Philips Hue's own article on the Bridge lights says each light shows a status from left to right: the left light means the Bridge is connected to power, the middle light means it is connected to the network through a router or modem, the right light means it is connected to the Hue internet services, and the round light around the button means it is producing a Zigbee signal. That gives you the diagnosis. If the middle light is off, the Bridge is not reaching your router, so check the Ethernet cable at both ends, try another port and cable and restart the router.
The checks in more detail
If the right light is off, the Bridge is on the network but not reaching Hue's services: Hue says the third light stays off when the Bridge is not on the latest software, so update it from the Hue app under Settings, Software update, repeating if needed. A search summary adds that the internet light blinking usually means no network connection. Power cycle the Bridge by unplugging it for thirty seconds and restart the router. Check that the router has internet access and that no firewall blocks the Bridge, and use the app's search by IP if the app cannot find it:
find the address in your router's device list using the Bridge's MAC address on its back. Lights that show offline in the app while the Bridge is fine usually have a Zigbee signal problem, so move the Bridge to a central spot away from metal and other 2.4 GHz devices. If nothing helps, use a reset only after trying a soft reconnect. Photograph the Bridge lights while the fault is happening, since a description from memory rarely matches the pattern the article lists. A Bridge that drops only when a microwave or other 2.4 GHz device runs points at interference, so note what is on when it fails.
Contact support with the Bridge lights pattern, software version and router model ready. If the Bridge is offline only after a router restart, give the router several minutes to hand out addresses, and reserve a fixed address for the Bridge if your router allows it so the app can always find it. The reports read say the Bridge Pro added wifi, so if your standard Bridge cannot sit near the router, a Pro or a powerline Ethernet adapter is the practical answer rather than a long cable across the floor.
Differential
Likely causes of “Philips Hue Bridges is offline or unavailable”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A missing network link
What separates it The middle Bridge light is off, which means the Bridge has no network link to the router
How to confirm Check the Ethernet cable and the router port, and swap the cable if the light stays off
- 2
An outdated Bridge
What separates it The third Bridge light is off because the Bridge software is out of date and needs updating
How to confirm Update the Bridge software from Settings, Software update in the Hue app and let it finish
- 3
No internet at the router
What separates it The right hand light is off because the router has no internet connection for the Bridge to use
How to confirm Restart the router and the modem, and wait for their lights to settle before checking again
- 4
A poor Bridge position
What separates it Lights show as offline in the app because the Bridge sits in a poor position for its radio signal
How to confirm Move the Bridge to a central spot, away from metal and thick walls, and check the lights again
- 5
A firewall or router block
What separates it The app cannot find the Bridge on the network because a firewall or router setting blocks it
How to confirm Search for the Bridge by its IP address in the app, taken from the router's device list
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which of the Bridge lights are on and which are off
- The router and Ethernet port used
- The software version shown for the Bridge in the app
- The IP address of the Bridge in the router's device list
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedRead the Bridge lights
ReversibleRead the Bridge lights from left to right: power, then the network link, then the connection to Hue's internet services, then the Zigbee ring.
Check Ethernet and router
ReversibleCheck the Ethernet cable and the router port, trying a different cable or port, since a bad cable is a common cause of a missing network light.
Restart the Bridge
ReversibleRestart the Bridge by unplugging its power for 30 seconds and plugging it back in, then wait for the lights to come on again.
Restart router and modem
ReversibleRestart the router and the modem, waiting for their lights to settle, because the Bridge needs the router to give it an address and internet.
Update the Bridge
ReversibleUpdate the Bridge from Settings, Software update in the Hue app, since the third light stays off until the Bridge has its latest software.
Search by IP
ReversibleSearch by IP address in the app if the automatic search fails, using the address the router lists for the Philips Hue device.
Contact Hue
ReversibleContact Hue if the Bridge stays offline after these steps, and tell them which lights are on and the Bridge's software version.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Bridge Pro
- Can connect over wifi as well as Ethernet.
- Bridge V2
- Needs an Ethernet connection to the router.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Hue Bridge Pro.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If the lights stay off after a restart and update, contact Philips Hue support
- !If only some lights are offline, move the Bridge or change Zigbee channel
- !If the app cannot find the Bridge, use the IP search
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Bridge lights and updates.
Reset steps for the Bridge and Bridge Pro.
Bridge Pro setup.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What do the Bridge lights mean?+
The Bridge lights show, from left to right, power, the network link, Hue's internet services and the Zigbee ring for lights.
Why is the third light off?+
The third light is off because the Bridge needs a software update, so open the Hue app and install it.
Can lights be offline with a good Bridge?+
Yes, lights can be offline even with a good Bridge, because Zigbee interference or distance can stop a light being reached.
How do I find the IP?+
Find the Bridge's IP address in the router's list of connected devices, or use a network scanner app to look for it.
What app do I use for Hue?+
Use the Philips Hue app, which sets up the Bridge, the lights and the rooms, scenes and routines on your phone.
Does a Hue Bridge need Ethernet?+
The standard Bridge connects to your router by Ethernet cable, while the Bridge Pro can also join a wifi network.
What is Hue Bridge Pro?+
Hue Bridge Pro is a faster Bridge with more capacity for lights and accessories, and it supports Matter.
Where is the model label?+
The model label is on the back of the Bridge, next to the Ethernet port and the power connection.