You don’t need a Hue Bridge to control your Philips Hue smart bulbs. You can use the Philips Hue app to control your bulbs, depending on which type you have. You can also connect your Philips Hue bulbs to your Alexa and Google Home Devices so that you can control them using voice commands. This is how to set up Philips Hue smart lights bulbs without using a Hue bridge.
Not all Philips Hue smart lights can be used without the Hue Bridge. Before you set up your Philips Hue bulbs make sure they have the Bluetooth icon at the bottom of the bulbs or on the box.
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How to set up the Philips Hue Bluetooth app
Install your Philips Hue bulbs into a light socket, then download the Philips Hue Bluetooth App. Follow the instructions on the screen to create your account and find your bulbs. To control your Philips Hue bulbs, click the Lights Tab.
- Turn on your Philips Hue bulb and install it in your light socket.
- Next, download the Philips Hue Bluetooth App. Do not download the regular Philips Hue App.
- Open the app and choose to Get Started.
- Next, tap Yes. When asked if your lights can be used with Bluetooth, select No. You will then be asked to create a Philips Hue Bridge.
- Next, create your account. Enter your name and email address. You will also need to tap the slider at the bottom to agree with the terms and conditions.
- Next, choose whether you use a voice assistant. If you use Google Assistant or Alexa, then select Yes. Select Not now. Your Philips Hue bulbs can be connected to your voice assistant later.
- Turn on your light switch, tap, and add light. The app will instantly start searching for Hue lights.
Notice: Make sure the dimmer switch is fully turned up if you connect to it. - Next, tap Pair. A pop-up prompt will appear asking you to grant the app access to your Bluetooth device.
- Tap Next or Search to find more. You can tap once your device has found one of your bulbs. Next, Continue Tap the next button if you’re installing more than one bulb More information available. Tap to find out which bulb is paired with your device Hue bulb. This will make your light turn on and off quickly. After you have paired your bulbs, tap Next.
Notable: If your bulb is not working, you can try switching off the lights for 10 seconds and then switching them on again. You can also move your device closer towards the light. Then select Retry. Philips suggests that you move your device no more than 3 feet from the bulb to ensure it can connect. - Next, choose which voice assistants to use. Only Alexa or the Google Assistant are available. You can choose Setting Up a Voice Assistant Later if you don’t already have a smart assistant or want to create one with your Philips Hue lights.
- Give the Hue bulb a name. Click the text box at top to change the default name. It is a good idea if you use a voice assistant to name your smart bulb.
- Tap Next and you’re done. You can now control your Philips Hue Bluetooth lights from the app. Tap the Lights tab at the bottom-left corner to dim or change the color of your lights.
To change the name of your bulb, tap the Settings icon at the bottom-right corner. Next, go to Lighting to choose the bulb that you wish to name. To change the default name of the bulb, tap it.
After you have set up your Philips Hue lamps with the app you can connect them to your Alexa or Google devices. Here’s how:
How to connect Philips Hue and Alexa
Install your Philips Hue bulbs and then open the Alexa App to connect it to Alexa. Next, go to More > Create a Device> Lights Philips HUE. Then select Yes > Discover Devices. Select Add another if you want to add more bulbs.
- Turn on your Philips Hue bulbs.
- Open the Amazon Alexa App. You can also download the Alexa app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store if you don’t already have it.
- Next, tap More. This tab will be located in the bottom-right corner, under the three-line icon.
- Next tap Add A Device. This will appear at the top.
- Tap Light. You can also choose the Philips Hue option and skip to the next step if you see it on your screen.
- Next, select Philips Hue.
- Then select Yes. When Alexa is asked if your bulbs can be connected to Bluetooth, you will select
- Next, choose Discover Devices. Alexa will automatically start searching for nearby devices. While the app searches for nearby devices, move your phone as close as you can to your Philips Hue lamp. Only hold your phone near the bulb for one time.
- Wait for Alexa’s connection to your Philips Hue bulbs.
- Next, tap Create Device. You can tap if some smart bulbs don’t work. Add another Continue the process.
Note: If Alexa is unable to connect to your Philips Hue bulbs using the Alexa app, you can repeat steps 1-7 and choose tap here instead. You will be asked permission by Alexa to access your Bluetooth device. Next, tap Next. Follow the steps on the screen. You will be asked by Alexa to turn off your lights for 10 seconds, then turn them on again. You should also move your device no more than 6 inches from your smart plugs. To make sure that your bulb isn’t already connected, you can check the Devices tab. - Next, tap Choose Group. To connect multiple bulbs, tap Choose Device to set them up. You can skip these steps and use your Philips Hue bulbs immediately without adding them to any group. Tap Skip accessing Alexa for controlling your smart lights. To turn each smart lamp off, you’ll need to speak commands.
- Next, choose the room in which the light is located. Tap Skip if you don’t see where your bulb should go. You can always add lights to other groups later.
- Select Next, and continue to the next two pages.
After you have connected Alexa with your Philips Hue bulbs you can use voice commands for control. You can simply say “Alexa, turn off the lights at the kitchen” or “Alexa dim the lights at my bedroom to 50%”. If you have colored lights, then you can also say “Alexa, make the lights in your living room red.”
To make changes to your Alexa app, open it and tap the Devices button at the bottom. Scroll down until you find the group to that you wish to add more bulbs. To add a new group, tap the plus icon at the top-right.
To change the color or brightness of a bulb, you can tap Lighting on Devices. You can also choose to Create A Routine or tap the gear icon at the top-right corner of the screen to change the name of your bulb.
How to connect Philips Hue and Google Home
Open the Google Home app, and then tap the plus icon to connect Philips Hue with Google. Next, go to Setup device > Setup new devices > Lightbulb > Setup. Follow the instructions on-screen to connect your Philips Hue bulbs with Google.
- Turn on your Philips Hue bulbs.
- Next, open the Google Home App.
- Next tap the plus sign. This will appear in the top-left corner on the app’s home screen.
- Then tap Set up device.
- Next, choose to Create new devices
- Select a home, then tap Next. Google Home starts looking for devices that can be connected.
- Tap Next, turn on the light bulb.
- Next, select a bulb and tap Create. The bulb should begin to blink on and off. If it doesn’t, you can try these suggestions: Light didn’t blink. Tap if you don’t find your bulb listed. Do not see my light.
Note: If your Philips Hue bulbs are not connecting to Google Home, you can move your Google smart speaker closer to the bulbs. Turn your lights off for at most 10 seconds, then turn them back on. You can also disconnect your bulbs from other apps and voice assistants. - Next, select a place where you want your device to be. Click Next.
- Choose a name for your bulb. You will need to do this for each smart light.
Note: If your Philips Hue lights aren’t controlling, ensure that your Google smart speaker and Hue are connected to the same WiFi network. You should also ensure that your Google Nest smart speaker and Google Home app are using the same Google account. Go to Settings > Link Accounts from your Google Home app.
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