With Philips Hue, you can use a smartphone or computer to control the lights and add a motion sensor so that the lights do not turn on when you do not want them to.
But sometimes, the system doesn’t work as it should and you might even ask yourself, “Why does my Philips Hue turn off by itself?”
Or let’s say you’re in the middle of a Netflix binge, and suddenly your Philips Hue bulbs have gone out. You check your phone to see if you’ve accidentally hit the power button, but no—the lights are off. What’s going on?
The various capabilities of smart home devices can be confusing to remember. Even if you’re familiar with them, there are still plenty of situations where you might wonder why or how a particular device behaves a certain way.
There are several reasons this could happen, and we’ll discuss a few of them here. First up, you can diagnose the issue by looking at a few things: Check your settings. Are you using the correct type of bulb? Is anything wrong with your app, connection, router, or bulb? Are there any other devices sharing your smart bulb’s Wi-Fi network? Has a software update been released recently? Is your Smart Bridge turned on?
That’s why we’ve put out this article: to help you understand what’s happening behind the scenes when your smart home devices are not functioning like they’re supposed to—and what you can do about it.
Table of Contents
14 Main Reasons Why Your Phillips Hue Turns Off By Itself
If you’re having issues with your Philips Hue lights turning off by themselves, here are a 14 things you can check:
1. Make sure that you installed the most recent version of the app.
If you don’t have the latest version, try updating it.
2. Ensure that both devices (phone and/or tablet) are on a Wi-Fi network of the same type.
Sometimes, connecting a new device to your home’s Wi-Fi network can take a few tries before it works—especially if there’s a lot of traffic on that network.
3. Make sure that you have your Philips hue lights on a full charge.
Sometimes, devices will start acting up if they run low on power. You can also reset your Philips Hue Bridge by pressing the button on its back for about 10 seconds until all the lights blink white and then turn off again.
4. Reset your Philips Hue app by deleting it and reinstalling it.
Apps can get stuck in a loop where they’re constantly trying to connect to your Hue Bridge but failing. It is especially true if you’re on an older version of iOS or Android.
You can reset your Philips Hue app by deleting it and reinstalling it.
5. To reset your Philips Hue Bridge, simultaneously press down on its top button and press the button on its back.
Restarting the Bridge can help to fix issues. To continue the Bridge while pushing down on both switches simultaneously and holding them for about five seconds, ensure that both buttons are depressed simultaneously.
6. Try disconnecting your Philips Hue Bridge from power and then plugging it back in.
It is a quick way to reset the device and ensure it receives power correctly.
7. Try removing any other Philips Hue products from your account.
If you have more than one product, try removing all of them except for one at a time so you can see which one is causing the issue.
8. Try resetting your Wi-Fi or router.
If you have a wireless connection, try resetting it to ensure that your router receives and transmits data correctly.
9. Try turning off Philips Hue Sync and then turning it back on again in the app.
If you’re having issues with your Philips Hue lights, try turning off the sync option in the app. It will force your lights to stop communicating with the Philips Hue servers and then try to connect again when you turn it back on.
10. If your Bridge has been on since you received it in the mail, and if nothing has happened, ensure it is still on.
Now go ahead and connect your phone/tablet via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi so you can use its internet connection without having any problems connecting them.
11. Is there a software update available?
You may have installed an update that caused your lights to stop responding appropriately. Check for updates on your phone or computer, then install them if available.
12. Are any of the bulbs broken?
If one bulb is out of place or not working correctly, it could be causing problems with all of them! Check each bulb individually, and replace any broken ones as needed.
13. Do you have it set to “Automatic” mode?
It’s important to note that the lights will only turn off if you have them set to “Automatic” mode. They will not turn off automatically if you have them set to “On” or “Off” mode.
Also, check if you have a dimmer switch on your lights. If you have a dimmer switch, it’s essential to know that the lights won’t turn off automatically in this situation. You’ll need to set them to “off manually” or “on” mode instead of relying on them turning off automatically.
14. Check if there’s a problem with the circuit breaker.
If you have an electrician, come out and look at your dimmer switches, be sure to ask them to check your circuit breakers.
Electrical problems sometimes come from the circuit breaker instead of dimmer switches or light bulbs.
Why Does My Philips Hue Turn Off By Itself? Conclusion
We’ve outlined 14 of the most important things you can check when answering your question of, “Why does my Philips hue turn off by itself?”
You can try to solve the issue by ensuring your bulb is turned on, and your settings are correct. Check the device, app, router, and Wi-Fi connection. Make sure there are no other devices connected to the light bulbs on your network. Check for a software update and make sure your Smart Bridge is on. And everything else mentioned earlier.
If you’ve done all these things and your lights still aren’t working correctly, then it’s probably time to contact Philips Hue support.
They’ll be able to help you figure out what’s going on with your system and make sure that everything is running smoothly again.
If you enjoyed this article, check out our “Why Does Phillips Hue Need a Hub?” article here!