Unable to Retrieve Encryption Key – Device Stuck as “Owned by Another User”

[coasttech]

Error Summary (using obfuscated MAC address)

I am unable to retrieve the encryption key for two SwitchBot devices.
Primary errors:
• "not the device owner, status code: 190"
• "parameter keyType invalid, status code: 190" (with keyTypes other than user)
• HTTP 403 on all device discovery endpoints
• Empty responses for certain MAC/keyType combinations

Environment
• OS: macOS
• Python: 3.13 (virtual environment: switchbot-env)
• pySwitchbot: 0.68.2 (latest from repo)
• Region: US
• Account(s): Switchbot@jeremy.wtf (multiple, as explained below)
• All commands run in: Warp terminal

Both devices show identical results.

⸻

Test Results & Steps

1. Authentication & User Info
   • Always successful (✓ Authentication successful, user info returned, region: US)

2. Device Discovery

All endpoints tested:
• wonder/device/v1/list → 403 Forbidden
• wonder/device/list → 403 Forbidden
• device/v1/list → 403 Forbidden
• v1/devices → 403 Forbidden
• wonder/keys/v1/list → Empty response

3. Key Retrieval Attempts

By MAC format (all fail):
• AABBCCDDEEFF (uppercase, no separators) → Empty response
• aabbccddeeff (lowercase, no separators) → “not the device owner, status code: 190”
• AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF (uppercase, with colons) → “not the device owner, status code: 190”
• aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff (lowercase, with colons) → “not the device owner, status code: 190”

By keyType:
• user → Empty response
• admin → “parameter keyType invalid, status code: 190”
• guest → “parameter keyType invalid, status code: 190”
• owner → “parameter keyType invalid, status code: 190”

4. Application-level Error
   • Always fails with:
   Failed to retrieve encryption key from SwitchBot Account: 'communicationKey'

⸻

Detailed Account/Device Troubleshooting Performed
1. Removed device from original account, re-paired to same account:
• Error persists.
2. Removed from original account, created new account, paired device:
• Error persists.
3. Removed from new account, re-paired to original account:
• Error persists.
4. Tested with multiple MAC formats:
• Only “user” keyType does not immediately error (but returns empty).
5. Device is present in the SwitchBot app and Home system and functions as expected.

⸻

Key Findings
1. Multiple error codes: Not just “owned by another user” — also “not the device owner” and “parameter keyType invalid.”
2. Device discovery endpoints (all tested) always return 403 Forbidden.
3. MAC address format affects response: some return empty, some return 190 error.
4. Alternative keyTypes (admin, guest, owner) all rejected (status code 190).
5. Consistent behaviour for two different devices and multiple accounts.

⸻

Questions for SwitchBot / pySwitchbot Maintainers
1. What is the precise meaning of “not the device owner, status code: 190” compared to “owned by another user”? Are they different backend states?
2. Why are all device-listing endpoints returning 403? Is this expected when logged in via the official API?
3. Should “admin”, “guest”, and “owner” keyType parameters work? Or are they deprecated/unsupported?
4. Is there any way to truly reset device ownership and allow another account to claim/pair and generate keys?
5. Is there a way to fully wipe/release the device in the app or via API that would resolve this?
6. Are there backend flags or server-side issues that can block key retrieval even when the device is paired and functional in the app?

⸻

Full Sample Output (Warp Session)

✓ Authentication successful
=== STEP 2: User Info ===
✓ User info retrieved
Using region: us
=== STEP 3: Device Discovery ===
Failed wonder/device/v1/list: 403
Failed wonder/device/list: 403
Failed device/v1/list: 403
Failed v1/devices: 403
wonder/keys/v1/list: Empty response
=== STEP 4: Key Retrieval Attempts ===

Attempt 1: MAC format 'AABBCCDDEEFF'
✓ Response received for MAC 'AABBCCDDEEFF': {}
Empty response

Attempt 2: MAC format 'aabbccddeeff'
❌ Failed with MAC 'aabbccddeeff': not the device owner, status code: 190

Attempt 3: MAC format 'AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF'
❌ Failed with MAC 'AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF': not the device owner, status code: 190

Attempt 4: MAC format 'aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff'
❌ Failed with MAC 'aa:bb:cc:dd:ee:ff': not the device owner, status code: 190

=== STEP 5: Different Key Types ===

Trying keyType: user
Empty response for keyType 'user'

Trying keyType: admin
Failed with keyType 'admin': parameter keyType invalid, status code: 190

Trying keyType: guest
Failed with keyType 'guest': parameter keyType invalid, status code: 190

Trying keyType: owner
Failed with keyType 'owner': parameter keyType invalid, status code: 190

❌ FAILED TO RETRIEVE KEY

I assume that I'm missing something in order for you to assess me so just let me know if I need to provide anything else.

This support request was drafted with the assistance of ChatGPT for clarity and completeness. All troubleshooting steps and outputs were assisted using the Warp terminal.