The popular Philips Hue app has received an exciting update, enhancing the way users interact with their smart lighting system. With the release of version 5.14.0, both iOS and Android users can now enjoy new features aimed at improving convenience and customization for lighting control—ensuring a more seamless smart home experience.
One major addition to the iOS version of the app is the return of interactive widgets, now revamped and more accessible. For Apple users, this reintroduction means the ability to quickly control lighting from the Home Screen, Lock Screen, and Today View without having to dive into the app itself. You can simply tap and hold on the screen, select the ‘+’ icon or ‘Add Widgets’ button, and look for ‘Hue’ in the list of widget options. By pressing and holding the chosen widget, it becomes customizable, allowing users to select specific rooms, zones, or switches that they want to control directly from the widget.
Both iOS and Android versions have seen improvements for ‘Friends of Hue’ switches, including the Lutron Aurora. This collaboration expands functionality, granting these third-party switches abilities such as activating the natural light scene, toggling through scene cycles, and utilising time-based lighting adjustments. These enhancements aim to integrate Friends of Hue accessories more seamlessly into the Philips Hue ecosystem.
Another user-friendly tweak is the streamlined process for saving changes to lighting scenes. Addressing user feedback, the app now features a ‘Save’ button prominently positioned in the top left corner. This change cuts down on the steps needed to modify a scene, bypassing the previous requirement to click on a pencil icon to enter edit mode.
For those eager to check out the new features, version 5.14.0 of the Philips Hue app is readily available for download from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Users can also review the update notes provided in the app stores for detailed information about all the changes included.
As smart homes continue to evolve, updates like these play a key role in ensuring that users can manage their living spaces more effectively and intuitively. Whether you’re new to Philips Hue or have been a longtime enthusiast, this latest app update promises to enhance how you interact with your smart lighting and create the perfect atmosphere in your home with just a few taps.
