How Do I Back Up and Restore My Shelly Device Settings Before Performing a Factory Reset?
- No built-in Shelly Cloud backup covering all local device settings
- Local web interface backup not used before previous resets causing settings loss
- MQTT topics and scripts lost after factory reset requiring manual re-entry
Problem Description
You need to factory reset your Shelly device to resolve a connectivity or configuration issue but you want to preserve your current settings including schedules, timers, MQTT configuration, and custom scripts so you can restore them after the reset. Shelly devices support a settings export via their built-in web interface that saves your configuration to a JSON file. This file can be re-imported after the reset to restore your settings without manually reconfiguring each option.
Symptoms
- Need to factory reset Shelly but do not want to lose complex configurations
- Want to clone Shelly settings from one device to another identical model
- Moving Shelly to a new WiFi network and need to preserve all other settings
- Restoring Shelly after replacement with same model and want identical configuration
- Need to back up Shelly scripts and schedules before a firmware update
- Preparing Shelly for troubleshooting reset but want to restore quickly afterward
Recognize these? Here's what usually causes it.
Common Causes
- No built-in Shelly Cloud backup covering all local device settings
- Local web interface backup not used before previous resets causing settings loss
- MQTT topics and scripts lost after factory reset requiring manual re-entry
- Shelly schedules and timers not included in Shelly Cloud account sync
- Multiple Shelly devices needing consistent configuration across all units
- Firmware update requiring reset with settings preservation needed
Most fixes happen in the first 3 steps.
Do not import a backup JSON file from a different Shelly model. The configuration format differs between Shelly generations and models and importing an incompatible file can corrupt the device settings requiring another factory reset.
Step-by-Step Solution
Find Your Shelly Device IP Address
Open your router admin panel and look in the DHCP client list for a device named Shelly or with a Shelly MAC address prefix starting with E8 DB 84. Note the IP address assigned to the Shelly device. Alternatively open the Shelly app and tap the device then tap the settings gear icon and look for Device IP or Network to find its local IP. You need this IP address to access the Shelly built-in web interface directly.
Export Settings from the Web Interface
Open a web browser on a computer or phone connected to the same WiFi network as the Shelly device. Type the Shelly IP address into the browser address bar such as http://192.168.1.45 and press Enter. The Shelly web interface opens. Go to Settings then Backup or Device Configuration Export. Click Download and save the JSON file to your computer or phone with a recognisable name such as Shelly-Kitchen-Light-config.json. This file contains your WiFi credentials, schedules, timers, button actions, and most custom settings.
Document Scripts and MQTT Topics Separately
Before the factory reset go to the Scripts section of the Shelly web interface if your device has one. Copy each script's code to a text file on your computer. Also go to MQTT settings and note your broker IP, port, username, password, and all topic paths. The JSON backup file captures some but not all script content in Shelly Gen2 devices. Documenting scripts separately ensures you can restore all custom automation logic even if the JSON import does not include all script bodies.
Perform the Factory Reset
After saving the backup file perform the factory reset using the hardware button. For Shelly 1 and 1PM hold the button for 10 seconds until the LED blinks rapidly then releases. For Shelly Plus models press the reset button on the side for 10 seconds. After the reset the device creates its own WiFi hotspot named ShellyXXXXXX. Connect your phone to this hotspot and complete the initial WiFi setup to reconnect the Shelly to your home network.
Restore Settings from the Backup File
After the Shelly reconnects to your WiFi and gets a new IP address access its web interface at the new IP. Go to Settings then Backup then Browse and select your saved JSON file. Click Import or Restore. The Shelly applies all settings from the JSON file including schedules, timers, button modes, and network settings. After import restart the Shelly from the web interface to apply all restored settings. Verify the schedule and timer configuration matches what you had before the reset.
Quick Solutions
Still having issues? This is usually the deeper cause below.
If this comes back after following these steps, check whether a recent app or firmware update reset a default setting — the fix works, but the setting gets reverted silently.
Create a dated backup of your most important Shelly devices monthly. Store all backup JSON files in a cloud folder such as Google Drive or iCloud organised by device name and location. This gives you a recent configuration snapshot if any device needs replacing.
This issue almost always looks more complex than it is — the majority of cases trace back to a single setting, a stale credential, or a default that shipped wrong.
- No built-in Shelly Cloud backup covering all local device
- Local web interface backup not used before previous resets
- MQTT topics and scripts lost
- Shelly schedules and timers not included in Shelly Cloud
- Multiple Shelly devices needing consistent configuration across all units
Before you go — try one of these (they fix most cases).
Most popular upgrades chosen by Shelly Smart Switch owners.
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Official Manufacturer Manual
If you need the complete manufacturer documentation for advanced setup, wiring diagrams, or detailed specifications, you can download the official manual below. The manual includes full technical instructions directly from the manufacturer and may help if your issue requires deeper troubleshooting.
Download the Official Shelly Smart Switch ManualSource: shelly.cloud
Need More Help? Shelly Support
Note: The contact information below connects you directly to Shelly's official customer support team, not Trunetto. They can help with warranty claims, device replacements, and advanced technical issues.
