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39 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
39 lines
3.5 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: "[Better solution!] TP-Link offers way to add local API back"
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description: "TP-Link last week decided to publish a firmware upgrade that removed access to the local API. They are partially reverting this decision."
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date: 2020-11-23 00:01:00
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date_formatted: "November 23, 2020"
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author: Paulus Schoutsen
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author_twitter: balloob
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categories: Public-Service-Announcement
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og_image: /images/blog/2020-11-23-tplink/forum-post-send-ticket.png
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---
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**Update Nov 26:** TP-Link has now announced that they are working on a new firmware that should solve it. DM them on Twitter for info.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We're sorry the recent firmware update has problems for the Kasa community. Since its release, we've been busy creating a Beta firmware that'll enable people to continue to use third-party smart home software & platforms using local APIs. Please DM if you'd like the Beta firmware</p>— TP-LINK UK (@TPLINKUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPLINKUK/status/1331970582901100544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 26, 2020</a>
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</blockquote>
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---
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Last week TP-Link released an update for their HS100 and HS110 plugs that removed the local API. This was done because of a "security concern". I put this in quotes because it has not been verified and this reason has been given before when removing interoperability. TP-Link communicated this via Twitter in response to a user voicing their concern.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There were security vulnerabilities on the plug for the local management, the latest firmware version fixed these security issues. It is suggested to use the TP-Link official App KASA to manage the plug. If you have issues, pls feel free to let us know.</p>— TP-LINK UK (@TPLINKUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPLINKUK/status/1328687659133399043?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2020</a>
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</blockquote>
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Lots of users, rightfully so, got angry. They bought the plugs assuming the local API was a feature. Removing this feature and forcing users through the TP-Link cloud sucks. It removes the one feature why TP-Link stood out among many smart plugs.
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After a week of angry users, it looks like TP-Link has listened… _somewhat_. They are offering a temporary solution to roll back the firmware. We haven't found any public documentation, but there are forum posts by their employees [here](https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/236268#topic-reply-523030) and [here](https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/237614#topic-reply-520984) about it.
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<p class='img'>
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<img src='/images/blog/2020-11-23-tplink/forum-post-send-ticket.png' alt='TP-Link employee on the forums explaining how to downgrade the firmware'>
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<a href="https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/forum/topic/236268#topic-reply-523030">Forum post</a> by a TP-Link employee to send in a ticket.
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</p>
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We are hoping for a better solution, but for now this is what you should do:
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1. ~~Submit a ticket to [technical support](https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/contact-technical-support/#E-mail-Support). Make sure to include the MAC address of your plug.~~ We got an update from TP-Link that this step is no longer necessary.
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2. Go to the forums and send [this user](https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/uc/info/650029) a message with your TP-Link ID, model number, hardware version and MAC address.
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TP-Link, if you're reading along, please reach out to us at hello@home-assistant.io so we can discuss a better long term solution for local control. Happy to talk!
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