Guide
The 15 WLED settings that matter
What each setting does and what we recommend. For everything else we link the official documentation.
WiFi Setup · Home Wi-Fi
Name and password of your Wi-Fi. WLED only uses 2.4 GHz. Recommendation: assign a fixed IP to the controller in the router.
WiFi Setup · mDNS name
Device name on the network, reachable at http://name.local. Recommendation: a descriptive name per location, e.g. wled-kitchen.
WiFi Setup · Hotspot (access point)
When WLED opens its own hotspot and with which password. Recommendation: keep “No connection after boot” and replace the password wled1234 with your own.
WiFi Setup · WiFi sleep
Power saving of the radio. Saves little but can cause lag and dropouts. Recommendation: enable “Disable WiFi sleep”; required for ESP-NOW remotes.
WiFi Setup · ESP-NOW
Receives ESP-NOW remotes without a router. After enabling, press a button and add the shown MAC address with +. Recommendation: only enable when a remote is used.
LED Preferences · LED type and colour order
The strip’s protocol (usually WS281x, RGBW strips as RGBW type) and colour order. Recommendation: type per datasheet, then set red and change the order until red is red.
LED Preferences · Length, data pin, outputs
Pixel count per output, GPIO per controller datasheet and start LED. Add outputs with +. Recommendation: length = pixels, not LEDs (on WS2811 strips one IC drives several LEDs).
LED Preferences · Current limit (ABL)
WLED estimates current and dims when it exceeds the maximum. 850 mA by default, which keeps any larger strip dark. Recommendation: maximum = PSU rated current, “current per LED” to match the strip (set planner). Not a substitute for a fuse.
LED Preferences · Relay pin
Cuts the strip’s supply when switched off (against glow and standby draw). Recommendation: on controllers with relays set the pin per datasheet, e.g. 4336-116-RF: IO21 and IO19.
LED Preferences · Power-up behaviour
Whether LEDs turn on after a power cut or restart, at which brightness and with which preset. Recommendation: with wall-switch control “turn LEDs on” plus a boot preset, otherwise off.
LED Preferences · Target refresh rate
How often per second WLED recalculates. The actual rate is also limited by pixels per output (about 30 µs per pixel). Recommendation: keep the default; if it stutters, spread pixels over several outputs.
LED Preferences · White mode (RGBW)
How WLED uses the white channel on RGBW strips. Recommendation: enable auto white so white comes from the real white channel.
Time & Macros · Time and schedules
NTP time, time zone, latitude and longitude for sunrise and sunset, schedules with weekdays and preset. Recommendation: NTP on, set the time zone, enter coordinates.
Sync Interfaces · Synchronisation
Control several controllers together: send on the leading one, receive on the others, a shared group, UDP port 21324. Also E1.31, Art-Net and DDP for lighting desks here. Recommendation: only enable what you need.
Security & Updates · Backup, PIN, updates
Back up and restore configuration and presets as files, protect settings with a PIN, update firmware via OTA. Recommendation: back up after every setup; set a PIN in public areas.
Everything else
WLED has many more options, e.g. for buttons, infrared, usermods, matrix layouts and audio. They are described in the official documentation; LED-Emotion explains the LED Preferences menu in German.
Sources: WLED docs · Adafruit: ABL default 850 mA · LED-Emotion: LED Preferences
Related
Set up WLED →
From unboxed controller to the first effect: the five settings that matter.
Power supply calculator →
Power from the datasheet, measure the length, add 20 % headroom. The calculator does the rest.
Presets and automation →
A preset stores colour, effect, brightness and segments. Everything automatic builds on it.