Unfortunately, you won\u2019t be able to use the Hue app or Echo voice control to control your lights and get additional functionalities without the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About Philips Hue Bulbs & How The Smart Bulbs Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.smarthomewinner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/A-Philips-Hue-color-bulb-on-a-ceiling-fixture-768x1024.jpg\")
A Philips Hue color bulb on a ceiling fixture<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nPhilips Hue<\/a> is a line of smart bulbs made by a less-known company\u2014Signify. Are Philips and Signify the same company?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe short answer is NO. Signify is just a company licensed by the legendary Royal Philips brand to use its name in some of its products including the smart bulbs above. Furthermore, Signify is also associated with other brands such as Advance, Color Kinetics, WiZ., Interact, and Phillips where it makes products and gives them these brand names. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philips Hue smart bulbs<\/a> are very popular because they are of impressive quality. Signify produces some of the best and widest color selections for their bulbs. Notably, many of their color bulbs contain more than just three light-emitting diodes(LED)—Blue, Green, and Red. In other words, they are also equipped with White and Warm White LEDs, making for 5 LEDs in total per bulb. That explains why these bulbs produce impressive lights and why they cost more money than other similar bulbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNow, many Philips Hue smart bulbs require a Hue Bridge<\/a> to function optimally. The same can be said for Hue light strips and outdoor lights. This bridge device is what enables the bulbs to communicate with each other plus other integrated devices within your smart lighting setup over ZigBee.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nEven though purchasing Hue bridge will add to your budget, the device offers a huge benefit to Hue light users. To be precise, the Hue Bridge allows them to fully operate and control their Hue bulbs even without the internet<\/strong>. This is unlike Wi-Fi-based smart bulbs<\/a> that cannot be used and controlled in the absence of the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRelated Reading:<\/strong> Comparing ZigBee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth (Is \u201cOne Best?\u201d)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s ZigBee?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
ZigBee<\/a> is a less-known wireless communication protocol for smart home devices like Philips Hue bulbs. Unlike Wi-Fi, it\u2019s not internet-based as it works more like Bluetooth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe beauty of ZigBee is that the more protocol-supporting devices connected to the network, the stronger the network and the longer its range<\/strong>. That\u2019s because these devices tend to form what\u2019s known as \u201cZigBee Mesh,\u201d a mesh network protocol where each device added forms a new point on the mesh and strengthens the overall network. This is unlike Wi-Fi where the signal becomes weaker with each new device that is added to it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nExamples of ZigBee devices (devices that support the ZigBee communication protocols) include; Philips Hue, Amazon Echo Plus & Echo Show 10<\/a>, and Samsung SmartThings. Others are Samsung Comcast Xfinity Box, Yale smart locks<\/a>, Honeywell thermostats, and Hive Active Heating and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen Philips Hue Bulbs\u2019 ZigBee Mode Does<\/span> Require the Internet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.smarthomewinner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/A-Philips-Hue-bridge-mounted-next-to-a-network-switch-1024x768.jpg\")
A Philips Hue bridge mounted next to a network switch<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nYou can set your Hue bulbs to the ZigBee mode so that they communicate with each other via the non-internet-based wireless communication protocol for smart home devices. But remember that ZigBee can also work with the internet and there are many scenarios whereby you may need to connect it with your Wi-Fi network. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- During the initial system setup that needs you to link the Hue bridge with your online Philips Hue account.<\/li>
- When you want to add updates, which are initially sent over the internet, to your Hue bulbs and\/or Hue bridge.\u00a0<\/li>
- When you want to control your Hue bulbs<\/a> and smart lights away from home with a portable gadget such as a smartphone or tablet.\u00a0<\/li>
- When you want to use the Hue app to control your smart bulbs. In other words, when you want to control your bulbs online as opposed to through your ZigBee-based Hue bridge device.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
So whilst Philips Hue doesn’t strictly need<\/em> the internet (as we look at in more detail below), it’s still essential for some functions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhen Philips Hue Bulbs\u2019 ZigBee Mode Doesn\u2019t Require the Internet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
As said earlier, ZigBee is a non-internet-based communication protocol for smart home devices. This means that your Hue Bridge that is based on it enables you to operate and control your Hue smart bulbs even in the absence of the internet<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nNot only that, even the main Hue accessories such as the dimmer switch<\/a> and the tap button for controlling multiple Hue devices simultaneously are designed to work without the internet as they are similarly ZigBee-based.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nDo The Philips Hue Switch and Smart Button Work Without the Internet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Philips Hue<\/a> is a line of smart bulbs made by a less-known company\u2014Signify. Are Philips and Signify the same company?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The short answer is NO. Signify is just a company licensed by the legendary Royal Philips brand to use its name in some of its products including the smart bulbs above. Furthermore, Signify is also associated with other brands such as Advance, Color Kinetics, WiZ., Interact, and Phillips where it makes products and gives them these brand names. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Philips Hue smart bulbs<\/a> are very popular because they are of impressive quality. Signify produces some of the best and widest color selections for their bulbs. Notably, many of their color bulbs contain more than just three light-emitting diodes(LED)—Blue, Green, and Red. In other words, they are also equipped with White and Warm White LEDs, making for 5 LEDs in total per bulb. That explains why these bulbs produce impressive lights and why they cost more money than other similar bulbs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, many Philips Hue smart bulbs require a Hue Bridge<\/a> to function optimally. The same can be said for Hue light strips and outdoor lights. This bridge device is what enables the bulbs to communicate with each other plus other integrated devices within your smart lighting setup over ZigBee.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though purchasing Hue bridge will add to your budget, the device offers a huge benefit to Hue light users. To be precise, the Hue Bridge allows them to fully operate and control their Hue bulbs even without the internet<\/strong>. This is unlike Wi-Fi-based smart bulbs<\/a> that cannot be used and controlled in the absence of the internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Related Reading:<\/strong> Comparing ZigBee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth (Is \u201cOne Best?\u201d)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n ZigBee<\/a> is a less-known wireless communication protocol for smart home devices like Philips Hue bulbs. Unlike Wi-Fi, it\u2019s not internet-based as it works more like Bluetooth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The beauty of ZigBee is that the more protocol-supporting devices connected to the network, the stronger the network and the longer its range<\/strong>. That\u2019s because these devices tend to form what\u2019s known as \u201cZigBee Mesh,\u201d a mesh network protocol where each device added forms a new point on the mesh and strengthens the overall network. This is unlike Wi-Fi where the signal becomes weaker with each new device that is added to it.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Examples of ZigBee devices (devices that support the ZigBee communication protocols) include; Philips Hue, Amazon Echo Plus & Echo Show 10<\/a>, and Samsung SmartThings. Others are Samsung Comcast Xfinity Box, Yale smart locks<\/a>, Honeywell thermostats, and Hive Active Heating and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can set your Hue bulbs to the ZigBee mode so that they communicate with each other via the non-internet-based wireless communication protocol for smart home devices. But remember that ZigBee can also work with the internet and there are many scenarios whereby you may need to connect it with your Wi-Fi network. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So whilst Philips Hue doesn’t strictly need<\/em> the internet (as we look at in more detail below), it’s still essential for some functions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As said earlier, ZigBee is a non-internet-based communication protocol for smart home devices. This means that your Hue Bridge that is based on it enables you to operate and control your Hue smart bulbs even in the absence of the internet<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only that, even the main Hue accessories such as the dimmer switch<\/a> and the tap button for controlling multiple Hue devices simultaneously are designed to work without the internet as they are similarly ZigBee-based.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s ZigBee?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When Philips Hue Bulbs\u2019 ZigBee Mode Does<\/span> Require the Internet<\/h2>\n\n\n
When Philips Hue Bulbs\u2019 ZigBee Mode Doesn\u2019t Require the Internet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do The Philips Hue Switch and Smart Button Work Without the Internet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.smarthomewinner.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/A-Philips-Hue-White-Ambiance-candle-bulb-768x1024.jpg\")