How to Use Your Philips Hue Home Automation Device

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction: Philips Hue Home Automation System

Welcome to Hue! This will give you basic tools to use your new smart home lighting system.

There are a number of kits and lights out there. To better help explore the features of your Hue system, it helps to determine which system you have.

Hue Bridge

Hue Dimmer

2. Philips Hue: App/Bridge/Pair

With a Hue bridge and the Hue app on your phone, you have complete control over your home's lighting.

3. Philips Hue: App Basics

1. Open the Philips Hue App on your smartphone or tablet.
   

1. The first screen you'll be greeted with allows you to control each room in your house as a whole.
   

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2. The switch at the very top lets you turn on and off all the Hue lights in your home.
3. Each switch next to the room turns on and off that room's lights.
4. The slider beneath each room lets you dim or brighten all the lights in that room.
5. Tap the room itself, and you can control each light individually in that room.
   

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2. The switch at the top turns on and off the Hue lights in the whole room.
3. The switch next to each light turns on or off just that light.
4. The slider beneath each allows you to make it dimmer or brighter.

4. Philips Hue: Scenes

Scenes allow you to adjust the colors of your lights (if they are color bulbs), and create unique mood lighting for watching a movie or to match your decor.

1. Open the Philips Hue App on your smartphone or tablet.
   

1. Tap a room, then tap Scenes at the bottom.
   

1. Choose a default scene, or tap the Plus icon in the corner to define a new one.
   

1. You can base your scenes off a picture, or directly on each light. Follow the easy, step-by-step instructions on the screen to walk you through creating your perfect lighting scene!

5. Philips Hue: Schedules

You can setup schedules, such as wake up, bedtime, or when you return home from work, so your home is always bright and inviting!

Tap Routines at the bottom, and the app will walk you through, step by step, setting up each for your custom automated home lighting.

6. Philips Hue: Further Options

You can control your home lighting from any computer using your web browser, even when you're away from home.

Visit https://my.meethue.com/ on your computer, or just use the app on your phone!

You can also add your smart lighting to your Alexa or Google Home speaker, allowing you to control your lights with a voice command.

• For Alexa, open the Alexa app, tap the settings icon in the corner, and choose Smart Home, follow the instructions on screen.
• For Google Home, open the Google Home app, tap the settings icon in the corner, and choose Home control, then follow the instructions on screen.

7. Philips Hue: Bridge

The Philips Hue Bridge provides a 'brain' for the rest of your Hue smart home products to connect to, and save your settings, extending and enhancing the experience!

You will not need to interact regularly with your hub, it provides the brains of your Philips Hue network. To connect a new device to your Hue Network, be it a light, switch, or motion sensor, you'll just need the app on your phone or tablet.

Let's take a look at the Bridge itself:

1. The first light lets you know it's got power.
2. The second light lets you know it's connected to your router's Wi-Fi network.
3. The third light lets you know it has a functional Internet connection.
4. The fourth light, the soft blue ring around the Philips logo, lets you know the special network your lights and other devices communicate with is up and ready to use!

8. Philips Hue: Pair Device

Your Hue system is easily extendable with a variety of different devices, as well as more lights.

9. Philips Hue: Pair Light

Pairing a new light is easy! You can have up to 50 lights in your Hue Home setup at once.

1. Make sure the light is turned off.
2. Screw in your new Hue light, or plug in your new Hue light.
3. Switch the power back on.
4. Open the Philips Hue App on your smartphone or tablet.
   

1. Tap Settings, then Light Setup.
2. Tap the plus icon in the bottom-right corner, to add a new light.
3. Tap search, to search for your new light.
4. Your new light will appear in the list at the top. Tap the light, and the light will blink to confirm the connection.
5. Tap the arrow to the right of your new light, and give it a name.
6. Tap Room Setup at the top.
7. Select the room your light is in.
8. Your light is now automatically included in any timers or scenes you have setup!

10. Philips Hue: Pair Motion Sensor

Pairing a new motion sensor is easy! You can have up to 10 motion sensors in your Hue Home setup at once.

1. Open the Philips Hue App on your smartphone or tablet.
   

1. Tap Settings, then Accessory Setup.
2. Tap the plus icon in the bottom-right corner, to add a new motion sensor.
3. Tap Hue motion sensor.
4. Remove the small plastic strip at the bottom of your motion sensor, and make sure the orange LED is flashing slowly.
5. Tap LED blinking at the bottom.
6. Select the room your motion sensor is in.
7. Follow the guidance on screen to place your motion sensor to cover your room.
8. Tap Got it at the bottom.
9. The default settings, based on the room the motion sensor is in, will be shown, so you'll understand how your motion sensor will work.

11. Philips Hue: Pair Tap Switch/Dimmer Switch

Pair Tap Switch

1. Open the Philips Hue App on your smartphone or tablet.
   

1. Tap the gear icon in the corner, then tap Switch setup.
2. Tap the Hue Tap icon.
3. The app will tell you to push and hold one of the 4 buttons on the Tap. Follow the instructions on screen.
4. After it's paired, the app will lead you through attaching scenes and lights to your new Hue Tap.

Pair Dimmer Switch

1. Open the Philips Hue App on your smartphone or tablet.
   

1. Tap the gear icon in the corner, then tap Switch setup.
2. Tap the Dimmer Switch icon.
3. The app will tell you to push and hold one of the 4 buttons on the Dimmer. Follow the instructions on screen.
4. After it's paired, the app will lead you through attaching rooms and lights to your new Hue Dimmer Switch.

12. Philips Hue: Dimmer Use

With your Hue Dimmer Switch, you can control your lights from a convenient, physical set of buttons. You can mount it to a wall or counter to keep your lights within easy reach!

On ButtonThe top button turns on the lights attached to the dimmer.Brighter ButtonThe second button brightens the lights.Dimmer ButtonThe third button dims the lights.Off ButtonThe bottom button turns the lights off.

The Hue Dimmer Switch is designed to work without a hub, directly with Hue Lights. Up to 10 bulbs can be controlled directly by the Dimmer Switch.

13. Philips Hue: Pair Light to Dimmer

It is simple and fast to add a new light to your dimmer switch. You can control up to 10 lights with your dimmer.

1. Make sure the light is turned off.
2. Screw in your new Hue light, or plug in your new Hue light.
3. Switch the power back on.
4. Hold the dimmer switch close (about 3"-6" away) to the bulb.
5. Push and hold the Power button on your dimmer switch.
6. The light will flash briefly, letting you know it's attached to the dimmer.