This guide will walk you through connecting your sensor to WiFi and registering it on the PurpleAir map. Please recognize that these are separate processes, and don’t need to be completed at the same time or in the same place.
The first section covers how to connect your sensor to WiFi, and the second section explains how to register your sensor on the map.
Please note: this article applies to all PurpleAir sensor models except for the Pixel. Because the Pixel is a standalone, non-IoT, device, you do not need to follow any of these steps.
Connecting Your Sensor to WiFi
To connect your sensor to WiFi, you will need to have the following available to you:
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A microUSB power cable. Power supplies ordered from PurpleAir are microUSB.
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Access to a WiFi network that you want to connect the sensor to.
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A WiFi-enabled device like a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
Once you’re ready, follow the steps below to get connected.
1. Power On Your Sensor
To turn on your sensor, plug it in using the micro-USB cable. Check the photos below to confirm it’s receiving power; most sensors will display a red LED light when powered on.
Touch sensors do not have a red power indicator. Instead, you should look for their AQI LEDs.
If you don’t see any lights when your Touch is plugged in, try double-tapping the top to cycle through brightness levels. It is possible that it could have been set to off.
What if my sensor doesn't power up?
Please go through our Power Troubleshooting Guide to see if you can fix the issue.
You can also confirm the sensor is getting power by looking for other signs, such as different colored lights, spinning fans, or the appearance of a PurpleAir-**** WiFi network.
2. Connect to the Sensor’s Network
When your sensor is powered on, it will broadcast a WiFi network called PurpleAir-**** (the asterisks represent the last part of your sensor’s Device ID). This network may take up to 10 minutes to appear.
On your WiFi-enabled device, connect to that network.
What if I can't connect?
Try again. If it still doesn’t work, refer to our WiFi troubleshooting guide.
What if it says Connected No Internet?
That’s normal; there is nothing to worry about. You’re connecting directly to the sensor, which doesn’t provide internet access.
What if I don't see the PurpleAir network?
- Make sure your sensor is plugged in and powered on.
- Wait at least 10 minutes.
If you’ve already tried setting up the sensor and entered your WiFi information, it may have connected automatically. In that case, go ahead and register your sensor. If it’s already registered, try to find it on the map.
Otherwise, head to the Finding the Sensor’s WiFi Network section of our WiFi troubleshooting guide.
3. Access the Configuration Page
A few moments after connecting to your sensor’s PurpleAir network, a configuration page should automatically appear (similar to the image below). If you see it, you’re all set to continue.
What if the configuration page doesn't appear?
- Make sure you’re still connected to the PurpleAir network.
- If your device prompts you to “sign in,” go ahead and follow the prompts.
- If not, open a web browser like Chrome or Safari—this might trigger the page to open.
- If it doesn’t, type 192.168.4.1 into the browser’s address bar and press Enter, like you’re going to a website.
If none of those steps worked, refer to the Connecting to the Sensor’s Configuration Page section of our WiFi Troubleshooting Guide.
4. Configure your Sensor to the Local WiFi
On the configuration page, click the “WiFi Settings” button in the top menu. You’ll see a list of nearby WiFi networks your sensor can detect (similar to the image below).
- Select your WiFi network from the list.
- Enter its WiFi password in the box at the bottom.
- Click
>> Saveto connect.
WiFi Connection Messages
After you follow step four above, you should see one of the following WiFi status messages.
WiFi Connected Looking good!
This message means your sensor has successfully connected! Continue to Step 5 below.
WiFi Connected Checking Status…
This message most likely means your sensor has successfully connected, but it may also mean that it doesn’t have internet access. If the latter is true, it can be resolved later on. Continue to Step 5 below.
WiFi Disconnected Please configure WiFi.
This message most likely means the password you input was incorrect. Please double-check your password, and enter it again. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, go to WiFi Password Troubleshooting in our WiFi Troubleshooting guide.
If a message different from the above three appears, go to Connecting the Sensor to Your WiFi in our WiFi troubleshooting guide.
5. Disconnect from the PurpleAir-**** Network:
Your sensor is now connected to WiFi. To proceed:
- Close the config page.
- Open the WiFi settings for your phone or computer.
- Disconnect from the PurpleAir-**** network.
A few moments after following the steps above, the PurpleAir-**** network will disappear from your device’s WiFi list. This is because the sensor won’t broadcast the PurpleAir-**** network while it’s connected to the internet.
What if the PurpleAir network doesn't disappear?
Move on to the registration section below. It is possible that your sensor is just taking some time to fully connect.
Register your Sensor on the Map
To have your sensor appear on the PurpleAir map, it will need to be registered at www.purpleair.com/register.
Associated Email
On the registration form, you’ll first need to enter the sensor’s device ID and associated email. Input the corresponding information and click again outside the box. Doing so will cause the registration page to check if the email entered and the device ID entered are associated.
If the association check doesn’t pass, double-check that the device ID is entered exactly as printed on the label on your sensor. It can be easy to mistake numbers like 3s for 8s.
If the device ID is correct, you may be using the wrong associated email:
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The email used to purchase the device is associated by default. If you’re unsure which email this is, you can try entering multiple emails to see if one passes the association check.
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You can also check your email inboxes for purchase and shipping confirmation emails from us. Whichever email address received those would be the associated email.
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If someone has given you the sensor, check to see if they have provided the associated email on any forms. If they have not, we suggest reaching out to them to confirm.
If you’re unable to find the associated email via any of the methods above, send an email to contact@purpleair.com with the device ID and associated email you’re trying to use.
Sensor Details
Once you have correctly entered the device ID and associated email, you can fill in the rest of the information on the registration form.
- Installed: this determines if your sensor will be marked as outdoors or indoors on the map.
- Location Name: this is the name your sensor will have on the map. With some limitation, this can be whatever you want to name your sensor, and it does not have to be the address where the sensor is located.
- Visibility: this affects whether other people will be able to see your sensor on the map. For example, when you go to the PurpleAir map, all the sensors you see are publicly registered. Whether you register your sensor as public or private, you will be able to see its data. However, if you register it as private, you will need to either use a custom link to access the map, or log in using the owner’s email you input below.
- Map Location: to choose your sensor’s location on the map, drag the red marker
to where you want it to appear. You can click the “+” and “-” buttons, shown in the image below, to zoom in and out when selecting this location. The registration form will use your location information, if available, to estimate a location, but most of the time, you’ll need to drag the red map marker to adjust.
Onboard LED Options
This option dictates what lights on your device will turn on when plugged in. By default, all lights will turn on. Most people leave this setting at default, but you can change it if you wish.
Data Processors
Most people leave everything in data processors the same. If you don’t want your sensor to appear on the Weather Underground map, change Data Processor #1 to None.
Device Owner’s Information
The owner’s email in this section is our primary contact for anything regarding the physical sensor. It is also what you would use to log into the map if your sensor is private.
Submit Registration
Once the registration form is completely filled out, press “Register” to submit it. A green box will appear near the bottom of the page stating that your sensor has successfully been registered.
You will receive a registration confirmation email, which will tell you if your sensor is connected and showing on the map.
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If the email says your sensor is connected, and you assigned a map location to your sensor, it will appear on the PurpleAir map within a couple of minutes.
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If the email says your sensor isn’t connected, follow the steps in the Connecting Your Sensor to WiFi section above. Since you’ve now registered your sensor, you can check the map to see if it has come online. If it hasn’t, consult our WiFi Troubleshooting article.
You can update your sensor’s registration at any time by following the steps in our Update Registration Details article.
Registration Errors
You may also receive one of the following registration errors.
Unknown device! Please check the "Device-Id (MAC) and try again
This error will only appear at the bottom of the registration page after you click “register.”
See details
If you encounter this error, first double-check that the associated email and device ID are correctly entered. There will be an error message near them in red if they are not.
If the device ID and associated email are correct, this error means the wrong owner’s email was entered. A sensor can only have one owner’s email at a time, and if a sensor is already registered, you will need to input the same owner’s email as the prior registration.
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If you’ve previously registered the sensor and are moving it to a new location, you can archive your sensor to reset the owner’s email.
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If you have multiple emails, check to see which email has previously received a registration confirmation email from us. The registration confirmation email will state what the owner’s email is.
If you’re unable to determine the correct owner’s email, or would like to change it, send an email to contact@purpleair.com with the device ID, associated email, and owner’s email you’re trying to use.
We have a problem
This is the default error message if no other error matches the situation.
See details
Although it can be caused by a number of things, the most common reason is that your device cannot access the internet. When you see this error, try:
- Ensuring your device is connected to the internet. See if you can access a different website.
- See if the same error occurs using a different device with internet access.
- If the problem still occurs, send an email to contact@purpleair.com for assistance.
View your Sensor on the Map
Once your sensor is connected to WiFi and registered, you can view it on the PurpleAir Map using the instructions here: View Your Sensor on the Map
In addition to the map, there are many other ways you can get data from your sensor. You can examine our How to Obtain Sensor Data article for more information.
Install your Sensor
Ensure that your sensor is installed where it will not be damaged and can maintain its internet connection. Reference these pointers for help with finding a good place:
- Ensure that the sensor can receive power.
- Ensure that the sensor is within range of the local WiFi network.
- Ensure that water can not splash up into the underside of your sensor
- View our Sensor Coverage article
- Watch the air sensor training video from South Coast AQMD’s Sensor Educational Toolkit.
More information is available in our Sensor Installation article.
South Coast AQMD Walkthrough Video
The following video is a product of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, as part of their Sensor Educational Toolkit, “Community in Action: A Comprehensive Educational Toolkit on Air Quality Sensors.” The video, Air Sensor Training #3: PurpleAir PA-II Sensor Installation , will walk through many of the steps we covered in this guide to help you get your PurpleAir sensor running. You can read more about the South Coast AQMD Sensor Educational Toolkit by visiting the topic, “The South Coast AQMD Sensor Educational Toolkit.”
Please note that this video is outdated. PurpleAir sensors no longer come with a power supply by default.
Learn More
After Installation
Functional Overview
Which Sensor to Choose