New Philips Hue App 4.0 Walkthrough - Update & Features Rundown

[@jonathana.4187]

Do you find it acceptable that they removed the App Widget for iOS and instead they used the iOS shortcuts? I’m actually disappointed in this latest Hue app update.

[@srstrikers]

Sucks it was so convenient. Time to learn shortcuts.

[@Justin_tech]

I think they should have created a legit widget that can live on one of your screens... The shortcuts are great, and I will have fun with them, may even be more powerful though - you can control hue sync and hue bulbs...and more! I also like the idea of having a folder or entire screen of shortcuts - just wish some could be on/off.

[@Justin_tech]

It's not too difficult. Plus if you get some NFC chips, you can have multiple ways of activating (including voice). See my most recent Hue vid.

[@MrWillstauk]

The app looks great now but I much prefered the widgets, one swipe to the right and I had them all grouped and set up tasks like turning all lights off. Now it seems you can't have a shortcut that has no light powered....so there's no shortcut for turning all lights off 🤷‍♂️

[@Maurazio]

I have it?

[@JOKUPIENI]

THERE IS

[@jaycincotta6432]

Great video! Thanks for this deeper dive. One feature request I have is an ability to configure a motion detector to ONLY invoke the specified scene IF the lights are currently off. If the lights are already on, do nothing. For example, I have a motion detector in a hallway that turns on the Dimmed scene so it's easy to traverse the hall without messing with switches. But, if I'm doing something that involves frequently passing through that hall and I set the lighting to Bright, it's annoying that the motion detectors force it back to dim. A workaround is to disable the motion detectors in such situations, but that's a fairly clumsy solution. It could be elegantly handled by a simple checkbox in the configuration of the motion detector.

[@eddtheduck]

Great video, but regards the shortcut app how to you toggle a light on and off without two shortcuts

[@Justin_tech]

Not possible at the moment...to my understanding...

[@SabrinaLatoya]

Would like them to include some “if” commands. So if I’m not home don’t run my routines(automations)

[@DementedDog]

All of these things should provide at least basic rules. I long for the day that Alexa has if/when/then 😉

[@michaele9314]

Great video bud! There isn’t enough videos like this regarding Philips hue, I’ve got a quick question, recently I’ve ran out of space for all my scenes, it’s telling me I have “insufficient space” would I need a second hub? And then divide it into say upstairs and down stairs?

[@Justin_tech]

You should probably get another hue bridge, yes. You could go through and delete all the scenes you don't use, but most likely you're getting very close to the limit with all your lights and scenes. The bridge is meant to only support up to around 50 fixtures/bulbs. If you are close to that, yep, go for another bridge.

[@nicklasander1889]

Is it just me? I find adjusting brightness on individual lights more cumbersome now. I feel as if certain actions require more clicks than previously. So I like how things look and all. But I feel they took steps backwards in functionality.

[@artemisd6343]

I totally agree.. they added a lot of unnecessary workarounds due to taking out widgets and other features. It does look nice but overall, the user experience does seem to have taken a bit of a hit.

[@Justin_tech]

I agree there is still some fine tuning, but the new app is great in other ways. I think we'll see a lot more updates and kinks straightened out soon.

[@namessquid1185]

I despise this new update. Just moved things around and changed looks. Added almost nothing new but took away key features (widgets, the ability to easily combine separate lights)

[@bliztball8637]

Hi Justin, wonderful video. I recently bought a Philips hue go and I don't have the "automation" button but one that says "habits", do I need the Hue bridge for this type of task? What did you use to make the video? I currently connect to my Hue Go with bluetooth. Thanks.

[@brendadalman3236]

Hi Justin, I didn't see a trouble shooting video for the hue but, you look like your really knowledgeable on the subject. I have had hue for many years never had a problem until now. When I open my app to turn on my lights it is all grey with a word connecting at the bottom. Do you know what I need to do to fix this?

[@gmattos009]

Justin, How do I program dynamic scenes? i can only put yellow candle effects and orange bonfire effects. I can't do "animations" with other colors.

[@rmorenberg]

thank you I needed to fix a setting and you made it easy to find. which was power on behavior

[@artemisd6343]

I'm actually quite sad that they got rid of widgets. It made turning lights on and off so easy since it was one click. Now, you have to make a shortcut and have it ask you if you want them on or off.. it's a bit clunky imo.

[@__Mr.White__]

And most importantly: you have to UNLOCK your phone. No easy swipe and click like while your phone lays on the table. This Update is such a bull shit.

[@Justin_tech]

Good point

[@ron9530]

Nice walkthrough, Thanks! Question on automations. Example: on Wake up is there any way to have the light come on at its normal presetting (60%). It always come on and climbs to 100% They have an extra you can set to turn off ?? The Go to sleep has a dimmed extra but not the Wake. I've found similar issues with other the automations.

[@josepha9448]

How come you can no longer change the color of multiple lights anymore?!?! I have four lights in a room and I have to change each light and it’s brightness one at a time now. Can no longer group lights on the color wheel and change at the same time!

[@Justin_tech]

Not true, you still can. Open a room or zone tap on a light and it will show you all lights on the color wheel

[@LeeArters]

I think Joseph means change all the lights at once, to match. I can't figure out how to change all the lights in a room to change in sync together. This option must still exist someplace?

[@josepha9448]

I ended up figuring it out… once you group the lights you want together in the color wheel, you have to click in a random spot in the color wheel and then click back on the group you just grouped, then you can control them together. Wish they would change it back to the way it used to be as it was much easier

[@namessquid1185]

@@josepha9448 You just helped me more than the video creator did. I thank you

[@jowood1991]

What about widgets/shortcuts on home screen for Android (Samsung)? Does somebody have information on this?

[@J0n.M]

Why does the color palate not show up when I tap on the light? Any advice is appreciated.

[@anthonycraig274]

I have two homes, one in London and the other in New York, do you know how I can have 2 homes under Hue app?

[@TwistedFish1]

Geofencing for all automations would be great. If nobody is home then don’t run a certain automation, apart from that I love the update!

[@Justin_tech]

All for this!

[@walex19]

That’s where HomeKit automations come in :)

[@HollerAtcherBoi]

Hey Justin! So glad I found your channel. I just finished a 2 year build on a commercial recording studio. We’re using Philips Hue E26 bulbs in the ceiling and the LED tape lights around the perimeter of the rooms. The problem is that our bulbs are all making a high pitched, constant whistling/ringing sound. The tape lights are quiet. We have NOT installed our dim switches yet, only normal generic wall switches so far. The noise gets louder as I increase brightness on the app. Darker colors barely make any noise at all. Any idea what the issue is? Thank you

[@neilgoldsmith1187]

I have the ceiling lights not the bulbs will this app work

[@JOKUPIENI]

One thing that i’ve been wishing for years is the ability to shuffle the lights AFTER you add the scene to my scenes

[@GEN_X_]

How do you simply, turn a light off?

[@5elect5creen]

Any update to use the tv light strip as a gradient?

[@Justin_tech]

Not yet, but I assume the new build will allow for future effects in the future. Even with the Dynamic scenes which are coming...maybe they will effect the gradient too!

[@jmoulding]

Def looks nicer. Although Def also feels like it's made for iphone and I'm an android user.

[@Justin_tech]

Dang, that’s annoying. I should make a vid trying the app out on my Android and my iPad. Haven’t tried yet!

[@jowood1991]

@@Justin_tech Would be great. When will you share it? 😁

[@mudai_]

my scenes aren't showing up in the shortcuts app :(

[@RenevdLinden]

Great video, are there extra features for the new android app? Like the shortcut feature on IOS.

[@forkgod]

I want something like that too. The widgets are ok, but being able to add the sync option would be great, even a widget just for sync would help.

[@Justin_tech]

Not that I'm aware of...

[@bortonbob]

Great presentation except for one thing. You never show how to obtain the app in a cell phone. I had the app in my phone, but it had errors, so I uninstalled the app and then attempted to locate the same one on Google Play Store. Can't find it! My other phone has the app, and it works fine, but I can't locate another copy on Play Store. When searching Google, it was apparent that the Philips Hue app was deleted for a time. What is the secret app name? I keep locating Philips Hue Sync from Signify Netherlands...tried loading but it is not the same as before. Tried Hue Light App Remote Control from Smart Widget Labs, but it is not the same as before either.

[@albertrenshaw4252]

Can no longer group lights and move them all around at once... apparently I can but I have no clue how to do it, I've done it a few times by accident but can't consistently get it to happen? Also the 'last on' light setting to remember color/brightness simply doesn't work for any of my lights (all new)

[@Justin_tech]

Yes you can group/move together. Go into a room/zone, then tap on one light - the color wheel will appear showing you all the lights. you can pop them onto one another then move around together or take lights out and move separately. Yes, it's confusing that the color wheel doesn't show off from the start.

[@Justin_tech]

Regarding the last on setting...maybe what you really want is "Power loss recovery" so when you turn a light switch off, they return to the same when you turn it back on.

[@derekkelly485]

How did you mount the play bars?

[@dandontchev7679]

the play bars come with mounts. one to stand it up right on desk or u can attach it behind a screen monitor or a wall with the adhesive

[@Justin_tech]

I used the included mounts as well as some double sided velcro tape incase I ever want to remove momentarily.

[@peterschropfer3030]

How to change hue light name

[@LeiaRose21]

I can’t even get my on/off button to slide to on. Please help!

[@jrees]

How do you change the name of your Hue Bridge when you have multiple Bridges?

[@Justin_tech]

Select the bridge, then go to settings > bridge settings and edit the name there :)

[@HoBoMi1kMaN]

How can you have a light just toggle on and off in shortcuts? I seem to either have to just turn on or have a shortcut to turn off.

[@Boxtermaiti]

yeah seems like you can turn single lamps off. I hope they'll be adding more shortcut features

[@Justin_tech]

Yea I believe for now...this is the way it is. I hope they add more functionality down the line.

[@pfantom777]

What about timers? Are those just gone with the new app?

[@Justin_tech]

Apparently so....didn't realize that. I hope for the sake of others that they come back, or perhaps everyone can use their voice assistants.

[@Boxtermaiti]

Phillips said that they are bringing timers back again with even more features. For now it's gone :(

[@pfantom777]

@@Boxtermaiti I guess for now I just use all 4 hue.

[@stevemanning8406]

I need help to sync my lightstrip to match my TV light. I can't figure it out

[@Justin_tech]

You need a Philips Hue Sync box to do this.

[@stevemanning8406]

@@Justin_tech I have one but I don't know how to sync it with the 4.0 app.

[@lavendermustard]

WHYYYY is there no color wheel for entire zones anymore?! Adjusting every bulb individually in a zone is absolutely ridiculous, and I don’t want a bunch of “scenes” to scroll through. Just want to be able to select a zone and change all the bulbs at once on a color wheel. Why are we taking functionality away 😭

[@mitchellalexander8508]

Exactly what im saying townsie, my whole house is rigged with the lights I have them all on one room, when I have a party I don't want to be fiddling with my phone for 10 mins to change the color. I just want to open the app, open the color wheel and change it in 30 seconds. Hue shot themselves in the foot with this update, if I could return all my lights, I would. Only the vocal minority wants these new features.

[@Justin_tech]

There is a color wheel. You just need to tap on one of the lights when you open up the room or zone and it will appear. The same as it was in the last app.

[@LeeArters]

@@Justin_tech Yes, there is a color wheel, but it requires you to change one light at a time. Very awkward when you have 15 lights in a room. I used to love the feature of changing all the lights at once. If you can explain a way to do this, it would be great.

[@albertrenshaw4252]

@@LeeArters It's as if he just read the first 4 words of the comment, then responded and walked away 😳

[@Msigw]

I must be the only person that usually wants ALL my lights the SAME color… cause that’s a real hassle if you have more than say 10 - using this frustrating and tedious app.

[@Mrvargas702]

THATS EXACTLY WHAT IM SAYING!!!! I don’t want my lights like 12 different colors. Wtf 🤬 so mad I updated 😂

[@MathersMahmood]

I can’t control scenes in Siri which is so annoying. I have to create scenes in the HomeKit app instead of just saying the scene. Missed functionality.

[@brittanyparker-vaughan2881]

Am I the only person confused by light groups? I have a room filled with BR-30s and somehow two of the lights are grouped - not in a Zone - and I have no idea how to edit this or I group them. I would actually like two group these lights in twos but I don’t see a simple way to do so?

[@Justin_tech]

do you mean they are grouped on the color wheel? Simply tap on the icon and then you should be able to separate them.

[@albertrenshaw4252]

@@Justin_tech But how do you group them? I stack them ontop of each other and it just randomly succeeds in forming a group like 1 in 20 times, the other 19 if I try to move one it's already separated rather than moving the whole stack as one group.

[@rugososphotos3646]

It does look nicer than the previous version

[@kellycharite8270]

Where do I find the timer?

[@Justin_tech]

The timer is unfortunately not on the app anymore...or for the moment at least :/

[@MortenNormannAlmeland]

I have a sync box from Hue - and when I say - Hey google - bedtime… it turn off the lights and the tv - but not the lights that is connected to the Sync box even though the lights is added to the living room. How can I make this work? (The sync box is also connected to my tv via usb so it turns on when the tv turns on. So what I have to do is to say - Hey Google - bedtime - then after that to turn of the 2 remain lights - Hey google turn of the lights.

[@Justin_tech]

You’ll need to program a command to stop the sync process. When the sync box is still syncing, the lights won’t turn off. So program “hey Google, set hue sync box to stop” and then have the lights turn off. Let me know if this works!

[@MortenNormannAlmeland]

Thanks - it looks like there is a new button that says: what do you want to do when you stop syncing…. And that I turn to off… it did not have that before… - and since I have the usb from the sync box to my tv it knows when I shut of the tv and stop syncing. But you put me in the right direction. Thank you for answering!!!!

[@ZombieCulp]

Wow! They listened to us with these feature! Excited to see them integrate Hue Labs so we can set those features to zones/timers so they come on automatically. Wondering when those new bulbs are coming!!!

[@Justin_tech]

ME TOO!

[@irina_schwab]

What about a timer?

[@Justin_tech]

The timer is gone! for now... :/

[@Kurt007]

Short cut is terrible….

[@thykix7483]

Disgusting shortcuts, not showing the widget function is supposed to replace? Terrible update from philips.

[@TheOfficialLashBeats]

where are the widgets😩😩😩

[@Justin_tech]

gone :(

[@Tactical_Koala]

My app is still the old one

[@jorgenselin3177]

mine too :(

[@Justin_tech]

You need to update from the App Store

[@Tactical_Koala]

@@Justin_tech When I go to the app store it just says open nothing about update. Or do I have to uninstall and the install it again?

[@lissetteguzman5943]

@@Tactical_Koala did you figure this out ?

[@Tactical_Koala]

@@lissetteguzman5943 Thank you yes I did

[@monkeydtron]

Bro.That was some awful shortcuts help

[@Esty770]

This update ruined widgets

[@Justin_tech]

I kinda like shortcuts!! And how you can access them on the main screen.

[@tue0209]

I miss widgets too;(

[@jhwild08]

Why do they make things so complicated, why can they just give color - all I need is Red and Green, how hard is that to do? I don't need all these complicated scenes. They are ridiculous.

[@1GiancarloD]

They absolutely ruined this app. How this update gets out of testing is beyond me. Trash.

[@CirrusPilot]

This is a disney like paid review. This app is the new HUE app which is a major downgrade from the old app. You can’t see how many lights are in your bridge, you cannot even select all your lights and change colors together, only 1 by 1, and many more short comings this guy left out. All presentation and little substance.

[@Justin_tech]

You can change multiple bulb colors together at the same time… I say spend some more time with it, experiment and you’ll understand the app better