time.
- Update the app and the plug’s firmware.
- Reboot the router, then the plug.
If the plug keeps dropping off your network, see our guide to why a smart plug keeps going offline. For which schedules run without internet at all, read our post on whether smart plugs work without WiFi.
Test Your Smart Plug After a Power Outage in 2 Minutes
You don’t need tools. This mirrors the informal test one Wyze forum user ran.
- Plug in a lamp, not a valuable appliance, and turn it on from the app.
- Unplug the smart plug from the wall for two minutes. That imitates a power cut.
- Plug it back in. Note whether the lamp comes on, stays off, or the plug disappears from the app.
- Repeat with the plug turned off at the start.
- Check that you can still control it from the app once it reconnects.
Write the results on a sticky note on the plug. If you ever want to do the test in a real outage, remember the plug may start before your router does. One Bosch forum user pointed out that a plug can come back later than the controller because of Wi-Fi startup delay. A power bank for your router can keep the network up while you find out.
What to Do If Your Plug Fails the Test
You have a few honest options:
- Pick a plug that lets you choose. Some models offer on, off, or last-state settings. The SmartThings community FAQ lists a few that do, though it warns its list is old, so check the current spec.
- Use an automation as a patch. A Bosch forum user turned the plug back on 30 seconds after it went off. It likely fails if the hub also loses power, per that user.
- Skip smart plugs for critical loads. For fridges, freezers, and medical gear, forum posters recommended a separate power-failure alarm or a simple device that doesn’t depend on Wi-Fi. A UPS or mechanical timer may fit better.
- Look before you buy. Search the model name plus “power outage” and read the manual. One forum poster complained that manuals often don’t say how the plug behaves.
Starting from scratch? Our guide to the best smart plugs with no subscription is a good place to compare models before you run the test.
👉 Browse Wi-Fi Smart Plugs | Browse Mechanical Outlet Timers | Browse Power Failure Alarms
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a smart plug do after a power outage? It depends on the model. Some restore the state they were in, some always come back off, and a few come back on. D-Link says its plug returns to its last known state, while forum users report different results for other brands. Test yours.
Will my smart plug turn back on by itself after a power cut? Only if it restores its last state or defaults to on. If it was on before the outage and restores its last state, it turns back on. If it defaults to off, it stays off until you turn it on.
Why is my smart plug schedule not working after a power outage? The plug may have lost its clock when it rebooted. Wait for it to reconnect, check that it shows online, confirm the time zone and location in the app, and update the firmware. Reboot the router if needed.
Can I change what my smart plug does when power returns? Only on some models. A few plugs and relays offer an On, Off, or Restore setting, such as Shelly’s Power On Default Mode. Many Wi-Fi plugs have no setting, so check the app and manual.
Is it safe to use a smart plug on a fridge or freezer? We wouldn’t rely on one. Users in an Emporia forum thread reported plugs that came back off after an outage, and one lost two freezers while away. Use a model you’ve tested, or a method that doesn’t depend on Wi-Fi.
As an Amazon Associate, Jegec earns from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate links, and if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Sources: D-Link — Will the smart plug return to its previous state after a power outage? | TP-Link — What to do if schedule/timer/away mode is not working | SmartThings Community — How outlets and smart plugs behave after a power outage | Wyze Forum — Does Wyze plug turn on or stay off after power loss? | Emporia Community — Power out recovery issue with smart plugs | TP-Link Community — HS110 restore state after power outage | TP-Link Community — HS105 after power outage | Bosch Smart Home Community — Plug Compact on after power failure | Shelly Forum — Power on after power loss