How to Set Up UniFi

UniFi is pre-installed on UniFi Hosts such as Dream Machines, Dream Routers, and Cloud Keys. For a preliminary overview of UniFi, device adoption, remote management, and more, please see our Introduction to UniFi.

Using the Mobile App (Recommended)

1. Download the UniFi Mobile App (iOS / Android).
2. Connect your mobile device to your UniFi Host via WiFi or Bluetooth. Remain within 3 meters (10 feet) if using Bluetooth.
3. Follow the setup wizard to complete the process.

Using the Web Application

1. Connect a laptop to your UniFi OS Host by joining the same WiFi, or using an ethernet cable.
2. Open your internet browser and enter your UniFi Host’s IP address. This can be found on the host’s LCD screen, or by using the network scanner in our WiFiman Mobile App (iOS / Android). See Connecting to UniFi for more information.
   Note: By default, UniFi OS gateways will have the IP address: 192.168.1.1. 
3. You may receive a privacy or security warning which is normal. Select to proceed anyway.
4. Follow the setup wizard to complete the process.

Offline Setups Without a Ubiquiti Account

Although possible, you will miss out on the benefits associated with a UI Account:

• Secure management from anywhere in the world using our UniFi Web Portal at unifi.ui.com, or one of our UniFi Mobile Apps.
• Automatic system backups linked to your UI Account
• Early Access product availability
• Pre-configured email notifications for convenient system monitoring

Common Troubleshooting

Our setup flow is designed to be as seamless as possible. However, some circumstances, often related to external network configurations, may cause setup failures. Please consider the following if you are experiencing setup issues:

Check Your Physical Connections

Ensure that your power and network connections are secure. If they are, but your issue persists, we recommend using our UniFi cables for optimal compatibility and performance.

Verify Your UniFi Host's Internet Connection

UniFi OS Consoles (UniFi Hosts such as the Dream Machine which contain an integrated security gateway) are usually directly connected to the internet. However, non-gateway hosts, such as the Cloud Key Gen2 Plus, can be incorrectly placed on a network or VLAN with restricted internet access. Please ensure this isn’t the case for your host.

Update to the Latest Version of UniFi OS

Some hosts are preloaded with older versions of UniFi OS. For the best setup experience, we recommend updating to the latest version. For more details, see Advanced Update via SSH. 

Open All Required Ports

Third-party gateways, firewalls, and ISP modems occasionally block traffic required for set up. Some of these include:

• TCP & UDP Port 443
• TCP Port 8883
• TCP & UDP Port 53
• UDP Port 123
• TCP Port 3478 

See Required Port Reference for a complete listing of all requisite ports. You may wish to contact your ISP to ensure none of these are being blocked. We also recommend disabling any third-party firewalls.

Clone Your ISP Router or Modem’s MAC Address

Some Internet Service Providers (ISPs) restrict connectivity to certain MAC addresses. You may need to clone your modem or router’s  MAC address in order to set up your UniFi Host. We recommend contacting your ISP first to confirm whether or not this is necessary.

Contact Your ISP

If you’ve tried all the above but are still having setup issues, please contact your ISP to ensure that they have not restricted your UniFi Host's connectivity.