How to reset Philips hue bulb? (With or Without Bridge)

Chris James
2 min readJun 12, 2024

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Is there a problem with your Philips Hue lightbulb? Hold on to it for a little! It might only require a straightforward reset to return to its vividly colored splendor. Resetting your Hue bulbs is a simple and fast process, whether you’re having issues or are getting ready for a new owner of your lights.

This guide will help you reset Philips Hue lightbulb in under 10 minutes. Let’s know about the steps for resetting the bulb.

First things first: Make sure you’re dealing with a Philips Hue bulb, not a Philips Wiz bulb (they require different steps).

Did you get the right bulb? Let’s reset!

Using the Philips Hue App (with Bridge):

  • Open the Philips Hue app and navigate to Settings > Lights.
  • Find the misbehaving bulb and tap “Delete.” Confirm the deletion.
  • Tap the “+” button and choose “Search” to find the bulb again.
  • Once found, name your bulb and assign it to a room.

Don’t Have the Bridge? No Problem!

Reset Without Using Bridge

Most Hue bulbs have built-in Bluetooth. Here’s how to reset without the Bridge:

  • Turn the bulb’s power on and off five times rapidly.
  • Download the separate Hue Bluetooth app and follow the pairing process.
  • If the power cycling trick doesn’t work, consider using a Philips Hue Dimmer Switch.
  • Hold the “I” and “O” buttons on the Dimmer Switch for 10 seconds while near the bulb.
  • The bulb and switch will blink to confirm the reset. Now you can add the bulb back to your system using the Bluetooth app.

Bonus Tip: To protect your private settings and get your Hue bulbs ready for a new owner, it’s a wonderful idea to reset them.

And that’s it! Your Philips Hue bulb should soon be back to brighten your life if you follow these easy instructions. Cheers to your illumination!

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Chris James

I have a background in computer science and a passion for storytelling, I contributed to many tech publications providing deep analysis and in-depth reviews.