New Zwift Bike connection carols and bike to same app

Hi
I have just bought a brand new zwift bike and I am VERY much looking forward to trying it I have BIG problems connecting both devices (controllers and Wahoo-kickr) to the same app (I have an iPhone 14 pro and everything is up to date)

  1. my problem is that the zwift companion app can only see my control bars but NOT my whaoo kicker and the zwift app can only see my wahoo kicker

  2. I can’t get it to work at the same time - which is very mysterious when I can see both parts, however, on separate apps.

  3. have seen all the youtube guides to get it working and read support with turning the device off and on and the same with apps

Does anyone have a simple guide on how to get it working? thanks

Hello @Ulrikko_Jantzen welcome to Zwift forums.

Shuji at Zwift HQ here. I looked at your server log history and see a Tacx Smart Bike and a KICKR Core being paired to Zwift recently. I also see you logged in from an iPad7 and a iPhone 15 at the same time, which is a mistake - more on this later.

Please confirm that I understand your question - you bought the Zwift Ride and a KICKR Core, and you can’t pair the Ride’s controllers to the game?

If the KICKR’s firmware isn’t using a firmware that supports virtual shifting, the Ride controllers will not pair to Zwift. It’s very likely that your KICKR Core’s firmware needs to be updated to a version that supports virtual shifting. That is done on Wahoo’s mobile app, not with the Zwift Companion app. See instructions on Wahoo’s support site.

I will trust that your Ride Controller’s firmware has been updated in the Zwift Companion app, but this is also one of the prerequisites. I’m linking instructions to update Ride firmware for others who google their way to this discussion in the future.

In the Zwift pairing screen, pair in this sequence:

  1. Power: Click on the icon to verify you’re pairing to the Bluetooth signal, not ANT. Virtual shifting will fail if you’re paired via ANT.
  2. Resistance: Must also be paired over Bluetooth, or your Ride controllers will not pair.
  3. Cadence
  4. Controller: Pair to the controllers after Power and Resistance.
  5. Heart Rate Monitor

In your case @Ulrikko_Jantzen I imagine you’re trying to troubleshoot by logging in to the iPad and the iPhone? Don’t do that. If the iPad is your preferred Zwifting device - uninstall the main Zwift app from your iPhone. Logging in from two different devices will also interfere because your trainer’s signals might be bonded to device 1 when you log in to device 2.

Additionally for mobile device users - always log out of Zwift by saving and exiting (or trashing and exiting). This tells the server that you intentionally ended your session. After a proper log out - it’s also a good idea to force-close the app, rather than just swiping into the background. This clears the temp files on your phone, so that the Zwift app runs better.

It’s a lot to absorb, I know. But please try these best practices and you should be able to Zwift trouble-free. Let us know if that solves the Zwift Ride pairing issues?


Hi Shuji,

Thank you so much for you answer -

I will try to update my zwift bike with wahoo-kickr (it is at my work) and I hope it will connect. But is it correctly understood that I must first download the whoo app and do an update and then connect via the Zwift companion app?

and when a connection is established will I be able to find both parts in my zwift app?

I am in doubt whether the below is possible or whether I can create a new user or have an extra device, for example an iPad more?

I have at home af tax neo Bike From where I drive along in the iPad 7 - never from my iPhone. But the zwift app and companion zwift are installed on my IPhone.
My hope was that I could drive both at work in everyday life on my Iphone and when I was at home I could drive on my Ipad, is this possible?

Ok, I just need to understand it is NOT possible to have 2 different bikes (Zwift bike and a Tacx Neo bike) at two different addresses and use the same app?
And I use 2 different iPads which are fixed to the individual bike (so that the iPads are not moved!)

Thanks for writing back @Ulrikko_Jantzen

The rule is: use the manufacturer’s app to update their hardware. The firmware for your Wahoo trainer must be updated using the Wahoo app. If that trainer has old firmware, it may not support Virtual Shifting. If it doesn’t support Virtual Shifting, your Zwift Ride controllers will not work.

The Zwift Ride firmware must be updated using the Zwift Companion app, as we are the manufacturer of the smart frame.

Yes. Once the firmware on the KICKR Core and Zwift Ride are both updated, you’ll see both of them in the main Zwift app. Again - the sequence of pairing your devices is important. Always in this order:

  1. Power: Must be over Blueooth, not ANT+
  2. Resistance: also over Bluetooth
  3. Cadence
  4. Controller: Power and Resistance must be paired first.
  5. Heart Rate Monitor (if using).

Yes, you can use the main Zwift app on the iPhone all the time, if that is your preference.
I am a little confused by your situation - are you saying that you have a trainer at your workplace and also at home?

Are you asking if you can start a session at work, leave that session open, and continue the same session at home? No. Zwift is not designed for that use case. That will cause you problems. Always finish the session you started at work by saving-and-exiting (or trashing-and-exiting).

The Companion app will not work correctly if it’s installed on the same iPhone as the main Zwift app. It is designed to run on a smartphone, and connect to the main Zwift app running on a separate laptop, table, or Apple TV.