Freeze dryer app not connecting? What to try, and an offline option

If your freeze dryer's companion app will not connect, these general tips cover the usual causes. Connected appliances of all kinds tend to fail in similar ways.

Not affiliated. FreezeLog is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Harvest Right. Harvest Right is a trademark of its owner. We mention it only so owners can find this page. For anything about your machine, follow the manufacturer's own instructions and support.

General Wi-Fi tips worth trying

1. Use the 2.4 GHz band. Many small appliances cannot join a 5 GHz network. If your router merges both bands under one name, try a separate 2.4 GHz network name for setup.
2. Get closer. Garages and utility rooms are often at the edge of coverage. Test with your phone beside the machine and look at the signal.
3. Avoid fancy network settings. Guest isolation, VPNs, content filters and some mesh "smart connect" features can block devices from finding each other.
4. Restart in order. Router first, then the machine, then the phone. Give each a couple of minutes.
5. Keep the phone on the same network. Turn off cellular data and any VPN while pairing.
6. Check the basics. Update the app and your iPhone, keep the password simple, and look for name collisions if you changed the Wi-Fi name recently.
7. Do not rely on the connection for a batch. If you need to know when a cycle ends, set a separate timer or alarm.

A different approach: log it yourself, offline

A batch log does not need to talk to the machine. You enter the weights and the expected end time, and the app does the remembering. FreezeLog works this way. It never connects to your freeze dryer, so there is no pairing to break and nothing to sign in to.

• A real alarm at the expected end, and for each extra dry period.
• Before and after tray weights, with water loss worked out for you.
• Cycles over 24 hours, and extra dry time up to 99 hours.
• A pantry for what you have put away.

The tradeoff is real: FreezeLog does not read your machine's sensors or control it. It is a log and an alarm clock that happens to know about freeze drying.

Keep your own record with FreezeLog

FreezeLog is an iPhone app that logs every batch offline: weights before and after, the cycle you ran, notes, and a real alarm when the batch should be done. The batch log, alarms, pantry and sync are free. Pro is a single one-time purchase, with no subscription. There is no account and no ads.