Does a smart switch work without Wi‑Fi? And 9 other questions people ask

Straight answers to the ten questions we hear most at the Hyderabad experience centre, from power cuts to renting to safety.

Quick answer: Yes. A Tixa smart switch works as a normal switch without Wi‑Fi, and scheduled scenes keep running on the local hub. You only need the internet to control the home from outside it.

1. Does a smart switch work without Wi‑Fi?

Yes. The panel on the wall switches the load directly, and schedules run on the hub. The app works over your home network even when broadband is down; only remote access from outside needs the internet.

2. What happens in a power cut?

Everything is off, like any home. When power returns, loads come back in the state you choose, usually off for safety, and schedules resume automatically.

3. Can I install it in a rented flat?

Yes. Retrofit modules fit inside the existing switch box and the original plate can be refitted when you move out.

4. Do I need new wiring or a false ceiling?

No. That is the whole point of retrofit. Existing wiring, boxes and appliances stay as they are.

5. Will it work with my old fans and geyser?

Yes. The module switches the circuit, so the age of the appliance does not matter. Fan speed control needs a dimmer-type module, which Tixa supplies.

6. Is it safe?

Modules are rated for Indian voltage and load, installed by trained electricians, and the physical switch remains the fallback. Nothing about it changes the electrical safety of your home.

7. Can my parents use it?

Yes. The glass panel works like a switch. Nobody has to use the app unless they want to.

8. Does it work with voice assistants?

Yes. Loads and scenes are available to voice assistants by name once set up in the Tixa app.

9. How long does installation take?

One to two hours per room in a typical flat. A whole 3BHK is usually a single day.

10. What if a module fails?

Only that control point is affected, and the module is swapped in minutes. Support is on WhatsApp at +91 90848 40848.

Key takeaways

No Wi‑Fi: still a switch. No internet: still scheduled.
Retrofit means no rewiring, and it is reversible for renters.
Panels work for everyone; the app is optional.