qara advertises this device as “dual protocol” (Zigbee & Thread) with easy protocol switching. In reality, the user experience is a nightmare:
Protocol Lock-in: Once the sensor defaults or connects to Thread, forcing it back to Zigbee mode to pair with an M2 Hub is broken. The Bluetooth handshake routinely fails, leaving you stuck in an endless loop of factory resets and failed pairing errors (“Accessory cannot be added”).
Matter Ecosystem Trap: If you try to add it via Matter in the Aqara Home app without an Aqara M3 Hub, the app literally blocks you with: “There is no Matter controller in the current home, so Matter devices cannot be added.” So your existing M2 Hub becomes useless for Matter devices unless you pay up for their newer M3 Hub.
Massive Waste of Time: Instead of a simple hardware toggle switch on the back, you’re forced through a convoluted sequence of 10-click resets, app firmware updates over Bluetooth, scanning two separate QR codes on the back of the same device, and praying the radio switch registers.
Frustrating Setup: Pairing a simple temperature sensor shouldn’t require an hour of troubleshooting, clearing Thread network keys, or power-draining batteries.
If you just want a reliable temperature sensor for an older Aqara hub, stick with native Zigbee sensors like the T1 or TVOC. The W100 setup design feels like an artificial push to make customers replace perfectly fine hardware with expensive new hubs.
Hi there and welcome to the forum.i am really sorry that you have an bad experience using W100 sensor. I have one too also an M3 hub and it works perfectly did you made a factory reset by pressing 10 times in a row the back button?also make sure your Aqara app is up to date also the hub you use too.now the M2 only accept zigbee devices witch should be just fine adding the w100 as zigbee device and get more options.adding it as thread device clearly you need the thread controller like M3 if you want to add it on aqara home app.this is why multi-protocol means so ppl can chose how they want to use it and depending on the hub they own but you can’t add it both ways.
So in order to get it working with your M2 hub you won’t see the thread option just the zigbee version of the w100 and you won’t see the buttons exposed ether those 3 buttons can only be used via automations.so make sure you have all updated and reboot your M2 and factory reset your w100 then press the + and chose the zigbee version of w100 and follow the instructions.
Hi @wria_hb - sorry for your experience… but the older Aqara hubs just communicate by zigbee! So why you expect to get full Matter experience by old Hardware?
Aqara is doing best solution in my opinion- if you need a zigbee device because you have an old hub / or want the communication/ advantage by zigbee protocol you get it!
If you have a new Matter setup , an Aqara or another brand Matter hub , you can select the Matter !
Hello, welcome to the forum. I have to disagree with you.
The broad market of smart homes of various ecosystems uses the standardized Thread protocol, this requires Aqara to release a product with a ready-made Thread protocol. The transition to Zigbee should take place only within the Aqara APP.
This is a manipulation, nothing blocks the transition from Thread to Zigbee, I personally just switched from one protocol to another. The connection was clear without any problems to the M2 gateway. The peculiarity of the connection was that I, W100, placed it directly on the M2 gateway for good communication. You just need to know and read the instructions, resetting the W100 to factory settings is a quick 10-time press.
Not true
Connection time ~5-10 minutes, this is provided that I reset the W100 to factory settings, switched to Thread (for the purity of the experiment).
The W100 sensor is an advanced temperature sensor with the ability to adjust the time of the measurement range, the function of remote control of the thermostat (with binding measurements with W100 for the thermostat). This is a completely different level of temperature sensor. Personally, in my house, 6 pieces of W100 take the main part in controlling the heating of the house. There are also 30 old Aqara sensors that monitor adjacent temperatures/humidity.
This statement of yours is manipulative. It is impossible to compare these two thermometers.
A regular T1 temperature sensor is a pure temperature/humidity sensor with a measurement inertia of ~1 hour (or a change of 0.5C°).
The issue is that he can’t use it as thread because he have M2 not the M200/M3 hubs so he can only use it as zigbee and for that he think aqara is fully his customers but customers like him who doesn’t care to understand zigbee and thread and how they work with hubs well he got frustrated.