Pit Boss recently updated the Smoke IT app, and I finally used it for the first time, so it’s time to review it and share my thoughts. If you’ve ever wondered “how do you use the Pit Boss Smoke IT, then keep reading, as I walk you through everything you need to know.
How Do You Use The Pit Boss Smoke IT App?
Using the app requires you to install the wi-fi control board.
I’ve written a step-by-step tutorial on how to install the Smoke IT wireless control board on the Pit Boss. Be sure to read that post to find out how to do it and which grill models can be upgraded.
If you have the Pro Series 850 and 1150 grills, they automatically come with the Pit Boss Legacy controller PID.
Once your Pit Boss pellet grill has been upgraded to wi-fi, here are the steps to using the app.
- Install the app
- Connect the grill
- Troubleshooting the app
- Understanding the interface
- Common Issues
How to Install The Smoke IT App
To get the most from your new wi-fi control board, you’ll want to install the app. Android users can download it from the Google Play Store, and IOS users the App store, which can be located on the home screen of your phone.
Most people are familiar with downloading apps on their phones, but if not, here’s how to download it for IOS users. This article is geared towards IOS users, as that’s what I own.
The process is similar for Android users but may vary a little due to the difference in phones.
- From the home screen, click on the App store icon. (blue icon with the letter A.
- If you can’t locate it on the home screen, swipe to the left until you locate it.
- You’ll need to log into your Apple ID before you can download it, so make sure you have your password or create a new Apple ID account, here’s how to do that.
- Browse the App store or just type in Smoke IT
- Tap the “Get” button
- Follow the instructions prompted from the phone to start downloading.
The app is free to use, and you will receive all the updates for free.
How to Connect to Pit Boss Smoker?
Once you’ve downloaded the app, it’s time to connect it via Bluetooth. It’s a fairly easy process, but some people have had connectivity issues. Don’t worry, I cover what to do if you run into connectivity issues below, so keep reading.
First, let’s connect the app via Bluetooth and wi-fi.
Step One: Connect the Grill to Electricity
Before connecting the app, you’ll need to connect the grill to an electrical outlet. Don’t turn it on yet.
Step Two: Select Your Brand
As soon as you open the app, you’ll be prompted to select which brand of pellet grill you own. Both Pit Boss and Louisiana grills are sibling brands owned by their parent company Danson LLC.
The app is designed to work for both brands of grills.
Step Three: Create an Account
You’ll be prompted to create an account. If you’re like me, you don’t like creating new accounts because you lose the password, or just don’t want another password to remember.
IOS users can sign in via Google, Facebook, or your Apple ID without creating an account.
Step Four: Enable Bluetooth
Power the grill on and stand close to the grill to connect via Bluetooth. Ensure the Bluetooth settings are on, in system preference.
Click “Connect Your Grill” and wait until the grill connects. Once connected, you’ll be taken to the next screen to connect via Wi-Fi. If the grill can’t connect, you’ll get an error message that says to call for support.
The first time I ran into issues, all I did was close the app and start the process over. If that doesn’t work, then turn the grill off and wait a few seconds before starting the process over again.
Step Five: Connect to WiFi
Select your WiFi network and enter the secure password. If the app is able to connect to your Wi-Fi, it will automatically between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for the best connection.
You can also switch it manually from the home screen on the app.
Step Six: Name Your Grill
The last step is to give your grill a name. I chose to name mine Smoker Grill Girl, but you can name yours anything you want.
The reason to give your grill a name is to make it easy to find your grill when using the app, especially if you’re connecting more than one grill.
Pit Boss App Not Connecting
Since I first downloaded the app, it has gone through one major update. During this update, I automatically got logged out and couldn’t log back in.
If this has happened to you, I know how frustrating it can be, especially if you weren’t able to get back in. I was never able to get back in and when I clicked on lost password, they kept saying my email wasn’t on file.
Unable to Log In
All I did was delete the app from the phone. Then I went back to the app store and redownloaded it again and started from scratch.
Instead of creating an account, I signed up via Apple. Now I don’t have to worry about remembering a password.
Trouble Connecting Via Bluetooth
If you experience trouble connecting via Bluetooth, check to your phone’s settings, app permissions, and allow location services to be used when using the app. Next, close the app and turn the grill off for about 10 – 15 seconds before trying to connect again.
If you still can’t connect, then delete the app and re-install it again on your phone. I had to do this when the new app version was rolled out.
Wi-Fi Connectivity Issues
For trouble connecting via Wi-Fi, it’s likely you’ve entered the wrong password. It may not connect the first time, even if you entered the correct password.
However, it will connect the second or third time. For some reason, the app doesn’t connect on the first try, at least that’s what I and some other users have experienced.
Interface Walk Through
Once everything is connected, you’ll be taken to the home screen that looks like this. Of course, the home screen will look different, depending on the grill’s model, app software version, and what type of control board you have.
Here’s how mine looks like for the IOS app.
The home screen gives you a quick snapshot of what’s going on. You can quickly see the temperature of the grill, and the probe temperatures.
It even has a cool smoke effect, where you see smoke flowing up from the bottom of the app. While the new updated version looks nicer than the older version, there are still some issues and complaints to be aware of, which I’ll discuss below.
If you want more control of the app, then click on the
Control Screen
The control screen is where you get more control over the grill. I’ll run through the options and settings on this screen.
Temperature Control
Similar to the older version, the temperature is controlled via a wheel. Move the wheel clockwise to increase the temp and counterclockwise to decrease it.
There’s also an option to switch from Fahrenheit to Celcius with the tap of your finger. When you turn up the Pit Boss grill, the app now sends you an alert when the temperature has been reached.
Timer
Set the timer according to the recipe you’re following. The downside about this timer and the last version is the timer doesn’t make any sound when the time ends.
So don’t get too reliant on using it. Instead, use the timer on your phone, otherwise, you may burn your cook.
Off Switch
Like the previous version, the app power button will only turn off the grill. This is a built-in safety feature that prevents you from turning on the grill accidentally.
Probe Temperatures
In the middle of the screen, you’ll see the current temperature and target temperatures of the probe.
Some people have complained about the probe temperature is inaccurate on the grill. I’ve also experienced this, that’s why I personally use a handheld thermometer to check internal temperatures.
Ensure you are using the Pit Boss probes correctly, otherwise, the readings will be inaccurate.
Icons
The four icons will light up whenever the app is being used. They consist of; auger, fan, and two other ones I haven’t figured out what they are or what they do. When I do, I’ll be back to let you know.
Pit Boss App Issues
The app has been updated several times since it was first released. At the time of this writing, you’ll be downloading version 3.0.9, which fixed a lot of bugs.
That said, there are still several issues I and other users are experiencing.
Inaccurate Temperature
One of the biggest complaints from users and myself is the inaccuracy of the temperature on both the grill and probes. When you first open the app after being closed or not looking at the phone, it takes about 3-5 minutes for the current temperature to refresh.
Sometimes it’s easier to check the grill for the current temperature because the app takes too long, and sometimes it’s not even correct.
Settings
Once the app is connected and working properly, you won’t need to mess with the settings. That said if you ever change your Wi-Fi settings, etc, below are the options and what they do below:
- Grill ID: This is automatically set by the app and you can’t edit it.
- Grill Nickname: The name you gave your grill and can be changed.
- Reset Wi-Fi: To reset your Wi-Fi connections, you can click on the plus icon on the top left hand corner of the screen. Then repeat the connectivity process.
- Graph-Lytics
- Grill Health Check: I believe this allows you to check the health of the grill.
- Delete Grill: Click this if you no longer want to use the app on the grill or you purchase a new grill and get rid of the old one.
To get familiar with what each setting does, click on the different options. You’ll get a better understanding of how to use the app and what options are available for you to control and edit.
Frequently Asked Questions
I haven’t seen any instructions on how to use the app online, however, there are several YouTube videos that will walk you through the process of using the app. This post will also show you how to use it.
If the grill doesn’t work after installing the SMOKE IT, it’s likely it wasn’t installed correctly. Ensure the colored wires were connected properly, here’s a video to walk you through the installation process.
It depends on the model of the grill. Consult the main Pit Boss website to see which grills come with the Legacy controllers and whether your grill is compatible with the Smoke IT controller.
Final Word
Hopefully, this Pit Boss Smoke IT app review has helped you understand how to install, connect, and use the app. It’s not a perfect app, but then I don’t know of any app that is.
It is constantly being updated users get all the updates for free. This is great news because it means Pit Boss is serious about improving its app and making it the best for its users.
The developer is open to feedback, reviews, or suggestions for improving the app, and always trying to make it better!
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