# \[HOW TO\] Solve the problem if Z-Wave devices cannot be included **URL:** \ **Category:** Tutorials\ **Tags:** z-wave, tutorial, howto\ **Created:** [October 20, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-solve-the-problem-if-z-wave-devices-cannot-be-included/118655 "2024-10-20T18:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NGH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/ngh/32/33100_2.png) [@NGH](https://community.homey.app/u/NGH)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-solve-the-problem-if-z-wave-devices-cannot-be-included/118655/1 "2024-10-20T18:43:17Z")
Hello dear community, I’m writing this basically for myself and others who have trouble including z-wave devices. I had this issue about a year ago but couldn’t remember how I solved it until this evening. Problem: You are trying to include / add a new z-wave device, do everything the way the setup say and the process takes like an eternity but finally cancels. Here’s the issue: It’s actually been discussed a couple of times but this happens quite frequently if you have a lot of z-wave devices AND some of your inclusion attempts failed. It seems like sometimes, Homey still includes the device like “half-way”. But in the normal app, you are unable to see this. BUT: If you go to [https://tools.developer.homey.app/](https://tools.developer.homey.app/) and click on zwave, you will see devices which are “abandoned”. They show up as “unknown node”. FIX: 1. In that list of devices on [https://tools.developer.homey.app/](https://tools.developer.homey.app/), click on the three dots on the right. 2. Click “test”. Wait until Homey responds with a red message in the lower left corner on your screen, something like “node not responding” (can’t remember exactly). 3. Then, the “remove”-button lights up and you can remove the device. Click on that! 4. Repeat the process with every “unknown node” until none of them are left\* 5. After that, you can add new devices again. \*removing “unknown nodes” did NOT delete any of my devices! It’s NOT like resetting the zwave network when every device is deleted. I don’t know why Homey does such a crap and why there are “unknown nodes” anyways. It seems like it’s a rather ancient issue. By the way: The “remove unknown nodes”-button below the list didn’t work at all. Hope this helps some users here 🙂 Regards Nils ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Heesakkers](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rick_heesakkers/32/12127_2.png) [@Rick\_Heesakkers](https://community.homey.app/u/Rick_Heesakkers)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-solve-the-problem-if-z-wave-devices-cannot-be-included/118655/2 "2024-11-12T18:41:25Z")
Exactly! In my case a non-existing device with NodeID 24 pops up in the route of some devices in the list of Z-Wave nodes. Therefore those devices can’t be reached :-p Obviously! After leaving my Homey powerless for at least 12 minutes it should build a new list without non-existing devices appearing in the routes of some devices. Unfortunately it does not work and that exact node keeps popping up! ☹ Does anyone have a proper solution? ---
**Author:** ![Robin\_Lunden](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robin_lunden/32/12626_2.png) [@Robin\_Lunden](https://community.homey.app/u/Robin_Lunden)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-solve-the-problem-if-z-wave-devices-cannot-be-included/118655/3 "2025-01-15T17:57:07Z")
Hi, I have exactly this problem. I have a ton of unknown nodes, which I suspect are dimmers that I am unable to include. I try test, and on some of them remove goes from greyed out to clickable, but the I press it I det the error message ZW-FAILED\_NODE\_REMOVE\_PROCESS\_BUSY ![Skärmavbild 2025-01-15 kl. 18.54.20](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/6/e/6eca9e5bb9b5f7bc443c3e975a26bbf40069f240.png) Any suggestions? cheers, Robin ---
**Author:** ![elfrigo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/elfrigo/32/7893_2.png) [@elfrigo](https://community.homey.app/u/elfrigo)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-solve-the-problem-if-z-wave-devices-cannot-be-included/118655/4 "2025-10-26T14:33:04Z")
I’ve had quite some problems with Z-Wave in the past too. Including (phun intended) the orphan devices you described. For me a couple of actions usually will fix the problems. If you experience problems while adding a Z-wave device there is couple of additional things you can do to (try to) fix this. [like above clean up orphans / unknown nodes] 1 Make sure a battery powered device has a full battery. 2 Try to add/include the device within line of sight (few meters max) of the primary controller. [for 230V devices I’ve created a seperate/portable powercord that I can plug in a nearby socket to power the new device. After inclusion / adding I permanently install the device where it is needed.] 3 Try to keep the device awake during the include by pressing the B/include button once or twice during inclusion. 4 Reset the device to factory defaults before inclusion (most devices have a specific button routing to do this). 5 EXCLUDE the device first on the primary controller. Repeat this process a couple of time until the primary controller stops excluding or excludes a device with node ID 0. 6 Try to combine 4+5 before inclusion.