How to Set up and Pair Used Hue Light Bulbs

Hue bulbs are not cheap and buying used hue bulbs off eBay or other platforms can save you some money while still being easy to add and set up in your home. 

Our guide helps you to quickly set up these old hue bulbs in your hue home. 

How to add Old Hue Bulbs to a New Set up

Here’s our simple and quick guide on how to set up and pair used Hue light bulbs.

Step 1: Gather the Required Equipment

Before you begin, make sure you have the following items:

1. Used Hue light bulbs
2. A Hue bridge or a compatible smart home hub (e.g., Philips Hue Bridge, Samsung SmartThings, Apple HomeKit)
3. A smartphone or tablet with the Hue app installed
4. A stable Wi-Fi network

Step 2: Reset the Hue Light Bulbs

Since you are using used Hue light bulbs, it’s important to reset them to their factory settings before proceeding with the setup. To reset a Hue light bulb, follow these steps:

1. Ensure the bulb is screwed into a functioning socket.
2. Turn the bulb on and leave it on for at least 10 seconds.
3. Turn the bulb off.
4. Turn the bulb on and off three times in quick succession. The bulb will flash briefly to indicate it has been reset.

Step 3: Connect the Hue Bridge 

If you already have a Hue bridge connected to your smart home hub, skip this step. Otherwise, follow these instructions to connect your Hue bridge:

1. Plug the Hue bridge into a power outlet using the provided power adapter.
2. Connect the Hue bridge to your Wi-Fi router using the included Ethernet cable.
3. Wait for the bridge’s lights to turn on. This may take a couple of minutes.
4. Once the bridge is powered up and connected, download and launch the Hue app on your smartphone or tablet.

Step 4: Set Up the Hue Bridge on the App

To set up the Hue bridge on the app, follow these steps:

1. Open the Hue app and tap on “Set up new bridge” or similar.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to search for and discover the Hue bridge.
3. Once the app detects the bridge, it will prompt you to press the round button on the bridge itself.
4. Press the round button on the Hue bridge within the specified time frame.
5. Wait for the app to establish a connection with the bridge. This may take a few moments.

Step 5: Add the Used Hue Light Bulbs

Now that your bridge is set up, you can add the used Hue light bulbs to your system:

1. In the Hue app, tap on the “Settings” or “Configuration” tab.
2. Select “Light setup” or a similar option.
3. Tap on the “Add light” or “+” button to start searching for new devices.
4. Ensure the used Hue light bulb is powered on and in close proximity to the Hue bridge.
5. Wait for the app to discover the bulb. This process may take a minute or two.
6. Once the bulb is detected, you’ll be prompted to assign it a room or location. Choose an appropriate option or create a new room.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the setup for each individual bulb.

Step 6: Test and Configure Your Hue Lights

After successfully adding the used Hue light bulbs, it’s time to test and configure them:

1. Open the Hue app and navigate to the “Rooms” or “Lights” section.
2. Select the room where the newly added light bulbs are located.
3. Tap on the desired bulb to turn it on or off.
4. Explore the different options in the app to adjust brightness, color, and other settings.
5. If desired, you can create schedules, routines, or scenes to automate your lights.

Congratulations! You have successfully set up and paired your used Hue light bulbs. Now you can enjoy the benefits of smart lighting and control your bulbs through the Hue app or your smart home hub.

Mike Ford

Founder & Editor

Mike is the founder of Hue Home Lighting, a huge Hue fan with far too many lights, covering home and garden. A smart home gadget addict and also enjoys the odd bit of DIY