Hue's reset guide says a factory reset is a powerful step but should be used only when needed, because it deletes all saved data, meaning rooms, lights, scenes and routines. Reasons include selling or giving the Bridge away, moving home or wifi networks, persistent problems the app cannot fix and starting fresh with a Bridge Pro. Hue advises trying a soft reset or reconnecting the Bridge first. The process is the same for the Bridge V2 and the Bridge Pro:
The checks in more detail
first unlink it from your account by opening the Hue app, Settings, Hue Bridges, selecting the Bridge and tapping Remove; then unplug the Ethernet cable; flip the Bridge over and find the small recessed reset button near the label Restore factory settings; insert a paperclip or SIM tool and hold for five to ten seconds until the front lights start blinking; wait until the blinking stops and the first three lights are solid blue, at which point the reset is complete and the Bridge is ready for setup.
After a reset, reconnect everything through the Hue app, and re-add each light, which may need its own reset. When moving from a V2 to a Bridge Pro, use the migration tool first and reset the Pro only if migration fails or you are selling it. Photograph your scenes and room layouts before resetting, since they take longer to rebuild than the Bridge does to set up. After a reset give the Bridge a few minutes to finish blinking before starting setup.
Do not reset in the middle of an evening you need lights for. Before you reset a Bridge you are selling, remove it from your account first, since a Bridge still linked to you blocks the new owner. A soft reconnect through the app or a power cycle solves most Bridge faults, so treat the factory reset as the step that leaves you rebuilding, and use it only after those.
Differential
Likely causes of “Philips Hue Bridges will not reset or needs to be reset safely”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A persistent connection fault
What separates it A connection fault keeps coming back and cannot be fixed from within the app
How to confirm Reconnect the Bridge and try the simpler steps, and only reset it if the fault remains
- 2
Selling the Bridge
What separates it The Bridge is being sold or given away but is still linked to your Hue account
How to confirm Remove it from your account in the app first, then reset it so the new owner starts fresh
- 3
A new network
What separates it A new router or network means the old settings interfere with the Bridge's connection
How to confirm Reset the Bridge and set it up again on the new network, starting from the app
- 4
A failed migration
What separates it A failed migration to a Bridge Pro has left lights missing on the new Bridge
How to confirm Reset the Pro and try the migration again from the start, following the in-app steps
- 5
Lost scenes after reset
What separates it All the rooms have disappeared after the reset because a reset deletes the saved data
How to confirm Rebuild the rooms and scenes one room at a time, using the notes you made beforehand
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether it is removed from your account
- How long you held the reset button in for
- What the lights on the Bridge did after the reset
- Which scenes you will need to rebuild afterwards
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedTry a reconnect first
ReversibleTry a reconnect or soft reset first, because a factory reset deletes rooms, lights, scenes and routines and is only for when nothing else works.
Remove the Bridge from your account
ReversibleRemove the Bridge from your account by opening Settings, Hue Bridges, choosing the Bridge and removing it.
Unplug Ethernet
ReversibleUnplug the Ethernet cable before resetting, so that the Bridge cannot reconnect to the old network while it resets.
Hold the reset button
ReversibleHold the reset button on the back for five to ten seconds, using a paperclip, since the button is recessed.
Wait for three solid blue lights
ReversibleWait for three solid blue lights, which show that the reset is complete and the Bridge is ready to be set up again.
Set up again
ReversibleSet the Bridge up again in the app from the start, as if it were new, using the steps for a new Bridge.
Re-add lights and rebuild scenes
ReversibleRe-add the lights and rebuild the scenes one room at a time, so you can check each room works before moving on.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Reset
- Same steps for Bridge V2 and Pro.
- Migration
- Use the tool when upgrading.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Hue Bridge Pro.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If a reset does not bring the lights back, contact Philips Hue support
- !If the Bridge will not reset, check the button
- !If selling, remove it from the account first
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Reset steps for the Bridge and Bridge Pro.
Light reset.
Bridge lights and updates.
Bridge Pro setup.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
How long do I hold the reset?+
Hold the reset button in for five to ten seconds, until the lights change, then release it.
Do I remove it from my account first?+
Yes, removing the Bridge from your account first is recommended, so that the old account no longer holds it.
Is it the same for the Pro?+
Yes, the reset works the same way for the Bridge Pro, with the same button and the same hold time.
How do I know it finished?+
Three solid blue lights show that the reset has finished and the Bridge is ready to be set up again.
Should I try a soft reset first?+
Yes, try a soft reset first, since it keeps your rooms and scenes and often clears the fault.
Does Hue work with Google Home?+
Yes, Hue works with Google Home, so you can control lights from the Google Home app or by voice.
What is Entertainment sync?+
Entertainment sync makes lights follow what is on a screen, using a Hue Sync Box or app to send colors to the lights.
How do I update the Bridge?+
Open Settings, then Software update in the Hue app, and install any update offered, leaving the Bridge powered until it finishes.