Quick answer: do not factory-reset a Kasa plug until you know which layer failed. A plug that works in Kasa on the home network but shows “Local only” has a different problem from a plug that cannot join Wi-Fi, and a plug that works in Kasa but fails only in Alexa has an integration problem rather than a dead plug.
Pick the state that matches
| What works | First place to look |
|---|---|
| Kasa works locally; remote control does not | Internet/cloud reachability, app/account state and router restrictions. |
| Plug cannot join Wi-Fi during setup | Setup mode, supported Wi-Fi band/security and phone permissions. |
| Kasa works; Alexa does not | Kasa skill/account linking and device discovery. |
| Manual button and app both fail | Power/outlet/device state before any network work. |
The Kasa plug works in the Kasa app but Alexa says it is not responding
First check
Confirm you can switch the plug on and off in Kasa first. If Kasa itself fails, solve that before touching the Alexa integration.
What to do
In Alexa, confirm the TP-Link Kasa skill/account link is current and run device discovery again. Avoid factory-resetting the plug for an Alexa-only failure.
Done when
The same plug responds in both Kasa and Alexa without creating a duplicate device.
If it still fails
If Kasa remains healthy but Alexa still fails, unlink/relink the Kasa integration using Amazon/TP-Link guidance and check for duplicate or stale device entries.
Reset only for the right failure
TP-Link distinguishes restart, soft reset and factory reset by model. Use the model’s instructions; holding a button for a guessed number of seconds can erase Wi-Fi/account setup unnecessarily.
Official sources
- TP-Link Kasa connectivity help — official troubleshooting for Kasa connection states.
- TP-Link Kasa reset guidance — model-aware restart/reset guidance.
- TP-Link Kasa and Alexa help — official integration setup and troubleshooting.