Frequently asked questions

• Which SONOFF devices can hear this remote?

  Only hardware with the eWeLink-Remote function: the MINIR4, BASICR4 and MINIR3 relays, the M5 and TX Ultimate switches, DUALR3/DUALR3 Lite, the B05-BL bulb, the S40 plug, the NSPanel Pro panel and the iHost hub. Wi-Fi models without it (the BASICR2, for instance) cannot receive R5W commands.
• How is the R5W different from the R5?

  Colour only: the R5W is white, the R5 is Dim Gray. The electronics, the 6 buttons, the range and the 18 commands are identical; white is the usual pick for bedrooms and kitchens with light walls.
• How many remotes and gateways can be linked?

  One R5W pairs with exactly one gateway device, and a gateway accepts up to 8 eWeLink-Remote sub-devices — R5/R5W remotes and S-MATE buttons combined. Two independent receivers call for two remotes.
• Will Home Assistant or Google Home see it?

  No. The manufacturer confirms a single platform — eWeLink. With an iHost the scenes can live locally on the hub, but the remote is not exposed to third-party ecosystems and can never be an execution device.
• What happens to my scenes if I re-pair the remote?

  They are lost: deleting the R5W from the app — or deleting the gateway it was added to — wipes every assignment. After re-adding, all 18 gestures are configured from scratch, so note the layout down first.
• Can it go into the old switch's mounting box?

  Mechanically yes: the plate screws into a standard 86 mm box and the body covers it fully. But the R5W switches no wires — the live line is handled by a SONOFF relay (a MINIR4, say) fitted at the light or in that same box.
• How does the family remember what each button does?

  With pictogram stickers: SONOFF offers 20 designs (bulb, TV, curtains, “away from home” and so on) that go straight onto the rockers. Each button's LED blinks on press to confirm the command.