# Lost your Matter QR code? Here's how to re-pair the device

> Lost the Matter setup QR code or sticker on a smart home device? Here's what still works, what doesn't, and how to avoid the problem next time.

_Updated 2026-07-10 · Source: https://rematter.app/guides/lost-matter-qr-code/_

The little QR code on a smart home device isn't decoration. It's the **Matter
commissioning code**, the only thing that lets you add the device to a home
(Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, Home Assistant, and so on). When that
sticker peels off, fades, or goes out with the box, re-pairing gets a lot
harder. Here's exactly where you stand and what to do.

## First: is the device still paired somewhere?

This is the fork in the road.

- **Yes, it's already in one app.** You don't need the original code to add it
  to a *second* ecosystem. Open the app that controls it now and look for
  **"Share"**, **"Add to another network,"** or **"Pair with other services."**
  Matter's multi-admin sharing mints a **fresh, temporary setup code** on the
  spot. Note the catch: that code expires in a few minutes and works only once,
  so it's for *right now*, not for saving.
- **No, it isn't paired anywhere.** To commission a device from scratch you
  need its **permanent factory code**: the QR, or the
  [11- or 21-digit manual pairing code](/guides/matter-manual-pairing-code/).
  Without one of those, a not-yet-paired device generally can't be added at all.

## Where else the code might be

Before you give up, the factory code often appears in more than one place:

- On a **second sticker** on the device body, the removable base, or inside a
  battery door.
- On the **box** or the **quick-start leaflet** that came with it.
- In the **manufacturer's app**, on the device's detail or "about" screen. Some
  brands show the pairing code there even after setup.

If you find the QR *or* the numeric manual code, you're set: they carry the same
device, so [either one works](/guides/find-matter-pairing-code/).

## If the code is truly gone

- **Contact the manufacturer.** Some will look up or re-issue a code from the
  device serial number.
- **Factory reset won't help by itself.** Resetting clears the pairing but does
  **not** change or reveal the code printed at the factory. You still need that
  original code to re-add it.

## Don't get stuck here again

The reason this hurts is that the code lives in exactly one fragile place: a
sticker on hardware that's often mounted on a ceiling or wedged behind
furniture. [ReMatter](/) scans that QR (or takes the manual code) **once** and
keeps a searchable copy on your phone, so the next time you re-pair, it's a tap
instead of a ladder.