How Philips Hue works
Philips Hue is built to enrich what you love and how you want to live with smart light — and how it does it is unique. So just how do smart bulbs work? There’s much more to Philips Hue than smart bulbs, so let’s start from the beginning.
3 things you need for smart lighting
As advanced as our smart lighting is, setup is simple. It works in every home — and these three things will form the foundation for your personalized lighting experience.
1. Bridge
If you’re wondering what the Philips Hue Bridge is, it’s this: the heart and brains of your smart lighting system. Connect it to your router to see the power behind all the features Philips Hue offers.
Advanced light control
Customize how, where, and when you use your lights — at home or even away. The Bridge allows you to control your lights from anywhere in the world, as long as you have the Philips Hue app and an internet connection.
Intuitive, reliable technology
Zigbee technology enables instant response times and an ultra-stable connection. Your lights also feature a Zigbee chip that makes them a mesh network, so you can install them anywhere in or around your home without loss of connectivity.
Learn about our technology
Always up to date
The Bridge is frequently updated, keeping your system secure and futureproof. And as advanced as it is, it’s easy to install — just plug it in to power and your router, and you’re good to go.
How to set up the Bridge
Automate your lights
Schedule your lights to turn on and off when you want. Set up an automation, and the Bridge remembers what you want your lights to do — whether you’re coming home, leaving home, waking up, or going to sleep.
What else can I do with a Philips Hue Bridge?
2. App
The Philips Hue app is the command center for your smart lighting system: control your lights, create automations, set up voice control, organize your lights into Rooms and Zones, and more.
3. Lights
It's more than just smart bulbs. Decorate your home, inside and out, with table lamps, floor lamps, wall lights, lightstrips, and more. We’ve got the widest range of smart lighting products, and it just keeps expanding.
Technology
We only use technology that we trust. You’ve invited us into your home, so we make sure to respect it.
Zigbee
It’s a mesh network that’s enabled by a chip in your smart lights. The network expands as you add more bulbs, which is why outdoor smart lighting is possible with a Bridge.
Matter
It’s the new foundation for connected things. If you’ve got a Bridge, your Hue lights and accessories can connect via Matter.
Bluetooth
Philips Hue can also connect via Bluetooth, so you can still experience some of these intuitive features in a dorm room, the work shed out back, at your favorite campsite, or anywhere you don’t have a router.
Ways to control your lights
Build your smart home the way you want with smart accessories and smart home assistants.
Switches and smart buttons
From dimmer switches to smart buttons and beyond, smart accessories make it easy to control your lights anywhere in your home.
Sensors
Let movement trigger your lights! As you walk by, your lights turn on to any setting you like. After a set amount of time, the lights will turn off again.
Voice control
Add Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Home and Siri to your smart lighting setup to control your lights with simple voice commands.
What you can do with Philips Hue
Set the mood
Night in alone? Feel comfy, cozy, and completely at home. Throwing a party? Match that joyful mood to the environment around you with colorful scenes or dynamic effects.
Get surround lighting
Sync your lights to your TV shows, movies, games, or music! Immerse yourself in what you watch or listen to with lights that flash, dance, dim, brighten, and change color.
Feel safer
Let lights, sensors, security cameras, and the Hue app work together to bring you peace of mind. Make it look like you’re home when you’re away with a Mimic presence automation. Be welcomed home with light with a Coming home automation.
Feel better
Wake gently in the morning, work from home comfortably, wind down in the evening, and fall asleep peacefully with light that matches each part of your day.
Works with Philips Hue
Create a whole smart home
Smart assistants, locks, home security, and even gaming gear — all your favorite smart brands play nice with Philips Hue. And with a Bridge, that list is even longer.
See what works with Philips Hue
