If you have Philips Hue smart lights and Apple HomeKit-enabled devices in your home, you can easily integrate them to control your Hue lights right alongside other HomeKit accessories.
Combining Philips Hue and HomeKit brings voice control, automation, and remote access to your lighting with Siri and the Home app.
This guide has steps to connect your Philips Hue bridge to Apple HomeKit. Here are some tips for setting up rooms, creating automation, using Siri voice commands, and troubleshooting issues. With just a few minutes of setup time, you can enjoy the powerful combo of Philips Hue and Apple HomeKit.
Prerequisites
- Philips Hue LED lights and bridge
- iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV with HomeKit capabilities
- HomeKit-compatible accessories (optional)
- Updated iOS or iPadOS software version
Step 1 – Update Philips Hue Bridge Firmware
Before connecting Hue to HomeKit, ensure your Hue bridge has the latest firmware installed.
Open the Philips Hue app and go to Settings > Software Update to check for and install any available updates.
The most current firmware version adds expanded HomeKit functionality.
Step 2 – Add Hue Bridge to Apple Home
Open the Apple Home app and tap “Add Accessory.”
Select “Don’t Have a Code or Can’t Scan?” and choose the Philips Hue Bridge from the list of manufacturers.
Press the round button on top of the Hue bridge to link it to HomeKit when prompted. Name the bridge and select a room for it.
Step 3 – Transfer Hue Lights to HomeKit
Once the bridge is added, you’ll be asked if you want to transfer your Hue automatically lights over to HomeKit control.
Select the option to transfer all lights – this migrates your entire Hue setup, including lights, scenes, and rooms.
All Hue lights will now be visible as individual accessories in the Home app.
Step 4 – Recreate Hue Rooms in HomeKit
The Hue app uses its room structure to organize lights, while HomeKit has its room definitions.
Recreate your Hue room setup in HomeKit by adding each transferred Hue light to the appropriate HomeKit room. This keeps your lights logically grouped.
Step 5 – Set Up Siri Voice Control
One benefit of Hue + HomeKit is controlling lights with your voice using Siri.
Try Siri commands like “Turn on the kitchen lights” or “Dim the living room light to 50%”.
Ensure Siri is enabled to use voice commands in your iPhone/iPad settings.
Step 6 – Automate with HomeKit Scenes
Use the Home app to create HomeKit scenes that automatically adjust multiple Hue lights.
For example, make a “Movie Night” scene that dims your living room and kitchen lights.
Trigger it by saying, “Hey Siri, Movie Night.” Scenes make presets, automation, and voice control easy.
Step 7 – Control Hue Lights Away from Home
The HomeKit integration enables remote control of Hue lights when away from home using the Home app.
Change colors, brightness, power status, and activate scenes from anywhere – no need to use the Philips Hue app. HomeKit access requires an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad as a home hub.
Troubleshooting Tips
If you encounter issues getting your Philips Hue lights fully integrated with Apple HomeKit, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Update the Hue bridge and Hue app to the latest firmware and software versions
- Reboot the Hue bridge and home hub device
- Make sure the Hue bridge and Apple TV/HomePod/iPad home hub are on the same WiFi network
- Reset the Hue bridge and re-add it to HomeKit
- Check that Siri and HomeKit are fully enabled in your iOS/iPadOS device settings
- Verify your iCloud account is signed in on all HomeKit devices
- Contact Apple or Philips Hue support for further assistance
Advanced HomeKit Automation with Philips Hue
Once you have your Hue lights connected to Apple HomeKit, you can explore some more advanced automation and features:
Location Automation: Use iPhone/iPad location to trigger Hue scenes as you arrive or leave home. For example, turn on the front porch light when anyone in the home arrives after sunset.
Home/Away Status: Set Hue lights to turn off after the last person has left and back on when the first person comes home. Helpful in conserving energy.
Brightness Sensor: Use a HomeKit sensor to automatically adjust Hue brightness based on ambient light levels in a room throughout the day.
Motion Sensor: Activate Hue lights with a HomeKit motion sensor when it detects movement in key areas like hallways or bathrooms.
Time-Based: Schedule Hue lights to mimic sunrise/sunset with warm-to-cool color temperatures and gradually increasing brightness.
Notifications: Flash Hue lights when the doorbell rings or motion is detected for a visual alert.
HomeKit gives you robust tools to truly automate your Philips Hue lights and enhance your smart home ecosystem.
Philips Hue Labs in HomeKit
Philips Hue offers downloadable app integrations called “Labs, ” adding unique capabilities. Several Labs work with the HomeKit bridge integration:
Hue Scene Switcher: Cycle through or randomize Hue scenes using Apple HomeKit triggers.
Hue Motion Sensor: Turn Hue lights on for a set time after the HomeKit motion sensor detects movement.
Formula: Change Hue lights based on sunrise/sunset or the local weather using HomeKit location data.
These Labs complement HomeKit automation with extra functionality like temporary overrides, gradual scene transitions, and location-based triggers.
Partner Integrations
Apple HomeKit also connects seamlessly with other smart home platforms that work with Philips Hue lighting:
- Logitech Harmony Hub – control Hue lights from Harmony Activities
- Ring – flash Hue lights when doorbell pressed
- Ecobee – incorporate Hue lighting presets in Comfort Settings
- IFTTT – expand automation capabilities
And many other brands, like Samsung SmartThings, offer compatibility with both Philips Hue and Apple HomeKit for easy cross-platform control.
HomeKit Secure Video
With a HomeKit-compatible security camera, you can include Hue lighting automation triggered by motion detection events when you are away from home. For example, if a camera detects activity at night, you can program specific Hue lights to turn on. This acts as a deterrent by making it appear someone is home.
Wrap Up
The ability to add your Philips Hue lights into Apple HomeKit opens up a wealth of automation, voice, and remote control possibilities. You can easily integrate Hue with other HomeKit accessories like motion sensors, smart plugs, and cameras for even more powerful smart home recipes. Remember the troubleshooting tips above if you run into any hiccups with the initial setup and integration process.
