If you want to control your Philips Hue lighting from the Philips Hue app, you need to sync it to your smart home system. But some Google Home users find the connection process difficult, if not downright impossible!
If you have tried unsuccessfully to connect these systems, some of the solutions below may help you solve the problem.
How to Connect Philips Hue Bridge to Google Home
Before getting into the problems with Google Home and Philips Hue Bridge, you must connect the two systems correctly. Follow the steps below when initially setting up your Philips Hue Bridge with a Google Home system.
- Set up your Philips Hue Bridge and download the app. Ensure the device is connected to the same network as your Google Home system.
- Open the Google Home app and ensure it’s connected to the correct network.
- Tap the plus (+) icon in the top left corner of the app to add an accessory.
- An option to set up the device will appear; click on this selection.
- The Google Home app will ask if this device can work with Google Home. Tap yes.
- A list of devices that work with Google Home will appear. Click on the Philips Hue lights device to begin the connection.
- The app will redirect you to the Philips Hue account page, asking you to sign in.
- Once you log in, you can tap the back arrow to return to the Google Home app. It will bring you to the Google Home app homepage, and the two systems should connect!
Check Philips Hue Lights
Despite the fun functionality of the Philips Hue lighting system, it isn’t the best product. Many customers complain about not being able to connect the Bridge to their smart home system.
Before messing with your smart home settings and app, you should check the Philips Hue Bridge and the Philips Hue lights. However, some issues with the lights are user-based and take seconds to fix.
Before trying the tips and troubleshooting tricks below, do the following to your Philips Hue lights:
- Check every Philips Hue light set up and ensure the light is switched on. If you have the light switched off manually, you won’t be able to control the lights from your Philips Hue app. Remember, the light may look off if the settings in your app are set to the lowest dim or off.
- Check that all Philips Hue bulbs are screwed in securely. A Philips Hue bulb needs to be installed correctly so the dimming and color features will work.
- Check the power connection if you have Philips Hue bulbs on light strips. These strips require a power cable or cord. Check the cord for damage or an off switch, and check the power outlet. You can test the power outlet using another appliance, like your phone charger or a different light.
- Check that the Philips Hue Bridge is connected to a stable power source. You should use the included power adapter to connect the Bridge to a power source — if you need to replace yours, inexpensive replacements are easy to find. All four small blue LED lights on the Philips Hue Bridge should be lit. If one or more is dark, or they continuously flicker, the problem is with the Bridge itself.
It is common to think that Google Home isn’t playing nicely with Philips Hue, when in actuality the problem is simply with the Hue lights, themselves. Try the Philips Hue app and verify that the lights are working correctly before proceeding.
If you double-checked everything above and still have issues connecting your Google Assistant to your Hue bulbs, more solutions below could help you.
Reset Network Connection
The network connection can cause issues when trying to connect smart home systems. As mentioned, all systems need to be connected to the same network to communicate. Even if you connect them to the same network, they may jump connections to a WiFi they were previously connected to.
Luckily, resetting your network connection is super easy! Before resetting the network connections, ensure nothing is wrong with your WiFi. Check your router and ensure all necessary LED lights are on and the WiFi works appropriately. You can test the WiFi on your phone or laptop.
The first step is to disconnect both systems from their current WiFi. Instead of just disconnecting, you should select Forget This Network to start from scratch. Starting with Google Home, reconnect both devices to your desired network. Check the signal strength and try to reconnect the Google Home and lights. For many users, this troubleshooting trick was the only thing needed!
If your WiFi tends to be finicky or unresponsive, you should reset your network completely before reconnecting the Google Assistant and bridge. Usually, the router will have a reset button near the LED lights, or you can turn it off and back on.
Uninstall & Re-install Both Apps
This step is just as simple as it sounds. Uninstall the app, then re-install. Sometimes this can debug the system.
Unlink & Re-Link the Bridge
Via the MeetHue website, you can unlink and then re-link the bridge. Simply access the URL, log in, and follow prompts.
Change Time Zone and/or Location in Apps
I don’t have an explanation for why this works, but there are numerous instances of this fixing the problem. Simply access the “time zone” settings in your app and then change to another time zone and/or location.
After changing, attempt to link to the Hue lights again and see if it works!
Make Sure Both Apps are Connected to Same Account
Here, you should make sure that the issue isn’t resulting from compatibility issues. If your Hue account uses a different email than your Google Home, try deleting and re-creating a Hue account with the same Gmail that you use with Google Home.
Moving on!
“Hey Google, Sync My Devices”
If you can’t “find” your Philips Hue lights, perhaps Google can. Here, we take advantage of the voice assistant by simple asking Google Home to sync devices. With any luck, Google Home will be able to find — and then sync — your lights.
Reset the Systems
If your network connection is strong and your Philips Hue bulbs seem to be in working order, you can try resetting both systems. Resetting either system will likely result in a loss of configurations and customized settings, so don’t do this unless you have to! You can learn how to perform a comprehensive reset on both systems below.
Resetting Your Philips Hue Bridge
Resetting the Bridge will wipe all configurations, making the system essentially brand new. It’s best to reset this system before you reset the Google Assistant, as the problem typically lies within the Philips product.
To reset the Bridge, remove it from the wall and turn it over. On the underside of the Bridge, you will see a super small reset button. You can press this button using a paperclip, sewing needle, earring back, or plastic toothpick. Anything small enough to fit in the hole will work!
Using your skinny device, hold the reset button until all the lights on the Bridge turn off, usually about five to ten seconds.
After this, the Bridge will automatically turn back on. Before you attempt to reset your Google Assistant, try to resync the systems again using the instructions at the beginning of this article.
Resetting Your Google Home
If the connection still falters after resetting the Philips Hue Bridge, you can try to reset your Google Home.
Find your Google Home speaker or hub. The Google Assistant speaker has a mute button on the side or back, depending on which model you own. Hold the mute button for 15 seconds or until you hear the Google Assistant turn off. Your assistant will let you know when the reset process begins.
Go into your Google Home app and check that the system is back up and running. Try to sync the Philips Hue Bridge with Google Assistant again. Hard resets on both systems have helped many customers solve their connection issues. Unfortunately, it’s not a guaranteed fix.
Clear Storage & Cache in Hue App
This will sound like generic advice, but it is nonetheless worth checking. Sometimes a “reset” doesn’t work because the cache still needs to be cleared. Before calling customer service or abandoning your products, give this a shot.
Last Resort: Contact Support
If you give all these solutions the old college try and the systems still won’t connect or work properly, you may want to contact customer service for help.
Most users and support teams agree that the problem lies within the Philips Hue system, not Google Home. Therefore, you should contact the Philips Hue service team first. They may be able to help you, but more likely, they can issue a refund. If you think your Bridge is faulty, they can replace it.
You can always call Google Home support, but they usually need help to do something. But something may be wrong with your Google Home accessory functions. The Google customer service team can help you solve any Google connection issues.
Common Missteps When Setting Up Philips Hue with Google Home
You’ve followed the steps above to a T, and yet, your Philips Hue Bridge is still refusing to cooperate with your Google Home system. Before you bang your head against the wall, consider that you may have missed some common yet not-so-obvious setup missteps. Let’s dive into those, shall we?
First, be certain that the Philips Hue Bridge is up-to-date with the latest firmware. Outdated firmware could hinder the connection process. To check and update the firmware, open your Philips Hue app and navigate to ‘Settings’, then ‘Software update’. If an update is available, the app will prompt you to install it. Remember, a reliable and fast internet connection is a must for a successful update.
Second, make sure you are using the correct version of the Google Home app. Not all versions support Philips Hue.
Third, if you have any VPN or ad-blocking apps running on your device, they could potentially interfere with the connection process. Try disabling these apps temporarily during the setup process.
Lastly, remember that your Philips Hue Bridge must be connected directly to your primary router. If you’re using a range extender or secondary router, this could cause issues with the connection to Google Home.
Advanced Troubleshooting Tips for Philips Hue and Google Home Integration
If all else fails, there are some advanced troubleshooting steps you can take. But remember, these steps are a little more complex and may require a more tech-savvy approach.
First, you can try setting up a static IP address for your Philips Hue Bridge. This can solve the issue of your router assigning a different IP address to the Bridge each time it’s rebooted, causing a loss of connection with Google Home. To do this, you’ll need to access your router’s settings and assign a static IP address to the Bridge’s MAC address.
Secondly, you might want to check for any IP address conflicts on your network. If another device on your network is using the same IP address as your Philips Hue Bridge, this could cause connectivity issues. To resolve this, change the IP address of one of the devices or set up IP address reservations for each device in your router’s settings.
Lastly, ensure your router’s firmware is up-to-date. Outdated router firmware can sometimes cause compatibility issues with smart devices. Check your router’s manual or manufacturer’s website for instructions on how to update the firmware.
Final Thoughts
You can find comfort in the fact that many Philips Hue customers have had this problem and that Philips Hue and Google are aware of the issue. Hopefully, Philips Hue will put an end to this issue so customers can enjoy their colorful lights properly!
FAQs
Below are a few related questions that may help you.
Can I reset the Bridge from the Philips Hue app?
No, you need to perform a reset on the Bridge device itself. You cannot do this from the Hue app.
Does Philips Hue Bridge work with the Apple HomeKit?
Technically, the two systems are compatible. But Apple HomeKit users also find it challenging to connect these systems, showing the issue lies in the Bridge or Philips Hue app.
Why can’t I see my Philips Hue Bridge in my Google Home app?
Ensure your phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Google Home and Philips Hue Bridge. Also, make sure both the Google Home app and Philips Hue app are up-to-date. If you’re still having issues, try resetting the Bridge or uninstalling and reinstalling both apps.
How do I add Philips Hue lights to Google Home?
Open the Google Home app and tap the plus (+) icon. Choose ‘Set up device’, then ‘Have something already set up?’ Search for Philips Hue and log in with your Hue account credentials. After this, you should see your lights appear in the Google Home app.
Can I control the color of my Philips Hue lights through Google Home?
Yes, you can change the color of your Philips Hue lights by giving a voice command to your Google Home. For example, you can say “Hey Google, change the living room light to blue.”
What should I do if my Philips Hue Bridge is not connecting to my Wi-Fi?
Firstly, make sure your Bridge is within range of your Wi-Fi router. If it is and still won’t connect, try resetting the Bridge. If that doesn’t work, it might be an issue with your Wi-Fi router; try restarting it.
What should I do if my Google Home isn’t recognizing my Philips Hue lights?
Ensure that your lights are turned on and that the Philips Hue Bridge is connected to your Wi-Fi network. Try asking Google Home to “sync my devices.” If that doesn’t work, you might need to unlink and then re-link your Philips Hue account in the Google Home app.