How does Philips Hue work?
As soon as you arrive home your Philips Hue lightbulbs will light up automatically, setting the mood and making you feel welcome.
That’s the Philips Hue effect. And it’s as simple as can be, with just three parts:
• Your Philips Hue bulbs
• The Philips Hue Bridge
• Your smartphone with the Philips Hue app
You choose the tone you want using the colour wheel on the app. The Bridge relays this information to the lightbulb in an instant. And the lightbulb changes colour and brightness.
It doesn’t require an internet connection – the Hue Bridge will still connect with your phone even when your Wi-Fi is down.
It’s lightning-fast, meaning you change colours in real time to find the perfect shade.
And it’s secure, so you won’t have to worry about interference from other app users.
Setting up your Philips Hue
Phillips Hue is easy to install and only takes a few minutes.
1. Start by screwing in your Philips Hue bulb. It’s just like a regular lightbulb. Make sure you check whether you need Edison screws or bayonet caps before purchasing.
2. Now set up the Bridge: Stick the power cable in, then connect it to your Wi-Fi router using the Ethernet cable. Wait for the three blue lights to come on.
3. Then, make sure you’ve installed the latest version of the Philips Hue app. You can find it by searching for ‘Philips Hue’ on the App Store or Google Play. Connect with the Bridge by pressing setup, then pressing the Link button on your Bridge.
4. And that’s all it takes! Start exploring the features on the app to get your lighting the way you want it.
You can group bulbs in the same room...
If you have multiple lights in the same room, group them all together in the app to set them all to the same colour.
Or, you can leave them ungrouped to create some funky colour combos.
… and link your whole house
If you want to control every light in your house from one phone, you can. Simply link each new bulb to the Philips Hue app.
Every bulb you install acts as a range extender, so no matter where you are in your home, you’ll have no trouble controlling any bulb.
There are loads of bulbs to choose from, including spotlights and garden lights.
Can’t decide on a colour? Choose a pre-made theme
With over 30 scenes to choose from, use multiple bulbs to transform any room in your house into a scene from around the world – from a glowing Tokyo side-street to a gorgeous Indian sunset.
Set timers for convenience
Philips Hue can help you drift off and wake up. Set a timer on your bulbs to have them dim out in the evening and gently turn on in the morning. It’s like having your own personal cuckoo.
You can also set shorter timers and, when times up, the lights in your room will start flashing to remind you. Great for knowing when dinner’s ready!
Go hands-free!
Just waltz in the room, say a voice command (something like, “Turn on Ruby Glow in the living room”) and bam, just like that the lights come on. It’s the most stylish way to bring a room to life – guaranteed to dazzle guests.
Add in all sorts of accessories
Your Philips Hue set-up can be upgraded with all sorts of optional extras. Control the mood with a Philips Hue Dimmer Switch. Receive a warm welcome to any room by installing Motion Sensors. Fed up of tired old light switches? Replace them with a Philips Hue Tap Switch with multiple mood settings.
Hue Sync brings your media to life like never before
Philips Hue Sync is a tool for PC or Mac that can tune your Philips Hue bulbs to the content on your screen. So when you’re watching a movie, listening to music or playing video games, the lights change to suit the ambience.
That means you can immerse yourself like never before. Make your whole room part of the on-screen action.
Here’s how to get Hue Sync going:
• Make sure your Bridge and bulbs are set up
• Use the Philips Hue app to create a new entertainment area
• Use the Philips Hue Sync app on your PC (requires Windows 10) or Mac (requires Sierra/High Sierra) to get started
Philips Hue FAQ
Here are some of the most common questions people have about the Philips Hue:
Does Philips Hue work without internet?
You’ll need to plug your Bridge into a Wi-Fi router to get your Philips Hue bulbs set up, but after that you won’t need internet.
Why isn’t my Philips Hue bulb turning on?
Make sure your light switch is turned on at the wall or socket and that your dimmer is turned all the way up.
How do I get voice commands to work?
You’ll need to link your Philips Hue to your voice assistant. Philips Hue works with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant.
Which products work with Philips Hue?
Philips Hue products in the range can be connected via a single Bridge and app, so you can keep adding as many bulbs as you need.
