How To Set Philips Timer

Ben Patterson/IDG

Signify-endemic Philips Hue made a splash dorsum in June with the release of its updated Hue app, which arrived with streamlined automations, improved geofencing functionality, and faster performance. But one feature from the older version of the app was mysteriously dropped: lite timers.

With previous versions of the Hue app, you could fix a timer that would trigger a light scene when the time expired. For example, a 10-minute timer might end with the lights turning on at total brightness in your bedroom, or y'all could set an 60 minutes-long timer that triggers a nightlight scene downstairs.

But while version iv.0 of the Hue app added more than 100 new features, sleep timers vanished from the update, much to the chagrin of many Hue users.

Well, skilful news: Version 4.ii of the Hue app arrived earlier this week, and among other changes, lite timers have finally returned. Hither's how to create one.

light timer in hue app — A new update just brought calorie-free timers back to the Hue app, but you lot'll have to scroll to find them.

Annotation: Make sure the Hue app is updated to version 4.2 earlier y'all try to create a low-cal timer. Not seeing the update? In my case, I had to search for the Hue app on the Apple tree App Store, and when I plant information technology, the listing showed a download push (the one with the cloud and the downwardly arrow) rather than the "Update" button—strange, given that the Hue app was already installed on my iPhone. In any case, I tapped the download button, the Hue app updated itself, and all was well.

How to set a low-cal timer using the Hue app

Open the app, tap the Automations app, then tap the "+" button in the meridian-right corner of the screen.
Coil all the mode downwards to the Timers tile—it's second from the bottom, so it's easy to miss—and tap information technology.
Set how long yous'd similar the timer to run for, anywhere from a infinitesimal to 24 hours, then tap the Next button.
Choose which rooms (upwardly to four) or zones you'd like the timer to control, or you can opt for the timer to control all the lights in your abode. Unfortunately, a timer tin't control a single light, unless y'all have a room with simply ane Hue bulb.
Finally, pick the lighting scene that you'd like to exist triggered when the timer ends. You tin pick any of the existing light scenes for a given room, or tap the "+" button to choose a new pick from the Hue scene gallery. You lot tin also choose to only turn the lights off. One time y'all've picked a light scene, tap the blueish Done button.

timers in automations tab of philips hue app — Once you've created a light timer in the Hue app, they'll sit down at the summit of the Automations tab—and as you tin see, you tin run two timers at in one case.

You should now see your new timer at the elevation of the Automations screen. Tap the Play button to begin the timer—and yeah, you can accept multiple timers running simultaneously, if you wish.

Timers volition remain in the Automations app even later on they've expired, meaning you can run them once again. Y'all can also edit and even name your times by borer them. To delete a timer, swipe information technology from right to left.

Note: When yous purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small committee. Read our affiliate link policy for more than details.

Ben has been writing about applied science and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2022, Ben joined TechHive in 2022, where he covers smart speakers, soundbars, and other smart and habitation-theater devices. Yous can follow Ben on Twitter.