Another day, another smart device collects dust – or, in this case, an entire line of smart home devices.
On Thursday, consumer electronics company Belkin announced that it is discontinuing technical support for its older Wemo products as of January 31, 2026, and that the app used to control the devices will no longer be supported. This decision will affect a number of devices, including smart plugs, switches, smart light bulbs, baby monitors, kitchen appliances, heaters, air purifiers, motion sensors, and more.
In an email to customers, the company explained its decision, noting that it needed to shift its focus to a different direction.
“This decision has not been easy,” the email reads. “For the past decade, since Belkin first launched Wemo in 2011, we have been committed to providing consumers with innovative, easy-to-use accessories for a seamless smart home experience. However, as technology evolves, we must focus our resources on different parts of the Belkin business.”
“We understand that these changes may disrupt your normal routine, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience,” the company added.
Belkin says that products that are still under warranty until the end of their useful life may be eligible for a partial refund, and that their products configured for use with Apple’s HomeKit will continue to function even without Wemo cloud services and the Wemo app. The app will also no longer be supported after January 31, 2026, and any device features that rely on cloud connectivity, such as remote access or voice integration, will no longer work.
The company will also no longer provide technical support, firmware, software updates, or troubleshooting assistance after January 31.
The decision to discontinue the smart home product line leaves consumers without access to technology that has become an integral part of their daily lives – it’s not just a child’s toy that goes unplugged, it’s something more important. (Of course, unplugging toys can have devastating consequences, too. Think, for example, of the sad farewell to the robot companion Moxie).
More and more often, companies are simply discontinuing support for their outdated smart home products without any technical reason to do so. Instead, such steps allow companies, as Belkin notes, to refocus their efforts on more profitable areas of business.
For example, Google recently announced a similar move by deciding to discontinue its old Nest devices.
In April, the tech giant announced that it would no longer support its first generation of Nest Learning Thermostats. Starting October 25, 2025, the first- and second-generation Nest models will disable connected features, stop receiving updates, stop working with the Nest or Google Home app, and essentially become dumb devices.
Instead of allocating resources to support your customer base, it’s easier to send an email offering to help them upgrade to a newer version. In Nest’s case, it’s a $130 discount on the Nest 4th Generation Thermostat, which normally costs $279.99. While this can be a good deal, being forced to upgrade due to obsolescence doesn’t sit well with many customers whose devices still work great despite their age.
However, this process protects Google from class-action lawsuits that could arise if the company simply shut down so many smart devices and the Nest app at the same time. By pushing these users away from the Nest app and encouraging them to upgrade to newer devices, Google can argue that usage of older devices was actually quite low if a lawsuit were to be filed. This could reduce any fines or compensation that such a lawsuit might result in and make it easier for Google to ease up and possibly eventually shut down the Nest app.
In addition, notifying customers in advance of such steps reduces the company’s legal risks.
In the case of Belkin, customers who relied on Wemo for their smart home will be greatly affected and perhaps even angry if they are not eligible for a partial refund.
Belkin has provided a full list of affected devices, which includes a wide range of smart home products spanning several categories.
