Philips Hue: general questions
Follow the three steps from the video below:
1) Screw in: The Hue lights fit into your existing fittings. Screw them in and switch them on using the regular switches.
2) Link up: Start up the Bridge. Connect it to your modem using the included network cable. Then wait for the three lights to come on.
3) Connect: Download the free Hue app for Apple or Android. Connect the Bridge to the app, find your lights, and give them a name. And voilà!
Note: the video shows the installation with an old Bridge. However, the installation procedure with the new Bridge has remained largely the same.
In the Philips Hue Starter Kits, the Hue Bridge and LED bulbs are already connected at the factory.
1) Connect your new Bridge to your modem using the supplied network cable.
2) Check that all three lights of the new Bridge are on.
3) In the app, go to Settings - My Bridge and select - Prepare transfer for Bridge transfer. Then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
Make sure you have downloaded the latest version of the Philips Hue app!
In the Hue application menu, go to Settings > My lights. Then choose ‘Find new lights’. Click ‘Start searching’. The app displays ‘search’ again; this may take a while. The app now finds the new light(s). Watch the video with step-by-step instructions below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPbP_SRfiew&list=PL_BoSHsfGxu_ip2CvAETSJghpwMKlwf_B&index=12&t=0s
Open the application and go to Settings - My lights - Connect new lights and find the lights automatically or manually via the serial numbers on the lights.
Hue is compatible with any Apple device running iOS 10 or later, as well as any device running Android 7.0 or later.
Download the app via the App Store for iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/philips-hue-gen-2/id1055281310?ls=1&mt=8
Or via Google Play for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.philips.lighting.hue2
Maybe you want to control your lights with your phone and your tablet? Or maybe even more than one phone? No problem. Just download the Hue application to all the devices and you can get started. You can control your Hue system from up to ten different devices.
It is possible to connect two Bridges to the Hue App. Go to settings, click on Hue Bridges, and there you will find the Add Bridge button. Then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
Hue lights are not compatible with dimmers. It is recommended to replace it with a switch.
You can connect up to 50 lights to one Bridge (Friends of Hue products included).
You can create up to 90 scenes; we hope this is enough to satisfy your creativity.
Hue can mimic all the colours you give it. Choose one of the pre-programmed scenes, choose one from your photo album, or take a new photo and use that one. Keep in mind that the Hue probably can’t show off that photograph you took of a black cat against a black background at night in all its glory.
We recommend a Wi-Fi connection to control your lights at home. You can also use mobile Internet, but it will be slower and you won’t be able to create new scenes. You need to be online with your phone or tablet to control the lights. If you want to be able to control the lights while you’re away from home, make sure your Hue app is connected to your Hue account and that the account is linked to the Hue Bridge.
If you are within range of your Wi-Fi network at home, you can control your lights. It’s that easy. However, you can actually control your lights when you are on the other side of the world using your mobile data. Just make sure that your Bridge and app have access to your Hue account.
First, you must register on the Hue website. Then you need to link your Bridge to your Hue account. The next time you start the Hue app, go to settings and choose ‘log in to portal’. Log in to your account and you’re ready to go. Please note that you must be connected to your home network the first time you set up the out-of-home functionality. Also note that you will need a 3G/4G connection if you are not in range of your Wi-Fi network.
Yes, you can. Just tap the slider in the Hue app to see if the lights are on or off. You can also visit the Hue website and log in to ‘My Hue’. You can see the status of all your lights here too.
If you have switched off your lights with the switch on the wall or you have, e.g. pulled out a floor light, of course, we cannot say what your lights are doing, but we do let you know that we can no longer communicate with this light via a small warning icon. In this case, you can always use ‘all off’ to make sure all lights are off.
Another thing Hue can do! Be creative. You can save up to 90 different scenes. We hope that’s enough to keep your lighting varied. To save a new scene, press the + button on the app homepage. Then it’s just a matter of creativity. Saving your favourite light settings – dimmed, colour, saturation – is simple and you can do it for all your balloons. You can choose them yourself, pick them from a photo, or just use one of the presets that are standard in Hue.
Once you’ve saved a few preferred scenes, you can easily assign them to all your lights by selecting the scene. If you really want to be the smart one, you can even group all the lights according to their location in the house. This way, you can assign one scene to one room and another scene to the next one. You can even set a certain light to switch on or off at a programmed time. Or maybe you want the light to go out slowly to help you fall asleep or get brighter to help you wake up?
You can always switch your Hue lights on and off using the (wall) switch.
You can always switch your Hue lights on and off using the (wall) switch. In case of a freestanding lamp, you just have to plug them in to make them work.
You can also control your lights via the Hue website (www.meethue.com). You just need to see that you have ‘remote control’ enabled.
The system has out-of-home functionality, so your mobile phone can still operate the system even if you aren’t receiving a Wi-Fi signal. The lights normally work wherever you receive a Wi-Fi signal from the network to which your Bridge is paired. However, if you have a large house and use Wi-Fi amplifiers, you may experience problems. In this case, you can place an extra Hue light between the Bridge and the difficult-to-control light. It will function as a ‘repeater’ and, of course, has the same advantages as your other Hue lights.
No problem. You can operate each light individually and even create a separate scene for it! Just click on the slider at the bottom of the homepage. If you are on a mobile device, you can rotate the device to see the full colour spectrum.
Get started with the Hue Sync app. This app listens to the beat of the song and the type of music. This analysis creates a light script. Immediately enjoy a completely new music experience thanks to the adjusted light moods. You can also use the app to adjust the intensity of the effects to your own preference.
When it comes to light, we know what we’re talking about. This also includes the health and welfare benefits that light can bring. We have even translated science into practice with lighting projects in schools and hospitals. It is that science that we have also incorporated in Hue settings that we like to call LightRecipes. LightRecipes allow you to adapt your lighting to specific purposes – to relax, concentrate, recharge, or read. Try it yourself. Just select one of the options on your mobile and watch Hue change the space. And how you feel! What’s even better, you can customise the LightRecipes to suit you perfectly.
Yes, you can use the alarm function and set your Hue as an alarm clock. It’s better than the shock of a clock radio.
Set the lights to gradually get brighter, so you can wake up gently. Or even better, why not just create a scene of a rising sun and turn Hue into your own personal sunrise? That’s something you’ll want to wake up for.
No. The Hue app is very well mannered. It will not affect any other programs or apps on your phone. It only influences the lights (as you wish).
Yes, you can save up to 90 lighting scenes. The Hue Community even allows you to share your scenes with other users.
If the colour cannot be reproduced exactly, the Hue system will search for the nearest colour. With the White Ambiance and the White and Colour Ambiance lights, you can make all possible shades of white, from warm white to cool blue white. And everything in between, of course.
Hue’s White & Colour Ambiance lights can even be set to any colour of the spectrum. So there are 16 million colours to choose from. It only has trouble with grey, black, and brown. After all, it is still light, so it only imitates colours made with light.
Yes, there are several apps from independent developers that you can find on the App Store or Google Play. Just type ‘Hue’ in as your search query.
You can do this via the portal if it is active online. To deactivate, log in to meethue.com, go to settings (top right corner), and then ‘My apps’. The page will then show all devices that are connected and you can choose which devices you want to deny access to.
If you do not create an account on the Hue website, Philips only keeps track of your Bridge IP address. The only reason they do that is so that your app can find it.
From the moment you create your online account, Philips also keeps track of the current status of your lights. They need to know this so that they can tell you if they are on or off or if they are set for a specific scene. The ‘Hue Terms and Conditions of Use’ will cover these topics in detail.
The Hue system uses professional encryption and authentication techniques to ensure that other people cannot access your Hue system without permission. A successful intrusion would mean that a computer within your private network has been compromised in order to send internal commands to your Hue system. In layman’s terms, this means that there is a very low security risk, if your home network is properly secured, because then the traffic between your devices and over the Internet remains completely safe. However, if there is a breach of your home network, everything within that network will be susceptible. Hue is an open platform; this means that if your network is hacked, the system can also be taken over. Should this happen, which is unlikely, just disconnect your Hue Bridge and use the balloons as regular LED lights until your network is restored.
Our advice is to just see that your network is secure; then the Hue system is too. Contact your service provider if you want to know more about securing your network.
We understand that accidents happen, but unfortunately, you can’t exchange a broken bulb. You’ll have to buy a new bulb; these are available separately.
No, unfortunately due to a difference in voltages on the sockets, you cannot use your kit from the USA in Europe or vice versa.
Yes, the European Starter Kit can be used for 220-240 V.
You need a Bridge to use the Hue functionalities. There are Hue Starter Kits available that include a Bridge, but you can now order the Hue Bridge separately.
Just like the other Hue products, the outdoor lighting works like a mesh network. In this process, the lights are connected to each other and the signal is transmitted. So think of the following things when installing the Hue outdoor lighting:
- Place the first Hue outdoor light within 10 metres of your Hue Bridge or a maximum of 10 metres from the last power point in your house.
- Make sure there are no metal objects between the Bridge or power point and your outdoor lighting.
- The maximum distance between each Hue outdoor light is 20 metres.
The Philips Hue outdoor motion detector can be placed outside where you want to detect movement and thus have the lights come on automatically. However, it is not possible to use the indoor motion detector outdoors (or to place it in front of a window).
The Hue light sources are made and tested for indoor use. If you want to use them outdoors, only place them in fixtures specifically intended for outdoor use. This way, the Hue bulbs are protected by the fixture.
Philips Hue consists of a wide range of bulbs with different fittings (E27, GU10, and E14) and fixtures equipped with a chip. Thanks to this chip, it is possible to communicate with your Philips Hue via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. You need a Philips Hue Bridge to communicate via Wi-Fi.
Controlling your new smart lights with Bluetooth is the easiest way to enjoy smart lighting. Install your lights, download the Philips Hue Bluetooth app, and control up to ten lamps in the same room. Do you want to expand Philips Hue throughout your home and create more possibilities? Then the Bridge could well be just what you’re looking for.
The Philips Hue Bridge ensures that all the Hue lamps in your home are connected to Wi-Fi. Unlike Bluetooth, you can use the Bridge to control up to 50 lights and accessories with the Hue app. Moreover, it is also possible to operate your lights when you’re not home, from wherever you are. On darker days, for example, you can give your home an inhabited impression to deter burglars.
But what exactly can you do with Philips Hue’s smart lighting? As you already know, your lamps communicate with your smartphone or tablet using the Philips Hue app. With this app, you can switch your lights on and off, dim them, choose between various pre-programmed light recipes, and set colour tones. There are as many as 50,000 white tones and 16 million light colours available that you can assign to your lamps. This way, you can create the ideal mood for every moment.
Keen to have access to all the Hue functions? Then you need the Philips Hue Bridge, as the heart of your Philips Hue system. The Bridge provides a Wi-Fi connection with all of your lamps and accessories.
As your Bridge is connected with your modem you can use your Hue system remotely and benefit from all kinds of smart applications, such as IFTTT or the option to set timers and schedules.
You can add as many as 50 lamps and accessories to a single Bridge. So clearly: the Bridge is the ultimate accessory in your Philips Hue network if you want to enjoy all the opportunities on offer with Hue.
Installing the Hue Bridge is very easy. Plug the bridge into a power supply and connect it to your Wi-Fi using the supplied network cable. Install the Philips Hue app if you have not done so already and connect to the bridge. In less than five minutes, your Philips Hue system is ready to use.
