Diagnosis
This is almost always a Wi-Fi setup issue. The vacuum only connects to 2.4GHz networks, not 5GHz. If your phone is on a 5GHz band or you have a mesh system, the handshake fails.
How to Fix It
Let’s walk through it. 1) First, ensure your vacuum is on and near your Wi-Fi router. 2) On your phone, go into Wi-Fi settings and temporarily connect to your 2.4GHz network (it often has the same name as your 5GHz). 3) Now open the Tineco app and follow the pairing steps. It should find the vacuum quickly. 4) Keep your phone screen on and near the vacuum during the whole process. Once paired, your phone can switch back to any network; the vacuum will stay on the 2.4GHz one.
IF THAT DIDN’T WORK Try resetting the vacuum’s Wi-Fi module. On the vacuum, hold the ‘Wi-Fi’ button and the ‘Power’ button together for about 5 seconds until you hear a beep. This clears the old network memory. Then try the setup process again from the beginning.
Heads Up
The app is handy for stats and filter reminders, but it’s not required for basic operation. If you can’t get it to work, you can still use all controls on the vacuum itself just fine.