Hue automation runs on the Bridge: routines, timers, geofencing and accessories trigger scenes even when the internet is down. In the Hue app you build automations with a trigger, such as a time, sunset, leaving home, a motion sensor or a dimmer switch button, and an action, such as a scene in a room. If an automation does not run, check the Bridge is online with the third light, since remote features need Hue's services,
The checks in more detail
check the automation is enabled and that the time zone and location are correct, since sunset and geofence triggers use them. Check the phone has location permission for geofencing, and that the trigger accessory has a good battery and is in range. If lights do not respond, use the offline steps for Zigbee. The Bridge Pro has more capacity, supporting up to 150 lights and 50 accessories, according to reports, so very large homes benefit.
Matter and other platforms can run their own automations, which may conflict with the Hue app, so keep one main source. Rebuild an automation if you renamed a room or removed a light. Keep automations simple, test each, and review them after adding lights. Change one automation at a time and wait a day before judging it. A routine that fires twice may have two triggers, one in Hue and one in another platform. Review automations at the start of each season. Give a new automation a week of normal use before adjusting it, since lights behave differently at weekends and a rule that seems wrong may just be correct for a weekday.
Bridge automations keep working when the internet is down, which is why a routine is a better safety light than one that depends on a cloud service.
Differential
Likely causes of “Philips Hue Bridges routine, schedule or automation is not running”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The Bridge offline
What separates it Nothing runs because the Bridge is offline and cannot carry out automations that need the network
How to confirm Fix the Bridge's connection so that it comes back online, then test the automation
- 2
A wrong time zone or location
What separates it Sunset triggers fire at the wrong time because the home location or time zone is set wrongly
How to confirm Correct the home location and time zone in the Hue app so sunrise and sunset match your area
- 3
Phone location off
What separates it Geofencing fails because location access is switched off for the Hue app on the phone
How to confirm Allow location for the Hue app so that it can tell when you arrive or leave
- 4
A weak trigger battery
What separates it A sensor does not trigger its automation because its battery is weak
How to confirm Replace the sensor's battery and check the automation runs again
- 5
Conflicting platform automations
What separates it Lights behave oddly because another platform runs its own automations for the same lights
How to confirm Keep one main source of automations, and switch off duplicates in the other apps
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The automation you set up and the trigger it uses
- Whether the Bridge is online, shown by its lights
- The home location and time zone in the Hue app
- The battery of any sensor or accessory that triggers it
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the Bridge is online
ReversibleCheck the Bridge is online by looking at its third light, since automations run on the Bridge and need it to be connected.
Check the automation is on
ReversibleCheck the automation is switched on and that its trigger is what you meant, whether a time, sunset, sensor or button.
Check location and time zone
ReversibleCheck the location and the time zone in the app, because sunset and geofence triggers depend on them.
Check trigger batteries
ReversibleCheck the batteries and range of any trigger accessory, replacing weak batteries and moving it closer to the Bridge.
Rebuild after renaming
ReversibleRebuild an automation after you rename rooms or lights, because the old one may still point to the old names.
Test each automation
ReversibleTest each automation one at a time, so you can see which one works and which needs fixing.
Contact Hue
ReversibleContact Hue if it still fails, and tell them the automation, its trigger and what you saw.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Devices this page covers
- Philips Hue Bridge (V2) and Hue Bridge Pro. Philips Hue writes one support article per topic for its Bridges; the notes name where the Bridge Pro's wifi, capacity and Matter support differ from the standard Bridge.
- Local
- Routines run on the Bridge.
- Capacity
- The Pro supports more lights and accessories.
- Tools and supplies
- The Philips Hue app on an up-to-date phone, an Ethernet cable and access to your router, a paperclip or SIM tool for the reset button, a small screwdriver for battery covers on accessories and a pen and paper for the model and software version.
- Repair cost
- Most fixes cost nothing. Figures: a Hue Bridge is $69.99 on Philips Hue's own page, and a Hue Bridge Pro supports up to 150 lights and 50 accessories. Check the limited warranty first.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Hue Bridge Pro.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If automations fail after these checks, contact Philips Hue support
- !If lights do not respond, use the Zigbee steps
- !If platforms conflict, remove the duplicate automations from one of them
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Bridge lights and updates.
Matter with and without a Bridge.
Bridge Pro setup.
Bridge Pro capacity and features.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Do automations need the internet?+
Local automations, such as timers and accessory triggers, run on the Bridge without the internet, but some features need it.
Why does sunset fire wrong?+
Sunset fires at the wrong time when the location or the time zone in the app is wrong, so correct them.
Does geofencing need location?+
Yes, geofencing needs location access on the phone, so that the app can tell when you come and go.
Can a sensor battery stop a trigger?+
Yes, a weak sensor battery can stop its trigger, because the sensor stops reporting to the Bridge.
How many lights can a Pro hold?+
A Bridge Pro can hold up to 150 lights, so a large home may need the Pro to control everything.