The Hue motion sensor detects movement and, in the Hue app, has settings for sensitivity, the daylight threshold and which lights it controls at different times. Independent guides say intermittent detection usually comes from daylight threshold settings stricter than expected or Zigbee signal problems at the sensor's location, so lower the daylight sensitivity and check battery and placement before rebuilding automations. Check the sensor is online in the app, has fresh AAA batteries and is facing the area, at a height and angle that covers where people walk.
The checks in more detail
Motion sensors use passive infrared, so they detect warm bodies moving across the field better than toward it, and they can be fooled by heat sources such as radiators, sun through a window and pets. Adjust sensitivity in the app: lower it to reduce false triggers and raise it to catch more. Set a daylight threshold so the sensor does not turn lights on in bright rooms.
Check the room's automation, since a sensor that reports but does not switch lights may have an automation off or a time window that excludes now. Check the lights it controls are reachable. If the sensor does not trigger at all, replace the batteries, move it closer to the Bridge or a relay and re-pair. Test by walking across the field slowly. Walk the route people take at different speeds and times, since a test at one pace says little.
Check again at a different time of day, since sun and heat change what triggers. Adjust one setting at a time. A sensor that works when you walk across but not when you walk toward it is behaving normally, since passive infrared responds to movement across its field, so angle it across the doorway and not down the hall. The daylight threshold works with the room's brightness, so a sensor in a bright hallway may never trigger by day and the fix is a threshold change in the app, not a new sensor.
Differential
Likely causes of “Hue accessories misses motion or records too many events”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A strict daylight threshold
What separates it The sensor does not trigger in a bright room because the daylight threshold is set too strictly
How to confirm Lower the daylight threshold in the app so the sensor also works when the room is fairly bright
- 2
Sensitivity too low
What separates it The sensor misses movement because its sensitivity is set too low for the room or the distance
How to confirm Raise the sensitivity in the Hue app, then test again by walking across the sensor's view
- 3
A heat source nearby
What separates it The sensor triggers for no reason because a heat source such as a radiator or vent is nearby
How to confirm Move the sensor away from heat sources, direct sun and vents that change the temperature in its view
- 4
A weak signal
What separates it The sensor works only now and then because its connection to the Bridge is weak
How to confirm Move the sensor closer to the Bridge or add a mains light between them to relay the signal
- 5
An automation window
What separates it The lights do not come on at certain times because the automation window does not cover them
How to confirm Check the schedule in the app and extend the time window so that it covers the hours you expect
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- The sensitivity and daylight threshold settings you have chosen
- Where the sensor is placed and which way it faces
- The age of the batteries fitted in the sensor
- The automation schedule and which lights it controls
Try in this order
0 of 7 completedCheck it is online
ReversibleCheck the sensor is online in the app and that its batteries are good, because a weak battery gives missed detections.
Adjust the daylight threshold
ReversibleLower the daylight threshold if lights do not come on in bright rooms, so the sensor is allowed to act in daylight.
Adjust sensitivity
ReversibleAdjust the sensitivity up if it misses movement or down if it fires too easily, testing after each change.
Check placement
ReversibleCheck the placement, keeping the sensor away from heat and facing across the area rather than straight at the doorway.
Check the automation
ReversibleCheck the automation, including its schedule, time windows and which lights it controls, in the Hue app.
Improve the signal
ReversibleImprove the signal by moving the sensor closer to the Bridge or by adding a mains powered light as a relay.
Test slowly
ReversibleTest slowly by walking across the field of view and watching the lights respond, then adjust the settings if needed.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Motion sensor
- Has sensitivity and daylight settings.
- Dimmer
- Has no motion sensing.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If it never triggers with good batteries and signal, contact Philips Hue support
- !If it triggers falsely, move the sensor away from heat sources before changing other settings
- !If lights do not switch, check the automation
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Motion sensor troubleshooting.
Motion sensor features.
Battery type and life.
The company and its products.
Exact questions
Common questions
Why does it not trigger in daylight?+
The sensor does not trigger in daylight when the daylight threshold is set so that the room counts as bright enough.
What type of sensor is it?+
It is a passive infrared sensor, which detects the body heat of people and animals as they move.
Can heat cause false triggers?+
Yes, heat sources such as radiators, vents and sunlight can cause false triggers by changing the temperature in its view.
Can I adjust sensitivity?+
Yes, you can adjust the sensitivity in the Hue app, making the sensor react more or less easily to movement.
Does it detect toward it?+
It detects movement towards it less well than movement across its view, so place it so that people walk across.
Can a weak battery cause misses?+
Yes, a weak battery can cause misses, because the sensor may not wake up or report in time.
Should I test slowly?+
Yes, test slowly by walking across the sensor's view at an easy pace, so you can see exactly when it reacts.
Does a soft reset erase settings?+
No, a soft reset does not erase settings, so your button assignments and room links stay in place.
Can accessories pair without a Bridge?+
Some accessories can pair over Bluetooth without a Bridge, though they have fewer features than through the Bridge.
What controls motion sensitivity?+
Motion sensitivity is a setting in the Hue app, where you can make the sensor react more or less easily.