Summary
- The Philips Hue app now allows users to hide the main switch on the home screen to prevent accidental lighting shutdowns.
- The updated app also features a simplified “Add a scene” function to help users create new presets easily.
- Changes noted by the smart lighting devotees at Hue Blog reveal more options may be added in the “App preferences” menu eventually.
Home lighting is one of the most popular applications of smart home technology, mostly because of the convenience, precise control, and ease of setup smart tech adds to lighting. So there’s nothing more frustrating than getting a lighting scene configured just right, offhandedly checking a notification, and accidentally shutting down all your smart bulbs and plugs in one sudden, fell swoop.
That’s exactly what’s been happening to Philips Hue users periodically, thanks to an all-encompassing on-off switch that lives on the Hue app’s home screen. It’s an unassuming slider, small enough to overlook but just big enough to tap or swipe over unintentionally. To stop this frustration, the app added a settings toggle to hide the home screen toggle, proving it’s toggles all the way down (Source: hueblog.com).
Kill the lights, please
But not suddenly or without warning
Don’t worry about the German labels, that’s just the first region it rolled out to. Images credit: hueblog.com
The new setting isn’t tough to find. In fact, it has its very own menu (for now), a new addition called “App preferences”. The Home switch toggle is lonely in there, but expect additional options to join it in coming months. Toggle the slider off (it’s on by default), and the full shutdown switch disappears from the home screen. Toggle the slider on, and you’re back to normal.
The update also introduced a simplified “Add a scene” function. Seemingly to help owners get more out of their Philips Hue lights, the company has refined and reordered the scene configuration process to reduce any potential friction preventing users from making new presets.
The changes were noted by dedicated smart lighting fan Fabian of the Philips-centric Hue Blog. Fabian is based in Germany, and noted that translations are still forthcoming. We also haven’t noticed the changes on our US-market phones yet, either. But it’s safe to say the updates should roll out to the wider global community without much delay.
