AcuRite PC Connect and SmartHub: Legacy Setup and Migration Guide
PC Connect can still move readings from selected Iris displays to a Windows computer, while SmartHub service ended in 2019 and My AcuRite users are now being directed toward AcuRite NOW.
Identify the connection device before troubleshooting
AcuRite has used several paths to move personal weather station data beyond the indoor display. PC Connect is Windows software that receives readings through a USB cable from specific indoor displays. SmartHub was a small network device that listened for compatible sensors and sent their data through an internet connection. AcuRite Access followed SmartHub, while newer stations may use a direct-to-Wi-Fi display or a current AcuRite connection path.
The equipment names are not interchangeable. A sensor that once worked with SmartHub does not automatically work with every direct Wi-Fi display. A display with a USB port does not automatically support PC Connect. Find the model number on the display, sensor, or connection device, then use the matching AcuRite support category and compatibility chart.
| Device or service | How to recognize it and what it means now |
|---|---|
| PC Connect | A compatible indoor display connects to a Windows computer by USB. The software can save CSV files and share readings while the computer remains on. |
| SmartHub | Model 09150-era network hardware with Ethernet and no full weather display. AcuRite ended service and support in 2019. |
| AcuRite Access | A later Ethernet connection device for compatible sensors and cloud viewing. It is not the same product as SmartHub or PC Connect. |
| Direct-to-Wi-Fi display | The display itself connects to the network. Features and compatibility depend on its exact model. |
| AcuRite NOW | The current app direction for migrated My AcuRite users. It does not turn unsupported legacy hardware into a compatible connection device. |
What PC Connect still does
AcuRite describes PC Connect as a way to share readings from one Iris 5-in-1 station with My AcuRite and Weather Underground and to store readings on the computer. The software shows connection status, schedules CSV transfers, adjusts units and supported calibrations, and manages sharing. Continuous online sharing requires the software to remain open, the computer to remain awake, and the internet connection to remain active.
The current AcuRite download page calls PC Connect a legacy product. Its documented Windows requirements list Windows 8, 8.1, and 10. AcuRite warns that a Windows 11 computer may not run the program and suggests a computer with a compatible operating system if it does not. Mac support for connection to My AcuRite ended in 2019.
PC Connect version 2.0.4 is the version named in AcuRite’s current FAQ. The software does not include automatic updating. Download only from the official AcuRite support link, remove earlier versions as directed, and use an administrator account for installation. A copied installer from an unknown file-sharing site adds unnecessary security risk.
Compatible display behavior
Display models 06039/02064 and 01536/06056 do not require a USB mode selection according to the FAQ. Models 01025, 01035, 01036, 01525, and 02032/06037 must be set to USB or PC Connect mode 3 before connection. These examples show why the label on the display matters more than the outdoor sensor name.
- Connect the display directly with a known-good USB data cable.
- Confirm the software status shows the indoor display and recent incoming data.
- Keep the display at least three feet from the computer, router, and other electronics when reception is weak.
- Prevent sleep only on a machine dedicated and secured for the task.
- Record the installer version and display model with the station notes.
Preserve local CSV data before changing the setup
Local CSV transfer is the feature that can justify keeping PC Connect. It provides a file the owner can inspect, archive, chart, or import into another tool. Before reinstalling software, changing computers, replacing a display, or moving to a new platform, copy the entire AcuRite Weather Station data folder to a separate drive and open several files to confirm they contain readable timestamps and measurements.
AcuRite warns that PC Connect cannot write a scheduled transfer while the CSV file is open. Close the file in Excel or another program before the next transfer time. A file that is merely visible in a folder is not a problem, while one held open by an editor can cause the scheduled data to be lost.
Document units, calibration offsets, elevation or pressure settings, USB mode, Weather Underground station ID, and the last successful timestamp. Do not publish passwords or station keys in a screenshot or shared spreadsheet. When moving to another computer, keep the original machine unchanged until the replacement has produced a complete new file and, if needed, a successful online update.
Weather Underground Rapid Fire can send data as often as every 18 seconds when configured. Cloud dashboards may update on a different schedule. A slower app display does not necessarily mean that the USB connection failed. Check the PC Connect status and the actual file timestamp before resetting the whole station.
SmartHub is historical hardware, not a current path
AcuRite stopped SmartHub production and sales before extending its final service and support date to February 28, 2019. The former device depended on AcuRite’s service to provide its intended cloud connection. A used SmartHub should not be purchased as a way to restore current remote monitoring.
SmartHub’s useful lesson is that sensor compatibility and service availability are separate questions. A radio may still transmit, yet the network service that made a gateway useful can be gone. Replacing SmartHub therefore means choosing a currently supported connection device that accepts the exact sensors or choosing a complete current station. It does not mean searching for another SmartHub on a marketplace.
AcuRite Access was the announced replacement during the SmartHub transition. Current availability, account support, and sensor compatibility should be checked directly with AcuRite before buying old Access stock. A direct-to-Wi-Fi display or a current station package may offer a simpler supported route, depending on which sensors the owner wants to retain.
Choose a migration path by the feature you need
Local CSV is essential
Keep a stable compatible Windows computer offline from unnecessary tasks, maintain backups, and avoid changing working hardware until a replacement workflow has been tested. Accept that Windows 11 is not guaranteed and that the software is legacy.
Remote viewing matters most
Follow AcuRite’s AcuRite NOW transition instructions for an existing My AcuRite account. AcuRite says migrated sensors and data should appear after the password-reset flow, while My AcuRite remains available during migration work.
A supported gateway is required
List every sensor model, then compare it with current AcuRite connection devices. Replace the complete system when the desired sensors, app, sharing, and support path cannot be combined reliably.
Confirm the whole route
Verify the current station or software supports sharing, preserve the station ID and key securely, and confirm the latest observation appears after the change. Do not assume every AcuRite NOW path includes the same sharing feature.
AcuRite states that the My AcuRite app is winding down and directs users toward AcuRite NOW. The company also says My AcuRite remains available while migration issues are addressed. Follow the live AcuRite instructions because account steps, app availability, web access, and premium features can change faster than legacy hardware documentation.
Use a staged migration. Export local files, photograph settings, list model numbers, confirm account access, install the current app, and verify the latest readings before disconnecting any working computer or gateway. Keep one rollback point until the new path has survived several normal update cycles and a sensor battery change.
Frequently asked questions
Does PC Connect work on Windows 11?
AcuRite does not list Windows 11 among the supported requirements and warns that the software may not run on it. A compatible Windows 8, 8.1, or 10 computer is the documented fallback.
Can PC Connect run on a Mac?
AcuRite ended formal Mac support for connection to My AcuRite in 2019. The current download page provides a Windows version.
Can a SmartHub still be used for My AcuRite?
No supported service path should be expected. AcuRite ended SmartHub service and support on February 28, 2019 and had already stopped production and sales.
Will AcuRite NOW replace local CSV exports?
Do not assume that it will. PC Connect’s local CSV function and a mobile cloud app solve different needs. Preserve files and verify the exact current export options before retiring the computer workflow.
Sources and further reading
- AcuRite Support — PC Connect category
- AcuRite Support — PC Connect features
- AcuRite Support — download and install PC Connect
- AcuRite Support — PC Connect FAQ
- AcuRite Support — PC Connect for Mac end of life
- AcuRite — SmartHub end of service and support
- AcuRite — My AcuRite to AcuRite NOW transition
Compare current station families and owner accessories before replacing a working connection path.