TABLE OF CONTENTS
Issue
StagesBike will not show up in the pairing list in Zwift running on a PC or Mac laptop or desktop computer. For mobile apps, please see StagesBike not connecting to Zwift mobile app.
Recommended paired devices
Before you begin, check out our Recommend Settings - Zwift article to ensure you're pairing based off our recommendations.
Before troubleshooting
Before getting into the troubleshooting steps, make sure the following apply to you:
- StagesBike can be paired to using the Stages Cycling app and firmware is up to date.
- StagesBike shows power in the device manager data tab (if not, see Power not showing up in connected application).
- StagesBike resistance can be controlled using the buttons or brake levers.
- Bluetooth is enabled on the device you are using to run the Zwift app or you have an ANT+ USB stick plugged into your computer using to run Zwift.
Troubleshooting
Each of the following sections describes steps to take to resolve the issue with Zwift. At the minimum, your StagesBike needs to be paired to Zwift as a controllable in order to function correctly.
If your StagesBike is not showing up under the Controllable pairing menu, try first selecting it as the Power Source. If this does not resolve your problem, move on to the next steps.
From the pairing screen, you should see 3 devices available: the bike, the left power meter, and the right power meter.
NOTE: Never pair to the right power meter; it will only send half power.
If you do not see your left power meter, use the Stages Cycling app to check that its firmware is up to date (at least 1.8.1 firmware). To check the firmware just add your StagesBike's left power meter to the Devices tab. If you do not see the power meter in the Stages Cycling app as a Device when you try to add it or connect to it, unplug the bike and try again. If still not visible, replace the CR2032 battery in the power meter.
Reset Bluetooth and restart Zwift
Zwift also recommends you do the following at the start of any pairing issue:
- Turn off BLE on your device and then turn it back on again.
- Restart Zwift and try pairing again.
If you still do not see the StagesBike #### in the list of devices in Zwift, move on to the next section.
Verify Zwift pairing on your mobile device
- Download the Zwift app for Android or iOS.
- Log in to your Zwift account.
- Use the pairing screen to pair to the StagesBike #### for the Controllable source, and Left power meter for Power and Cadence.
If you can connect to Zwift on a mobile device, you may want to try the Zwift Companion app, which allows you to use the desktop app while pairing your sensors through your mobile device. If this does not help, skip the next section for more StagesBike troubleshooting tips.
Try using the Zwift Companion app
The Zwift desktop application utilizes your computer's internal Bluetooth connection (or an external ANT+ or Bluetooth dongle) to connect to your sensors. Due to various possible hardware and software compatibility bugs, it may not always correctly connect to your sensors, including the StagesBike. Download and install the Zwift Companion app as an alternate method of connecting your StagesBike if you encounter issues pairing directly through your computer.
- On your phone, download the Zwift Companion app in the Google Play Store or iOS app store.
- Open the Zwift Companion app on your phone and log in to your Zwift account (make sure your phone is connected to the internet).
- Open the Zwift app, click on the settings icon in the top right corner of the Paired devices dialogue, and select Use Zwift Companion.
- The Zwift app will now use the mobile device's Bluetooth connection to search for the StagesBike.
- For additional help, check out Zwift's article: Using the Zwift Companion App.
Bike settings
If you have enabled Pair with Bluetooth in your StagesBike's Power meters tab, your power meter's Bluetooth connection may already be taken up by the bike. If your power meter is on firmware 1.8.1 or newer, it can pair to two Bluetooth devices and the connection to the bike will use up one connection. Try disabling this setting and then try again to see if your left power meter is available in the Zwift pairing menu.
Power cycle the StagesBike
If the power meter is showing up, but the Bike is not, unplug the power connector from the bottom of the bike and wait a few seconds, then plug it back in.
Still not working
Here are a few more things to check before determining you may have an issue that needs a support ticket to resolve.
Reset user settings on StagesBike
You can reset the bike settings, which are always saved in the Stages Cycling app and sent back to the bike upon connection to the app, by following these steps:
- Disconnect all apps from the StagesBike (disabling Bluetooth is the best way to make sure this is the case).
- Press and hold the two (2) auxiliary buttons on the shift hoods at the same time for 6 seconds.
- Power cycle the bike again.
- Retry searching for the bike with the PC or Mac.
Re-program firmware to the StagesBike
You can set the StagesBike to a mode that will allow updating the firmware again:
- Go to the StagesBike device page in the Stages Cycling app and tap the three dots in the upper right corner, then select Forget device.
- Unplug the power cable from the rear leg of the StagesBike.
- Press and hold the top left shift button.
- While holding, plug in the bike, and release the shift button after a few seconds of the bike being plugged in.
- The bike will power on and advertise as StagesBike-DFU.
- Use the Stages Cycling app to pair to the bike the same way you would a new bike. Select the option that says StagesBike-DFU.
- Selecting this device will prompt an update. Select Update.
- The app will load the latest firmware onto the StagesBike. Following the update, try to pair to the bike again.
Contact support
If you still cannot connect to the StagesBike, please submit a new ticket.