How to Install Your PurpleAir Sensor and Monitor Air Quality

by Kieran Berryman

Installing a PurpleAir Monitor

Thinking about tracking air quality in your area and looking for solutions?

PurpleAir is a great way to access information on the air quality nearest to you. View the map to see if there are sensors near you, or purchase one yourself to receive something a little more personal. But how do PurpleAir monitors work?

PurpleAir monitors are classified as low-cost air quality sensors. They provide particulate matter (PM) levels, which is one of six criteria air pollutants the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified. Utilizing integrated fans, the sensors intake air and use laser counters to detect particulates, creating PM values. More information is available in this community article: What Do PurpleAir Sensors Measure and How Do They Work?

By providing accessible and actionable air quality data, PurpleAir aims to empower individuals, communities, and organizations. Allowing them to make informed decisions about their air quality and protecting public health.

Sold? Read the guide below to learn how to install a PurpleAir Monitor.

How to Set Up a PurpleAir Monitor

When preparing to fully set up your PurpleAir device, there are a small number of things you will need.

  1. An appropriate power cable: Outdoor power supplies and indoor power adaptors do not come with sensors by default and must be purchased separately. Please note that any micro-USB supplying the appropriate amount of power can be used with PurpleAir sensors.
  2. A local WiFi network: Sensors must be connected to a WiFi network to appear on the PurpleAir map and upload data.
  3. A WiFi-enabled device: To connect the sensor to your WiFi, you will need a device that can connect to WiFi networks, like a smartphone or computer.
  4. The Sensor’s Device ID: Similar or identical to its MAC address, you can find the sensor’s device ID printed physically on its side.
  5. An Associated Email: An associated email must be provided for device registration. By default, the purchasing email is associated.
  6. A Screwdriver or Drill: If mounting the sensor outside, you may need a screwdriver or drill to mount the device. Alternatively, you can use the provided zip-ties.

Having gathered the above, follow the steps below to install your sensor!

1. Connect Your Sensor to Power

  1. Plug your sensor into a power source. Power supplies and adaptors are sold separately. Purchase one here or use any micro-USB cable.
  2. Ensure the sensor’s red power indicator turns on and remains stable. Touch sensors do not have a red LED. Instead, ensure their AQI LEDs turn on.

2. Connect Your Sensor to WiFi

  1. On a WiFi-enabled device, connect to the PurpleAir-**** WiFi network. The asterisks will be the last two to four characters of your sensor’s device ID, depending on its last two octets.
  2. Once connected, your sensor’s configuration page should automatically open. If nothing happens, open a web browser and input https://192.168.4.1 into the address bar. This should open the configuration page.
  3. Navigate to the WiFi Settings tab at the top of the page. Here, you will see a list of nearby WiFi networks that your sensor can see. Select your WiFi network, input the password at the bottom, and click save.
  4. When successfully connected, a WiFi Connected: Looking Good or WiFi Connected: Checking Status message will appear in the top bar. When you see one of these messages, disconnect your WiFi-enabled device from the PurpleAir-**** network. It should then no longer appear in a list of nearby WiFi networks.
  5. If you run into any issues, please refer to our WiFi troubleshooting guide for in-depth information.

3. Register On the Map

  1. Navigate to https://www.purpleair.com/register and fill out the on-screen form.
  2. You will need to provide an associated email address. This is, by default, the purchasing email. If you need a new email associated, send us a message at contact@purpleair.com.
  3. To have your sensor appear on the map, you will need to assign it a map location. This is done during registration in the Map Location section. Either provide the appropriate coordinates or move the red map marker to the correct location.

4. Verify it has Connected

  1. Look at the PurpleAir map in the location where you placed your sensor, or use the link in the registration confirmation email you received to view your sensor on the map and confirm it is online.

5. Identify an Ideal Installation Location

  1. PurpleAir sensors are hyper-local devices, which means they only measure the air in their immediate vicinity. As such, and this may sound a bit obvious, we recommend installing your sensor where you want to measure air quality. This may be on your front porch, in your kitchen, or in your backyard, for example. The answer depends on what you want to use your sensor for.
  2. It is important to note that we have models for both indoor and outdoor use. If you haven’t purchased a sensor yet, consider which is more important to you, if not both.

6. Install the Sensor

  1. Indoor sensors don’t require any special installation, as they were made to sit on a flat surface. All you have to do is plug them in. Outdoor sensors need to be mounted using their respective brackets, which can be done using either the provided screws or the provided zip-ties.
  2. Reconnect your sensor to power.
  3. Verify your sensor is still connected to the internet.
  4. Refer to Step Two if you need to reconnect your sensor to WiFi.

7. Congratulations On Setting Up Your PurpleAir!

You're done! Your sensor is powered on, connected to the internet, installed where you want, and registered on the map.

Note: This article was originally published 07/03/2023 and updated 12/12/2024.

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