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What you need for Philips Hue

If you’re wondering, “How do I [insert cool Philips Hue thing here]?”, we’ve got the breakdown of everything you need to make it happen. 

I want to...

Get convenient smart control

Get convenient smart control

Get cool light effects

Get cool light effects

Get outdoor lighting

Get outdoor lighting

Set up a security system

Set up a security system

Get sleep and wake-up lighting

Get sleep and wake-up lighting

Sync lights to TV

Sync lights to TV

Sync lights to music

Sync lights to music

Sync lights to PC

Sync lights to PC

Philips Hue convenient control

I want to...

Get convenient smart control

With this smart lighting setup, you’ll be able to automate your lights, use motion sensors and switches, and control your lights from anywhere using the app.

What you need
- Philips Hue Bridge
- Any Philips Hue light
- Philips Hue app
- Philips Hue motion sensor  (optional)
- Philips Hue dimmer switch (optional)

Can I get convenient smart control without a Bridge?

Yes. Without a Bridge, your lights use Bluetooth to communicate. You won’t get the full suite of features, but a limited set: 

- Control your lights with the Philips Hue app at home 
- Set one-time automations 
- Set timers 
- Get voice control with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa 
- Add smart switches with on/off and dimming functionality 
- Use preset scenes or create your own
- Use light effects, such as Candle and Fireplace

You can always add a Bridge later. Want more info?

 Compare Bluetooth and Bridge features

Philips Hue cool light effects

I want to...

Get cool light effects

Make your house look like an Instagram post. With this smart lighting setup, you’ll be able to set scenes, animate your lights, and use effects. You can even use your smart accessory to set a scene that includes one!

What you need
- Philips Hue Bridge
- Philips Hue White and color ambiance lights
- Philips Hue app
- Philips Hue dimmer or Tap dial switch (optional)

Can I get cool light effects without a Bridge?

Yes. Without a Bridge, your lights use Bluetooth to communicate. You won’t get the full suite of features, but a limited set: 

- Control your lights with the Philips Hue app at home 
- Set one-time automations 
- Set timers 
- Get voice control with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa 
- Add smart switches with on/off and dimming functionality 
- Use preset scenes or create your own
- Use light effects, such as Candle and Fireplace

You can always add a Bridge later. Want more info?

 Compare Bluetooth and Bridge features

Philips Hue outodoor lighting

I want to...

Get outdoor lighting

Ahh, the great outdoors. Make your yard, porch, or patio shine. With this smart lighting setup, you’ll be able to install smart lights outside your home, whether you wire them into the electricity or use Low-volt to place them anywhere in your space. Compare outdoor lights

What you need
- Philips Hue Bridge
- Any Philips Hue outdoor light
- Philips Hue app

Can I get outdoor lighting without a Bridge?

This setup requires a Bridge. 

Philips Hue security system

I want to...

Set up a security system

Get a full-home security system. With this setup, you’ll be able to monitor your home in real-time with smart security devices, such as cameras and sensors.

What you can use
- Philips Hue Bridge
- Any Philips Hue light
- Philips Hue Secure camera
- Philips Hue Secure contact sensor
- Philips Hue motion sensor

How do I build a Philips Hue Secure setup?

Philips Hue Secure gives you access to the Security Center in the Philips Hue app, where you can monitor your home. All of the above devices can be used as part of the security system. Mix and match to customize it to your needs!

If you have a Bridge, you can add any Philips Hue light and smart security device to your setup.

If you don’t have a Bridge, you can only use Secure cameras, and you won’t be able to set up advanced notifications. You also won’t be able to use any Philips Hue lights with the camera. 

See the features of our home security system

Philips Hue sleep & wake-up lighting

I want to...

Get sleep and wake-up lighting

Smart lighting for better wellbeing. With this smart lighting setup, you’ll be able to create Wake up and Go to sleep automations and use the Natural light scene.

What you need
- Philips Hue Bridge
- Philips Hue White ambiance or White and color ambiance lights
- Philips Hue app

Can I get sleep and wake-up lighting without a Bridge?

This setup requires a Bridge. 

Philips Hue sync lights to TV

I want to...

Sync lights to TV

We know you’re like, “Why would I need that?” But trust us — you'll get it. With this smart lighting setup, you’ll be able to sync your lights to TV shows, movies, or console games. 

What you need
- Philips Hue Bridge
- Philips Hue White and color ambiance lights
- Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box or the Philips Hue Sync TV app*
- Philips Hue app

*The sync box can be used with any TV that uses HDMI-connected devices, such as a set-top box, streaming device, or gaming console. The Sync TV app is compatible with certain Samsung TVs.

Can I sync lights to my TV without a Bridge?

This setup requires a Bridge. 

Philips Hue sync lights to music

I want to...

Sync lights to music

Make your lights move to the beat. With this smart lighting setup, you’ll be able to sync your lights to music.

What you need
- Philips Hue Bridge
- Philips Hue White and color ambiance lights
- Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box (optional)*
- Philips Hue app

*If you have a Spotify account, you can sync music directly from the Philips Hue app. If you want to sync music via another service, you can use the Philips Hue Play HDMI sync box. 

Can I sync lights to my music without a Bridge?

This setup requires a Bridge. 

Philips Hue sync lights to PC

I want to...

Sync lights to PC

Gamers get it. With this smart lighting setup, you’ll be able to sync your lights to anything on your computer screen.

What you need
- Philips Hue Bridge
- Philips Hue White and color ambiance lights
- Philips Hue Sync desktop app
- Philips Hue app

Can I sync lights to my PC without a Bridge?

This setup requires a Bridge. 

Questions & answers

Why do some setups require a Philips Hue Bridge?

Some features, such as syncing lights to a TV screen, are a little more advanced. There is some complex computing going on inside the Bridge that makes all these features possible. 

What do I do with my regular switches?

Ignore them — or cover them up! You just need to make sure that they’re always on. If you (or someone in your home) just keeps switching them off, you can install a Philips Hue wall switch module to let it control your smart lights. 

What happens if someone turns off the light switch? 

Smart lights need to be connected to power in order for you to control them. The Philips Hue lights in your app will show as “unreachable,” and you won’t be able to control them until the switch is turned back on. 

Can I start with Bluetooth and add a Bridge later?

Absolutely! All Philips Hue lights are Zigbee-ready, so you can switch to a Bridge any time.

What about my lamps that have integrated non-smart lights? 

Philips Hue makes a smart plug that you can use to control your non-smart lights with the Philips Hue app. Just plug your light into the smart plug, and add the smart plug to your system.  

Do I always have to use the app to control my lights?

Nope! There are plenty of ways to control Philips Hue smart lights. You can set up automations, so your lights turn on and off on a schedule. You can install dimmer switches, Tap dial switches, or smart buttons if you prefer a physical switch. You can also use voice control — just pair your setup with your smart home assistant.

What’s the difference between a smart hub and a Bridge?

Nothing — the Bridge is a smart hub!  

Where in my house is a good place to start?

It depends on what you want to do with your smart lights. Most people start in the living room or bedroom. Wherever you start, make sure you first put multiple lights in the same room — that’s how you see the true effect of the lighting. 

Do I have to be “techy” to use smart lights?

We don’t think so! The Philips Hue app guides you through setup, and installation is as simple as...well, screwing in a light bulb.

What if I have a physical dimmer switch instead of a light switch?

You should remove wired dimmer switches, as they can interfere with the smart lights.

How it works

How it works

Dive deep into the inner workings of Philips Hue.

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App

App

See what you can do with our award-winning app.

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*When a bulb displays "Up to" a certain number of lumens in its specifications, it displays the maximum lumen output of the bulb. It shows how bright the bulb can get at 2700 K (White bulbs) or 4000 K (White ambiance or White and color ambiance bulbs). Learn more about brightness. 

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