trying to set it up but the app can't find my device during bluetooth pairing

Diagnosis

The failure to locate the Cielo Breez Plus during the setup phase is typically rooted in a handshake failure between the device's Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio and the smartphone's discovery service. For the Breez Plus to be "visible," it must be in an active broadcast state, which is indicated by a specific rotating animation and a Bluetooth icon on the device's integrated LED display. If the device has already attempted a connection and timed out, it may enter a standby state where the BLE radio is dormant, making it invisible to the app even if the device is powered on. Furthermore, modern mobile operating systems (iOS 13+ and Android 10+) require "Fine Location" permissions to scan for BLE devices. Because BLE beacons can be used to triangulate a user's physical position, the OS blocks the Cielo app from accessing the Bluetooth scanner unless GPS/Location services are explicitly enabled and granted "While Using the App" permissions. Interference from 2.4GHz congestion or an active VPN on the smartphone can also mask the device's advertising packets, preventing the app from completing the initial pairing handshake.

How to Fix It

Follow these precise steps to force a successful Bluetooth handshake:

1. Perform a Hard Reset: Unplug the Breez Plus from the wall outlet, wait 10 seconds, and plug it back in. This clears the temporary cache and restarts the BLE broadcast.
2. Enter Pairing Mode: Locate the 'Menu' button on the front of the device. Press and hold it firmly for exactly 7 to 10 seconds. Watch the screen; you must see the Bluetooth icon appear and a rotating circular animation. If the screen remains static, the device is not broadcasting.
3. Configure Smartphone Permissions: Go to your phone's System Settings > Apps > Cielo Breez. Ensure that 'Location' is set to "Allow all the time" or "Allow while using app" and that 'Nearby Devices' (on Android 12+) is toggled ON.
4. Disable Network Interference: Turn off your phone's Wi-Fi temporarily in the settings menu. This forces the phone to prioritize the BLE scan and prevents the app from attempting to jump to Wi-Fi configuration before the Bluetooth pairing is locked.
5. Execute App Search: Open the Cielo Breez app and select "Add Device." Keep the smartphone within 3 feet of the Breez Plus unit during this process to ensure maximum signal strength.

If That Didn't Work

• Clear Bluetooth Cache: Go to your phone's Bluetooth settings and "Forget" any previously paired Cielo devices or unknown generic BLE devices. Restart the phone to flush the Bluetooth stack and attempt the pairing process again from a fresh app launch.
• Toggle Airplane Mode: Turn on Airplane Mode, then manually re-enable Bluetooth only. This disables cellular data and Wi-Fi interference, which can sometimes confuse the app's discovery logic during the initial handshake.
• Test with a Secondary Device: Attempt the setup using a different smartphone or tablet. If a second device finds the Breez Plus immediately, the issue is a permission or hardware limitation on the primary phone. If no device finds it, the Breez Plus internal BLE module may be defective.
• Check Power Stability: Ensure the device is plugged directly into a wall outlet rather than a daisy-chained power strip. Voltage drops during the initial boot-up sequence can cause the BLE radio to fail to initialize even if the screen is powered on.

Heads Up

• Avoid using a 5GHz Wi-Fi band during the subsequent step; the Breez Plus only supports 2.4GHz. If your router uses "Smart Connect" (merged SSIDs), you may need to temporarily disable 5GHz in your router settings to finalize the setup.
• Keep the device in a direct line of sight with the AC unit's IR receiver during setup to ensure that once pairing is complete, the "Learning" phase for your AC remote doesn't fail.
• Do not press the Menu button repeatedly during the pairing search, as this can toggle the device out of pairing mode and back into standard operation.
• If you are using a VPN or an Ad-Blocker (like NextDNS or Pi-hole) on your phone, disable it entirely until the device is successfully registered to your account.