This is the solution right here. Was having trouble with my Aqara door/window sensors, this did the trick.
Was there a recent change? I have several Aqara door / window sensors and they used to be very easy to instal, but when I added one recently I had this problem – and pressing the button every 2-3 seconds did not help.
I am anyway suspicious of this solution …
- (a) the device knows it is pairing, so so why would it go to sleep?
- (b) might not pressing the reset button reset the pairing process on the device and therefore stop it from completing the interview?
Hello everyone!
I’m kinda new at Home Assistant and the whole automation stuff.
I have a bit different problem with my Aqara H1 wall switch. I use a SONOFF Zigbee USB Stick with ZHA and when I try to add the switch to HA, it finds the switch in a few seconds, but then it gets stuck on “Interview complete, configuring”, and evetually times out. Then I get a “SEARCH AGAIN” button but nothing happens.
Since I have a spare SONOFF Zigbee bridge, I tried to add the switch to it on my phone and it went successfully in a few seconds.
Did anyone run into the same problem?
Well…somehow I did it 
I really don’t know what the ultimate solution was, but now it works.
I’v tried to pair the switch at least a dozen times, sometimes it couldn’t be found, other times it was found but just partially.
I’ve also tried to pait the switch through another device, since I have some Philips HUE bulbs, and they are showing up as Zigbee routers. It went almost well once, seemingly the paring was finished, but then at every click on the switch in HA I got the message that the device is offline (or something like that).
Then at one try as I was about to remove the device again, something happened and suddenly all the entities showed and it is working well ever since.
Sorry if someone is looking for a solution to the same problem, all I can suggest is to try and try again.
After operating flawlessly for many months, one of my Aqara mini switches went offline for no apparent reason. The battery is fine. After removing the device from ZHA I tried to pair it up again. ZHA finds it and starts the interview but it doesn’t complete. I have tried dozens of times over the last couple of days. I have tried the pressing-the-button-every-2-seconds-to-keep-it-awake solution until I tired. No joy.
What if the switch circuitry is simply malfunctioning? I used it as a garage door opener and as a result it stays in my car. In this heat, I wonder if the device overheated one day when the car was parked in the sun and one or some of its electronic components fried?
There have been zigbee issues, specifically with zha, ever since 2023.5
No permanent resolution has been posted that I have seen.
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there’s a ticket open here: ZHA onboarding fails — stuck at “Starting Interview” · Issue #99497 · home-assistant/core · GitHub
And that problem still exist in 2024…
It´s actually hard work entering a Osram/Ledvance that way… 
Thanks. Working with Moes 3Gang Zigbee “Scene Switch”, too.
Same problem, after removing 2 different types of lamps that have been working for weeks, suddenly they are all stuck at “Starting interview”.
I have an Aquara Mini Wireless (Aqara Wireless Mini Switch WXKG11LM Zigbee compatibility) previously connected via Zigbee2MQTT and that I wanted to join a ZHA network (I am moving from Z2M to ZHA).
First, it did not show up at all, then was stuck in starting interview.
I removed the battery for 30 minutes (it helped me in the past) and then tried again. I was clicking everything during the interview (the main button and the pairing button) and, behold, it got paired at last!
As unk_model by unk_manufacturer 
I am writing this here for the ones who are trying - do not lose hope! I will open a new question for this unk_model thing…
EDIT: I removed the device and re-added it. This time it worked, waaaaay quicker than the first time. The model is correctly recognized now.
This Zigbee protocol is really weird.
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I had today (15.06.2024) the same problem, but it was caused by the distance between sensor and Zigbee hub. When I reduced the distance to 5 meters all was running like a charm.
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Other than replacing batteries with frah ones you should try to follow tips here:
Hello to all,
I’ve same trouble but only with two IKEA devices, with AQARA it works perfectly.
With IKEA, ZHA only show “starting inteview”, I tried everything but no solution till now.
Any idea?
thank you.
There are almost a hundred different zigbee Ikea devices. If you tell us which specific models you’re having trouble with, we might be able to help you.
TRÅDFRI Signal repeater is stuck on “starting interview”, I tried everything.
I use DONGLE-P as cordinator and DONGLE-E flashed with repeater firmware.
thanks
I’m guessing you have this model. Read the notes under “Pairing” - you need to use a paperclip and make sure it’s firmly pressed in for it to go into pairing mode.
yes, I have that model, I tried several times, nothing to do.
It remains stuck on “starting interview”.
I have a TS0201_TZ3000_dowj6gyi with the same problem: had it working fine for a long time, battery had to be replaced, replaced battery, tried to onboard again, got discovered saying ‘Device found … Starting interview’ showing IEEE (mac address?) and NWK, but never finished onboarding (devices stopped pairing mode before any other step in HA is done)
For me, the SOLUTION was to update the firmware of my (Electrolama) Zigbee stick: after doing that, the TS0201 paired immediately.
Same problem - ledvance zigbee plug and sonoff dongle (TICC2652). Other devices have taught in OK with this dongle. I tried many things with ledvance plugs, finally I just plugged it in the same room where zigbee dongle is. Then it paired almost instantly. After configuring it, I moved it to desired location and it still works…
Exact same behaviour with both plugs I have, so probably this helps at least someone.