What you’re dealing with
A scale sleeps almost all the time and wakes when you stand on it, which means a scan may show nothing even when the scale is a metre away.
| Broadcasts as | Withings, Renpho, Eufy, Mi Scale |
|---|---|
| Typical battery | Months on AAA cells |
| Findable by scan | Yes, while powered on |
| Search window | Days to weeks |
Once the battery is gone: Coin and AAA cells last months, but the scale only advertises when it wakes.
Where it usually is
Under a bed
Slid out of the way and forgotten.
Bathroom cupboards
Put away when guests came.
Behind a door
Standing on its edge where nobody looks.
How to search for it
- Check the last-seen map firstBefore you search a room, find out which building. A pin saves you from searching the right way in the wrong place.
- Scan from the middle of the roomNote everything that appears, then select the device you want so the rest of the list drops away.
- Walk and watch the signalSweep in a straight line, give each position a few seconds, and turn 90 degrees when the reading stops rising.
- Search inside things, not across themA strong signal with nothing visible means it is underneath or inside something. Fabric and metal block Bluetooth badly.
Tips specific to smart scale
- Tap or step on it if you are near where you think it is, waking it makes it advertise and it will appear immediately.
- Do not conclude a sleeping device is absent from a short scan. Low-duty-cycle hardware needs a longer window or a physical nudge.
Other things people lose
The same method applies to these, with different battery windows and different hiding places.
- How to find tagged power tools on site, Tool batteries last a working day
- How to find a Windows laptop by Bluetooth, Up to a working day in use
- How to find an Android phone from an iPhone, A day typically
- How to find a Bluetooth card tracker, Three to five months
- How to identify a smart speaker on Bluetooth, Mains powered
- Bluetooth scanner for iPhone, Scan tab
- How to find something you lost at a festival
- All device guides, the complete list
Common questions
Why does my smart scale not appear in a scan?
Because it only advertises when it wakes. Step on it and it appears within seconds.