Hue Essentials

Name: Hue Essentials
Rating: 4.2 (93 reviews)
Author: Thomas Vos

For Philips Hue，deCONZ，diyHue

Free · In‑App Purchases

93 Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Lifestyle
Developer

Thomas Vos
Language

EN
+ 41 More
Size

246.1
MB

Discover ways to get the most out of your smart lighting. Imagine unlimited possibilities in your smart home. Set scenes and fast effects to your mood. Experience Dance Sensation in your entertainment area with Philips Hue Entertainment. Feel more in control with schedules and automation from sunrise to sunset. Control multiple bridges simultaneously without switching between them. Supported devices • Philips Hue bridge • Philips Hue Bluetooth lights • deCONZ (ConBee) • diyHue • LIFX Scenes & effects Create the perfect ambiance from your photos or the included photo library. Experience special animations like lava, fireplace, fireworks, or lightning. Wake up at sunrise and go to sleep at sunset with fading lights. Get into the party on the beats of your music. Sync your lights for a night of disco with strobe effects (updates 25 times/sec). Quick access Create rooms and groups to organize your lights. You can even put a light in several groups. Smart lights & controls The unique ‘Touchlink’ search allows you to find new (3rd party, Zigbee) lights. Use included wizards for easy setup of your devices. You can set scenes, actions, or even multiple scenes on a button to make your switch a real investment. Experience the right ambiance during different times of your day with your motion sensor. All of your creations are stored on the bridge. Easy for you and your family. Advanced Automation allows you to have greater control of your smart home. Turn on your lights when the door opens. Adjust your ventilation when the humidity gets too high. Open or close blinds and curtains based on temperature or sunshine. Make it look like you are at home using 'Away from Home' (out of home control). Communicate directly with your Hue bridge using the API debugger. View technical details of your Hue bridge and update its resources like lights and sensors. You want it all? Fast performance with ad-free experience. Purchase the premium version to unlock full content.

Ratings & Reviews

4.2

out of 5

93 Ratings

This app saved me from buying a new bridge
07/19/2025

George WS
Wow. I discovered today when I needed to change which lights my switches controlled that the official Philips Hue Bridge v1 app (which I still have on my phone for compatibility with my circular v1 bridge) could no longer configure the accessories (it would freeze then crash when trying to select them in settings). Since that app is no longer supported, and my switches would not control the right lights without me being able to configure them… I was just about resigned to having to buy a new v2 bridge. Besides the cost and waste of plastic, this felt sad because I don’t need the newer bridge’s features and *all my Hue hardware including the v1 bridge is working just fine*! The only issue is that the software used to change their settings broke—had I not needed to add a few new bulbs and configure the switches to control them, I could’ve kept using the same setup for a long time! I was about to give up and buy a new bridge for $60 when I came across this app, tried it out, and… wow. No issues pairing with my v1 bridge, and could easily make the changes I needed to make to my switches. (In fact it offers customizations that the official Hue app never did for these switches, like setting up to *10* different things a single button can do when pressed repeatedly.) Leaps and bounds better than official Hue apps ever have been. Thanks so much for building this. 🙏

Developer Response
Great to hear about your experience, thanks for the review! We have no plans to drop support for the v1 hue bridge, we will support it as long as possible.
This app saved me from buying a new bridge
07/19/2025

George WS

Wow. I discovered today when I needed to change which lights my switches controlled that the official Philips Hue Bridge v1 app (which I still have on my phone for compatibility with my circular v1 bridge) could no longer configure the accessories (it would freeze then crash when trying to select them in settings). Since that app is no longer supported, and my switches would not control the right lights without me being able to configure them… I was just about resigned to having to buy a new v2 bridge. Besides the cost and waste of plastic, this felt sad because I don’t need the newer bridge’s features and *all my Hue hardware including the v1 bridge is working just fine*! The only issue is that the software used to change their settings broke—had I not needed to add a few new bulbs and configure the switches to control them, I could’ve kept using the same setup for a long time! I was about to give up and buy a new bridge for $60 when I came across this app, tried it out, and… wow. No issues pairing with my v1 bridge, and could easily make the changes I needed to make to my switches. (In fact it offers customizations that the official Hue app never did for these switches, like setting up to *10* different things a single button can do when pressed repeatedly.) Leaps and bounds better than official Hue apps ever have been. Thanks so much for building this. 🙏
Developer Response 08/05/2025
Great to hear about your experience, thanks for the review! We have no plans to drop support for the v1 hue bridge, we will support it as long as possible.
Necessary if you have old Hue Bulbs
09/22/2025

Mpw30
This app is great but I would rather pay for a fully featured pro version than for micro-transactions for each feature, that being said they do work as promised. I needed this app because my original hue system was in a box for 7 years and I had no way to connect my v 1.0!bridge to the current app it so I could transfer my setup to their new hub. Phillips stopped supporting hue bridge 1.0 a few years ago in the official app. This app allowed me to connect my old bulbs, strips, remote and bridge to my new hue hub v 2 bridge and transfer them over. If you don’t feel like getting the new hub then this can mostly replace the official hue app. Most importantly for old hue bulb users it also has the Touchlink feature that is key to getting the original bulbs to work with the new hub 2. I wish hue still kept this feature in ther current app but hey don’t. These two apps are linked so once I got everything transferred the hue app works great alongside this one and I have full animated effects thanks to the new hub 2.
Necessary if you have old Hue Bulbs
09/22/2025

Mpw30

This app is great but I would rather pay for a fully featured pro version than for micro-transactions for each feature, that being said they do work as promised. I needed this app because my original hue system was in a box for 7 years and I had no way to connect my v 1.0!bridge to the current app it so I could transfer my setup to their new hub. Phillips stopped supporting hue bridge 1.0 a few years ago in the official app. This app allowed me to connect my old bulbs, strips, remote and bridge to my new hue hub v 2 bridge and transfer them over. If you don’t feel like getting the new hub then this can mostly replace the official hue app. Most importantly for old hue bulb users it also has the Touchlink feature that is key to getting the original bulbs to work with the new hub 2. I wish hue still kept this feature in ther current app but hey don’t. These two apps are linked so once I got everything transferred the hue app works great alongside this one and I have full animated effects thanks to the new hub 2.
Love the October 2024 update
10/31/2024

Megela
First, ignore anyone whining about needing to pay for this app to use your Hue bulbs. That’s not true and this app isn’t from Philips. Complain about shortcomings of the official app on the official app. That said, I’m a Hue user going back five years and two houses. When I moved I absolutely did not want to deal with the limitations of the official Hue app any longer, and tried several third-party apps. This was the best one of the bunch. Every bulb in my house is Hue, with a mix of bulb types (white, color, Edison) and though I did the setup in the Hue app, I use this one for everything that isn’t scheduled or on a Hue switch. When I went in to override my front porch light for Halloween, I noticed that the color adjustment is easier to get to, which I’m thrilled about.
Love the October 2024 update
10/31/2024

Megela

First, ignore anyone whining about needing to pay for this app to use your Hue bulbs. That’s not true and this app isn’t from Philips. Complain about shortcomings of the official app on the official app. That said, I’m a Hue user going back five years and two houses. When I moved I absolutely did not want to deal with the limitations of the official Hue app any longer, and tried several third-party apps. This was the best one of the bunch. Every bulb in my house is Hue, with a mix of bulb types (white, color, Edison) and though I did the setup in the Hue app, I use this one for everything that isn’t scheduled or on a Hue switch. When I went in to override my front porch light for Halloween, I noticed that the color adjustment is easier to get to, which I’m thrilled about.
Perfect for Hue Bridge Pro!
09/22/2025

TheDrewProject
I have had Hue lights since they were first available. The variety of settings, and the Hue Essentials communication with actual Hue App on my phone, is key. I have had several Apps that have worked with my devices, and this app combines all of them, into one app. Easily the best Hue app available
Perfect for Hue Bridge Pro!
09/22/2025

TheDrewProject

I have had Hue lights since they were first available. The variety of settings, and the Hue Essentials communication with actual Hue App on my phone, is key. I have had several Apps that have worked with my devices, and this app combines all of them, into one app. Easily the best Hue app available

• Support for Philips Hue Bridge Pro. After migration (in Hue App) the new bridge will be connected automatically. • Fixed crash with 'Start effect' Siri Shortcut • Support for new Hue Smart Button • Bug fixes

Version 4.5.1

09/09/2025

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