Hue's dimmer reset article gives two options. A factory reset erases all paired devices, scenes and settings: remove the switch from its wall plate, flip it over and find the recessed setup or reset button on the back near the battery compartment, press and hold it with a paperclip or SIM tool for about ten seconds, and the front LED blinks orange to confirm the reset, after which you re-pair with the Bridge or over Bluetooth.
The checks in more detail
Hue notes the ten-second hold is standard even though shorter presses may sometimes work, and to press gently and steadily. A soft reset reboots without erasing configuration: press and hold all four buttons, On, Dim Up, Dim Down and Off, for about five seconds until the LED flashes green and red alternately, then release. Use a soft reset for an unresponsive switch or intermittent connection, and a factory reset when moving to a new Bridge, selling or when a soft reset fails.
Make sure the battery is fitted and working before resetting. For a motion sensor, use the Hue app to remove and re-add it, and the sensor's own reset button as described in its manual. After a reset, have the Bridge or phone ready to reconnect quickly, and set up buttons again. Note your button assignments first. Screenshot your button assignments before resetting, since they take longer to rebuild than the reset itself. After a reset give the accessory a moment before pairing.
Avoid resetting during a busy evening. A soft reset is the right first move for a dimmer that lags or drops, since it reboots the switch and keeps every pairing and scene, and it costs a few seconds. Hue lists two different resets for dimmers, so read which you need: a soft reset keeps everything, and a factory reset erases it, and confusing them is a frequent way to lose scenes without meaning to.
Differential
Likely causes of “Hue accessories will not reset or needs to be reset safely”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
An unresponsive switch
What separates it The switch's buttons do nothing when pressed although the battery is fine
How to confirm Try a soft reset first, holding all four buttons for about five seconds, before a factory reset
- 2
Moving Bridges
What separates it An old pairing remains when you move the accessory to a different Bridge
How to confirm Factory reset the accessory so that it forgets the old Bridge and can be paired again
- 3
A failed pairing
What separates it The accessory will not join the Bridge after several attempts to pair it
How to confirm Factory reset it, then pair it again as a new accessory from the Hue app
- 4
A weak battery
What separates it The accessory behaves oddly because its battery is weak and it resets itself now and then
How to confirm Replace the battery before you reset, since a weak battery can mimic a fault
- 5
Lost button settings
What separates it The buttons run the wrong actions after a reset because their assignments were erased
How to confirm Reassign the buttons in the Hue app, choosing the scenes for each short and long press
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Which type of reset you carried out, soft or factory
- The button assignments you had before the reset
- What the LED did when you reset the accessory
- The battery type and how old it is
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedReplace the battery first
ReversibleReplace the battery first if it is old, since a weak battery can cause resets and odd behavior that a reset will not fix.
Try a soft reset
ReversibleTry a soft reset by holding all four buttons for about five seconds, which restarts the switch and keeps its settings.
Factory reset if needed
ReversibleDo a factory reset if needed by holding the setup button on the back for about ten seconds, which erases pairings and settings.
Watch the LED
ReversibleWatch the LED, which blinks orange when a factory reset is happening, and wait until it stops before you let go.
Re-pair
ReversibleRe-pair the accessory to the Bridge, or by Bluetooth for models that support it, following the steps in the Hue app.
Reassign buttons
ReversibleReassign the buttons in the app after a factory reset, because the assignments and scenes have to be set again.
Contact Hue
ReversibleContact Hue if the accessory will not reset, and tell them the model and what the LED did.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Soft reset
- Reboots without erasing.
- Factory reset
- Erases pairings and settings.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If neither reset works, contact Philips Hue support
- !If it resets but will not pair, check the Bridge
- !If the accessory is second-hand, factory reset it before you set it up
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Soft reset and factory reset.
Reset steps for the Bridge and Bridge Pro.
Light reset.
Bridge lights and updates.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
What is a factory reset?+
A factory reset means holding the setup button for about ten seconds, which erases paired devices, scenes and settings.
What does the LED do on factory reset?+
On a factory reset the LED blinks orange, telling you that the accessory has been returned to factory settings.
What does it do on soft reset?+
On a soft reset the LED flashes green and red, which shows the switch has restarted.
Should I check the battery?+
Yes, check the battery first, because a weak battery can cause faults that look like a need for a reset.
What causes false triggers?+
Heat sources, pets and sunlight are the usual causes of false triggers, so move the sensor away from them.
Do accessories work when the internet is down?+
Yes, accessories keep working through the Bridge locally, so lights still respond when the internet is down.
How far can accessories be from the Bridge?+
Accessories can be about 30 feet from the Bridge through walls, and less where thick obstacles are in the way.