Philips Hue FAQ

We answer the most common Philips Hue questions here, if you have a question or want to see one added to our FAQ then leave us a comment our drop us a message.

We have grouped the questions into sections, setting up, using the Hue and then into the extras such as the light strip.

About Hue

Do I need an internet connection for hue to work?

No you don’t, if you lose your internet connection the system will still work, you however won’t be able to control if from your phone via the internet if you are away from your home for example.

Does it work with Google Home, Alexa and Apple HomeKit (Siri)?

Yes the Hue system works with all of these.

Can you turn lights on when you’re not home?

Yes, you just need to set up and online account and connect it to your bridge, if you have an intern t connection then you can control the lights, ideal for security when on holiday.

Can Philips Hue bulbs connect to a Hive hub?

Hive does not currently support third-party products on their systems (Confirmation)

What is Hue Labs?

Hue labs is an online area that users of the Philips Hue system can test early stage prototypes and concepts in their own home using their bulbs, motion sensor, and hooking up with other smart home gadgets.

What Hue bulbs and third party bulbs are compatible?

You can view all supported Hue bulbs in our guide here.

Is Philips hue being discontinued?

Philips Hue has announced that starting in April 2020, they will be discontinuing support for the first-gen Hue Bridge. New feature such as Bluetooth have been added to newly updated bulbs so that you can use Hue without a bridge, support continues for the 2nd Gen bridge and the Hue product range.

Setting Up

Can I replace the Ethernet cable supplied with my Hue bridge?

The supplied Ethernet cable is a standard network cable and can be replaced by any Ethernet cable (CAT5, CAT5e, CAT6, CAT6e)

Is the Hue Bridge wireless?

No, the bridge must be connected via a network cable to your home router.

How far can my bulbs be from the Bridge?

The bulbs are Zigbee, which is a mesh network technology, meaning the bulbs will talk to each other, therefore the bridge only has to communictate directly with the nearest bulbs.

Using Philips Hue

Can I connect my phone and iPad to one bridge?

Yes you can connect multiple devices to one bridge, ideal for you, your partner and even kids to operate the lights from their phone. Also great for operating from your phone or iPad.

Can it be used outside?

The bulbs and light strip are designed for indoor use only.

Will it work with my current dimmer switches?

No. Using it with these will cause the bulbs to either flicker or break early. Do not use with a standard dimmer switch, you can however buy one designed for the Hue system.

How many Lights can I connect to my hue bridge?

Up to 50. You can add up to 50 bulbs, on top of this you can add switches and extras such as the Hue Tap, Hue Wireless Dimmer, or Hue Motion Sensor.

How much power does the Hue Bridge use?

Both first and second gen Hue bridges have a typical power consumption of 3 Watt.

Where is my Hue Bridge MAC Address?

The MAC Address of your Hue Bridge can be found on the back of the Bridge on a label with a bar code.

Can I sync my lights with what I am watching on TV?

Yes you can and there are a few apps to do this, check out our guide here – How to sync Philips Hue to TV and Movies.

How do you Update your Philips Hue System?

You can app date the app through the app store on your phone, there will be from time to time updates for the bridge itself, to check for these open the hue app, go to settings and click “Software-update”. The app will now start to look for updates and download them when available. For more info go to http://labs.meethue.com/support/softwareupdate

Do I need to be connected to the internet for it to work?

The hue Bridge must be wired to a wireless router as the bridge itself it not wireless, however no internet connection is required. You can still use your phone and app to control your lights, however when away from your home and out of range of your wireless network then you won’t be able to control them.

Hue Bulbs

What’s the difference between white and ambiance bulbs?

White bulbs are just that, a white light that can be adjusted, dimmed, turned on and off. Ambient lights gives you color, you can adjust to suit mood, room setting, great for parties or syncing with your TV. White lights are great for areas where you just need light, for example your entrance porch where you just need a light to see, or in your hall or on your landing. Coloured lights are great for your living room, or kitchen where you can entertain or relax with some mood lighting.

How Long Do Philips Hue Bulbs Last?

Philips Hue bulbs can last can last up to 15 years or 15,000 hours, which ever comes first. Philips claims that each bulb uses 80 percent less power than a traditional incandescent bulb.

In comparison a typical incandescent bulbs last anywhere between 1,000 to 2,000 hours.

Does turning them on and off wear them out?

The bulb LED driver is constantly turning them on and off at a rate faster than your eyes can detect when in use, so when using app such as Hue Disco where the bulbs will flash, it will make no difference to how long they last compared to if they were just on.

How long does it take for Hue bulbs to activate after you turn them on?

They are quick! A second after pressing the button on your phone or a physical switch they will activated and turn on depending on your settings.

Can I use a light socket converter with Hue Bulbs?

Yes you can.

What happens if there is a power cut?

Just like any other bulbs the lights will go out as there is no power, once the power comes back on the lights will illuminate, all hue bulbs will go to a normal illuminate white state as default. You can then uses your phone again to adjust the lights.

What generation are my bulbs?

Below lists the physical differences and model numbers.

First Gen Bulbs – Silver body without “hue white and color” – #LCT001
Second Gen Bulbs – Silver body with “hue white and color” – #LCT007
Third Gen Bulbs – White body – #LCT014

Light Strips

Do I need a Bridge to use the Lightstrip?

To control the light and effect of the light strip then yes you do, if you don’t have one it will just be on or off and will be the default bright white colour.

Can I re-use the cut piece of light strip?

The light strip can be cut to size, however the section you cut off is now waster and cannot be used or reattached.

How do you attache them behind your TV?

This is a common question, we have a guide and how to article here – How to install Hue Strip lights behind the TV

My Hue lightstrip wont turn off

First thing is to check it is still connect to the hue bridge and you can control your other bulbs turning them on and off. If you have cut your the lights strip or bent it tightly the wires inside maybe damaged, this can cause it to just be a white light and not change color to what you want it to be. If you haven’t cut the strip or damaged it, and it still does not respond then you should contact Philips regarding this.

Got a question or something we should add to our FAQ then get in touch with us and we shall update.