Applies to: All Growatt inverters using a ShineWiFi-X or ShineWiFi-S datalogger with the ShinePhone app. This covers the residential MIN, MIC, MOD, TL-X, and hybrid SPH/XH series. If your datalogger is a ShineLink or ShineLink-X (a different communication type), a separate procedure applies — contact PSW Life Support.
Estimated time: 5–10 minutes.
You will need
- The ShinePhone app installed and logged in on your smartphone
- Your home WiFi network name (2.4GHz) and password
- Physical access to the WiFi dongle attached to your inverter
If your Growatt inverter has dropped offline in ShinePhone, the system is almost certainly still generating. The only thing disconnected is the data link to Growatt’s cloud monitoring. The fix is quick.
Identify your dongle first. The ShineWiFi-X (the more common current model) and ShineWiFi-S are both small rectangular modules plugged into the bottom of the inverter. The ShineWiFi-X has an LED that cycles through several colours during setup; the ShineWiFi-S has a simpler LED pattern. Both use the same app-based process below.
Before you start
- Confirm your home WiFi is working on another device. The ShinePhone reconnection flow assumes the 2.4GHz network is available and working.
Check the LED on your Growatt dongle:
- Solid blue: connected to router and server. You are already online; check ShinePhone settings rather than reconfiguring WiFi.
- Flashing blue: connected to router but not to server. Check your internet connection is active.
- Flashing red: not connected to router. Proceed with the reconnection below.
- Off: dongle not powered. Check it is seated firmly and the inverter is on. If still off, contact PSW Life Support.
Stand within a couple of metres of the inverter.
Reconnection steps using the ShinePhone app
There are two methods. SmartConfig is faster when it works but depends on your router and phone cooperating. AP Mode is the reliable fallback.
Method 1: SmartConfig (try this first)
1.1.
Make sure your phone is connected to your home 2.4GHz WiFi network (not your inverter’s network, and not a 5GHz network).
Open the ShinePhone app and sign in.
Tap Plant at the bottom of the screen, then open your plant.
1.2.
Tap the three-dot menu (top right) and select Datalogger List.
Press and hold your datalogger in the list, then tap Configure datalogger.
1.3.
Tap the three-dot menu (top right) and select Datalogger List.
Press and hold your datalogger in the list, then tap Configure datalogger.
1.4.
When prompted, enter your home WiFi password carefully (it is case-sensitive).
Tap Configure. The app will use SmartConfig to send the credentials to the dongle. Wait 60–90 seconds.
Watch the dongle LED. When it turns to a slow-blinking blue (connected to router) and then to solid blue (connected to server), you are done.
If SmartConfig fails (the dongle LED stays red or flashing green), use AP Mode below.
Method 2: AP Mode (reliable fallback)
2.1.
Reset the dongle to AP mode by pressing the Key button on the dongle for 6 seconds until the LED starts flashing red. (On ShineWiFi-X models: some units require a short press instead; if a long press does nothing, try a quick tap.)
Open ShinePhone and sign in.
Tap Plant, then the three-dot menu, then Datalogger List. Tap Add datalogger.
2.2.
Scan the QR code or barcode on the dongle. This automatically fills in the serial number (SN) and check code (CC).
The app will prompt you to connect to the dongle’s hotspot. The hotspot network name starts with one of the following:
XGD...orJPC...(ShineWiFi-X)
AP_...(older ShineWiFi-S)
- The full serial number (e.g.,
XGD5BFS4PQ) on some models
2.3.
Go to your phone’s WiFi settings and connect to the dongle’s hotspot. The password is 12345678. Your phone may warn about no internet, that is expected.
Return to ShinePhone. Choose WiFi mode: Manual.
In the WiFi Name field, enter your home 2.4GHz WiFi network name exactly (capitalisation matters).
In the Password field, enter your home WiFi password.
Tap Apply (or Configure), then Restart Immediately when prompted.
2.4.
The dongle will restart and attempt to join your home WiFi. Watch the LED, it should progress from flashing red, through flashing green (connecting), to flashing blue (connected to router), and finally solid blue (connected to server).
Reconnect your phone to your home WiFi. Open ShinePhone and check your plant. Data should start flowing within a few minutes, and the datalogger status should show green.
Method 3: Browser-based fallback
3.1.
If both app methods fail, the dongle has a built-in web interface:
Reset the dongle to AP mode (flashing red LED).
Connect your phone or laptop to the dongle’s hotspot (password 12345678).
3.2.
Open a browser and navigate to 192.168.10.100.
Log in with admin / 12345678.
Enter your home WiFi name and password.
Click Apply, then Restart Immediately.
Growatt dongle LED reference
| LED state | Meaning |
|---|---|
Solid blue | Connected to your router AND to the Growatt cloud. Fully operational. |
Flashing blue (slow) | Connected to your router but NOT to the Growatt cloud. Check your home internet. |
Solid green | Transitional state during configuration. If it stays solid green, the dongle cannot connect to the 2.4GHz network — check credentials and band. |
Flashing green | Connecting to router — give it a minute. |
Flashing red | AP mode active, ready for configuration via ShinePhone. Or: not connected to any router (if not in AP mode). |
Off | No power. Check dongle seating and inverter operation. |
If it does not work
Dongle LED stays solid green (won't connect to router)
Most common cause is 2.4GHz vs 5GHz. See the next section.
"Existing datalogger SN" error during AP mode setup
The datalogger is already registered to another plant in ShinePhone. If this is a recent PSW installation, contact PSW Life Support, it is a quick admin fix.
SmartConfig keeps failing
Some routers block the SmartConfig broadcast protocol. Skip straight to AP Mode; it is more reliable across router types.
Dongle disappears from the WiFi list after a few minutes
The AP mode hotspot auto-disables after 5 minutes of inactivity. Press and hold the Key button again to reactivate it, or work faster through the steps.
WiFi compatibility: common issues in Perth
2.4GHz vs 5GHz bands
Growatt dongles connect on 2.4GHz only. They cannot see 5GHz networks. If your router combines both bands under a single SSID (very common with Telstra Smart Modems, Optus routers, and NBN-supplied hardware), the dongle may fail to connect or drop out.
Fix: Either split the bands into separate network names in your router admin page, or temporarily disable the 5GHz band during configuration. Telstra Smart Modem users can also create a dedicated 2.4GHz guest network for the inverter. Growatt Australia has a specific guide for this.
Router firewall settings
Growatt’s cloud uses outbound ports 80, 443, and 5279. Most home routers allow these by default, but business-grade hardware or some security-focused modems may block port 5279.
Fix: If the dongle shows flashing blue indefinitely (connected to router but not to server), check your router’s firewall settings and allow outbound traffic on those ports.
Router firewall settings
Inverter locations (garages, eaves, outside walls) often have weak WiFi signal. If your phone shows one or two bars at the inverter, the dongle will struggle.
Fix: Add a WiFi mesh node or extender in the vicinity of the inverter. Growatt dataloggers also support wired Ethernet via the ShineWiFi-X2 (WiLan-X2) variant. Contact PSW Life Support if you would like to switch to a wired connection.
When to contact PSW Life Support
Contact us if:
- Both SmartConfig and AP Mode fail after multiple attempts
- The dongle LED remains off even after a power cycle
- You receive an “Existing datalogger SN” error
- The datalogger is flashing blue indefinitely despite working home internet
- Your inverter is showing any fault codes (see our Growatt error codes resolution guide)
- Data has not returned to ShinePhone within 24 hours of successful reconnection
Phone: (08) 6171 4111
Email: hello@pswenergy.com.au
Online: Lodge a support request at PSW Life Support
Have ready: your inverter serial number, the dongle serial number (on the dongle label), the current LED state, and a note of what happened when you tried the steps above. A photo of the dongle LED is helpful.
