7 Best Philips Hue Smart Lights (2023): Gradient Lightstrip, Go Lamp, and More Tips

Facility: Replacing bulbs is simple, but if you are installing a light strip or adhesive accessory, be sure to clean the area first and remember that adhesive can damage paint or wallpaper if you ever do so. remove.

Names: Descriptive names for your lights are important for easy identification and enabling voice commands. You can still change the names of your lights in the Hue app via Settings, Lights by tapping the light and then selecting the pencil icon to edit it.

Pieces: By organizing your lights by rooms, you can turn all the lights in a room on or off together. Philips Hue also allows you to configure Entertainment spaces via the Settings for smaller, more specific groups. You may want to group a TV light strip and a lamp nearby, but leave out the regular light bulbs in your living room, for example.

Voice commands: Connecting to your favorite smart home platform allows you to control your lights with voice commands. To link accounts and use voice assistants, such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, open the Hue app and go to Settingschoose Smart homeand press To start.

Automations: Select the Automations in the Hue app and tap the plus icon in the top right to add your own automations. The app will guide you through the process for different types of automations. You may want a sunrise to wake you up or a sunset at bedtime. You can set home and away routines, light timers and much more. It is also worth exploiting Hue Laboratories on the Automations to find different formulas developed by the Hue team.

Colors and effects: When you select a light in the Hue app, there is a brightness slider and you can tap on each light or group to get a color palette, color temperature picker and select effects (d-shaped icons ‘star). When you have things the way you want, tap the three dots at the top left and Save as new scene. You can also select rooms and tap the plus icon to add preset scenes that create the mood you want. You can even use your own photos to create scenes based on specific colors.

Widgets: If you prefer not to access the app, you can create widgets for your home screen that offer quick shortcuts to scenes or turn off all the lights with a single tap. Go to Settings, Widgets to put them in place.

Security: Philips Hue offers a few security options. If you go to Settings, Security, you can ask sensors or its new line of security cameras to trigger notifications and lights. You can also use automations to make it feel like home when you’re traveling. To try it, go to Automations tab, tap the plus icon and choose Imitate presence. There is also imitation of television option in the Hue Labs formula list.

Explore: There is a wealth of information under the Explore in the Hue app to show you what Philips Hue lights are capable of. You’ll find tips, explanations of scenes and automations, plus a handy demo mode, plus upsells of other Hue lights.