Hue timers and sunset automations use the Bridge's time, which it takes from the internet and your location in the app. If a schedule fires at the wrong hour or a sunset trigger is off, check the location and time zone set for the home in the Hue app and that the Bridge is online, since it syncs its clock through Hue's services; the third light confirms that link.
The checks in more detail
A Bridge that lost internet for long can drift, and daylight saving changes are handled by the time zone, so a wrong time zone shows as a shift of whole hours. For a wrong status, such as a light shown on in the app when it is off, refresh the app, check the light is powered at the wall switch, since a Hue light switched off at the wall shows unreachable, and check the Zigbee signal.
A light that a wall switch cut power to needs power restored, not a reset. If states are stale after a power cut, the Bridge and lights need a few minutes to reconnect. Restart the Bridge, update its software and check the automation's own time settings. Contact Hue support with a screenshot showing the time and status if it stays wrong. Photograph the app next to a clock so the offset is clear.
A status that flips is a connection problem, so use the offline steps. Contact support with a screenshot showing the offset. Check the time zone after a house move, since the location is the thing people forget to update and it shifts every timer. A Hue light switched off at the wall looks offline in every app, so check the wall switch before doing anything to the Bridge.
Differential
Likely causes of “Philips Hue Bridges shows the wrong time, state or sensor reading”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A wrong location or time zone
What separates it Automations fire off by several hours because the home location or time zone is wrong
How to confirm Correct the home location in the Hue app so the Bridge uses the right time zone
- 2
An offline Bridge
What separates it The Bridge clock drifts because it has been offline and cannot check the time on the internet
How to confirm Reconnect the Bridge to the internet so it can correct its clock
- 3
A wall switch off
What separates it A light shows as unreachable because the wall switch that powers it has been turned off
How to confirm Restore power at the wall switch so that the light can connect to the Bridge
- 4
A recent power cut
What separates it The status looks stale right after a power cut because the Bridge has not reconnected yet
How to confirm Wait for the Bridge and the lights to reconnect, which can take a few minutes, and refresh the app
- 5
An old Bridge software
What separates it The Bridge behaves oddly because its software is old and has known faults
How to confirm Update the Bridge in the app so it has the latest software
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The time that the app shows and the time you expected
- The home location set in the Hue app
- The lights on the Bridge and which are lit
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck the home location
ReversibleCheck the home location and the time zone in the app, since the Bridge takes its time and sunset from them.
Confirm the Bridge is online
ReversibleConfirm the Bridge is online by looking at its third light, because an offline Bridge cannot correct its own clock.
Check the wall switch
ReversibleCheck the wall switch for any light that shows as unreachable, because a switched-off light cannot connect.
Wait after a power cut
ReversibleWait a few minutes after a power cut, since the Bridge and lights need time to reconnect and refresh their status.
Restart the Bridge
ReversibleRestart the Bridge if the time or status stays wrong, by unplugging it for 30 seconds and plugging it in again.
Update the Bridge
ReversibleUpdate the Bridge software in the app so that known faults with time and status are fixed.
Contact Hue
ReversibleContact Hue with a screenshot if the time stays wrong, so support can see what the app shows.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Time
- The Bridge syncs through Hue's services.
- Wall switches
- Cutting power makes lights unreachable.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Hue Bridge Pro.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If time stays wrong after fixing location, contact Philips Hue support
- !If status is wrong, check power and Zigbee
- !If the Bridge is offline, use the offline steps
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Bridge lights and updates.
Reset steps for the Bridge and Bridge Pro.
Bridge software history.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Where does the Bridge get its time?+
The Bridge gets its time from the internet and from your location in the app, so both must be right.
Why is sunset wrong?+
Sunset looks wrong when the location or the time zone in the app is wrong, so correct them.
Why does a light show unreachable?+
A light shows unreachable when it has lost power, for example when someone turns off its wall switch.
Can an offline Bridge drift?+
Yes, an offline Bridge can drift, because it cannot check the internet time until it is connected again.
Does DST matter?+
Daylight saving time matters through the time zone setting, so make sure the time zone follows your region.
Should I restart the Bridge?+
Restart the Bridge if the time or status is still wrong after you have checked the location and the network.