Philips Hue Bridge v1

Works great for me! 90% more responsive, connects instantly and doesn't get hung up and confused by standard operations. Huge, huge improvement. However there is a bug that is preventing me from setting home and away routines. Keeps saying log in to use this function and no matter how many times I log in, it won't work. I can set any of the other routines just fine but not home and away.

Since the latest update, the app's response time is incredibly slow. I've restarted the bridge, my phone, individual lights, and the app still takes a long time to connect to the bridge. I thought splitting this app to support this bridge was so performance would still be good with the older bridge. Starting to feel like I'm getting shafted for being an early adopter.

Faster than the main app, so I appreciate it, but needs an explicit time zone setting. My routines turn on at the time I set, but in the time zone I was a while ago. Deleting and creating a new routine doesn't fix it, and even if it did, any time I travel I'd have the same issue. Makes the routines practically useless.

I'm not impressed AT ALL by the forced "upgrade" process coming from the v1 Bridge. Philips communication was awful. The provided instructions were terrible and did not work. Now that I have v2 set up, none of the third party apps will detect it. I've had it. I work in IT and if I provided my end users with such a nightmare scenario, I'd be unemployed. I'll be moving off the Hue ecosystem now that the market has much more competent vendors.

I was forced to switch to this app by Philips when they dropped support for the bridge. I spent a premium to by Philips for the promise that it would be usable and not be bricked. The new app is less reliable than the original unreliable app. The functionality is just as slow and frequently fails to respond to user interaction. If you haven't invested in Philips yet, go elsewhere. If you have... you're stuck.

I don't understand the reviews. My hue setup is working just like it did before, and has for years. v1 app is a good idea because it allows them to improve the new hub beyond version 1 physical limitations. I guess in a utopian world software updates will be able to rebuild things at a hardware level. 2018 is not that day. Thanks for not dropping us from your product completely. Update: Upgraded to v2. Smooth, it transfer settings worked smooth.

I was using the Homey domotica server to control my Hue lights. Homey used my hub V1 as an interface. Suddenly, all my lights on the Homey app became unreachable, because of a forced upgrade of the hub. Why!! I never used voice control to turn on lights. Only a flow/rule on Homey to turn on/off lights. Everything was done locally without internet connection needed. And suddenly, the LOCAL connection between the V1 bridge and the Homey controller is no longer possible. I'm very unhappy!

Aah, the pleasure of IoT devices and what they don't tell you beforehand. The v1 bridge is such an ☆extremely☆ complex device that is too intensive to maintain. They even had to build a new app for the new bridge, too complicated for the hip young developers to keep it all in just one proudly produced app, scanning which version it can find in your network to adjust features. Don't think about electronic waste, just buy a new bridge! We, Signify, do determine the lifespan of this product!

I was similarly disgruntled from having to download and switch to yet another app just for hue. It's either that or use another app that's more stable. AND you have to authorize the app (by physically pushing the button) AGAIN when you install this app. So annoying to have to go through these steps over and over for each new app.

extremely frustrating to use properly, especially the widgets. the creation screen literally works against you unless you do it just so, and even when you've gotten it made, chances are, it replaced the name you gave it with "widget" (highly informative) and it's a 50-50 on whether it'll work, because it probably won't connect to the bridge unless you open the app anyway... anyone catching the problem here?

Until Philips commits to treating the Hue ecosystem like the *appliance* customers expect, they're going to continue shipping unreliable, critical-feature-breaking updates simply to sell new units that are "required" (total BS from a technical perspective, regardless of "how fast tech moves", but that's another issue <-- valid regardless of their claims). Focus on fixing what's broken before adding new things that are broken. This is what happens when a hardware company tries to do software.

This app does nothing more and nothing less than what I need. Despite what others claim, it controls the lights via the cloud without any problems. (The cut-off date for this is April 30, 2020.) I adore that I can control my Living Colors Gen 2 SmartLink lamp from 2011 with the app. 😍 Some day, I might upgrade to the v2 bridge but today is not that day. Thank you, Philips, for still making these amazing products. ❤

I've been running a extensive Hue system in my home for 5 years - with all lights and sensors supported by my original V1 Bridge. Today I updated the bridge v1 application and then tried to install the new Outdoor Sensor. The updated application does not present an option for the addition of an Outdoor Sensor. Very disappointing.

I would give 0 stars if I could. This app is awful. It used to work just fine till they forced me to install the v1 app bridge version. This one will never open first time (it crashes). The second time it opens and functions fine. The other app that we can no longer use never did this. Way to go Philips.... Once the 7 bulbs I have die I'm turning to another company (hopefully Soon). Plus the one (simple) thing we have all asked for since the beginning (power on mode) is now available for v2 :(

Not sure why we need an extra app to control v1 hub. Normal Hue app can do the same job by limiting functionalities based on hub version. As an computer engineer, I don't see any engineering obstacles on doing that. The only reason I can think of is Philips wants to drive away the early adopters of Hue system, because we know too much on how system works and how to customize the system.

I do not want the standard answer about cloud based functionality that this team is copy/pasting under everyone's review. Forcing an upgrade on loyal customers and then giving them a discount that still requires them to pay over $50 is not some kind of a gift. We spent the hundred dollars initially for a wonderdul product, and now it simply works as a light bulb. That's NOT what we signed up for. Yes we can change colours and turn it on and off from our phones but seriously? It's a shame.

Philips decided to try and force users to upgrade (buy) new bridge v2 even if their old v1 works just fine by REMOVING EXISTING FEATURES, like ability to control lights from outside network. This is not the first time they act like this with their smart devices but definitely last time I buy any "smart" Philips item. DON'T BUY PHILIPS, you will regret it.

So now I'm stuck with an old plastic box which need to be connected to my router but doesn't even connect to the internet anymore?!?! Oh and also, if your Canadian forget about that "upgrade" promo because it never showed up, because I like paying full price for something I never asked for.. Never again Phillips, I'm done.

I find it bad practice to give early adaptors a different app with less options/settings. Philips could at least give an offer too upgrade too the new bridge instead of forcing an inferior app on us. You know this app won't be updated soon enough. But what you gonna do when you're already have several lamps into the hue system, switch brands??

Pretty terrible, I've got a V1 and an open source linux hue hub on my network. The app detects the Linux hub and FORCES me to download the V2 app and never lets me get into the V1 app. No, I don't want to turn off my Linux hub while I connect to my V1 hub. My suggestion is this: Let me choose which hub I want to configure. I'm pretty sure it isn't difficult seeing as the Hue pro app developers can do it.

It used to work great. Now it won't load. The app won't find the bridge. Very disappointed a company like Philips would do this to early adopters. I see the optimal comments on several replies. I would believe it if the honest answer was stated regarding optimizing the financial impact for Philips. I don't need new features for light bulbs. I want it to come on and dim on command and then turn off when I'm done with it. I'm not asking that much.

It can't find my old bridge, I don't even think this app could find a flashlight in the dark. If you have a new bridge it probably works fine, but if you have an older bridge, when it originally came out nope. if you have an old bridge and you got it to work could you share it with the rest of us that couldn't thanks

Phillips is discontinuing its support for version 1 bridge and taking away a lot of its functionality (voice control, anywhere in the world control and security and bug fixes) making us go out and buy a new $60 bridge which does nothing different than the v1 for google users. This should be illegal! NOT COOL! Im calling the better business bureau, the local news and giving as many 1 star reviews as I can.

Scheduled scenes/routines not working most of the time. I set 3 customised routines, only 1 worked. I also set up the wake up scene to turn on at 6am and turn off at 730am. It did turn on but did not turn off. Super buggy version.

3rd F-ing app and it still doesn't support the Google swipe keyboard and now out of home control doesn't work. Can't decide if Philips have the dumbest engineers who don't understand that apps can be updated or how to separate functions by bridge version, or if they have the dumbest marketing who thinks deprecating software for early adopters is a good idea in the long run, especially when there are cheaper and better competitors. Sick and tired of installing new apps.

Absolutely awful. Hue was working fine, with no issues, until Phillips decided to screw early adopters and lock them out of the old app and force them to download this one. EDIT: further to this, after finally getting the app working with my lights, I have now been informed that Phillips is removing features for no reason other than to 'encourage' me to buy the new bridge. They have offered me a 'discount' though, so it's all OK, right? Don't be caught out by this. Don't buy Phillips.

this app cannot find my bridge . i can still control my lights with google home and alexa, so the bridge is functioning. but im unable to add new lights to my layout. very frustrating to pay a premium for hue bulbs and experience this type of problem. if Phillips wants to introduce a new bridge and stop adequately supporting the old version they should offer a trade in discount to all of their early adopters. i am using v1 bridge

Don't waste your money. Expensive doesn't always mean better. I have spent 2 hours adding 3 lights to Google. I've had various issues that I just can't believe we're happening from the "Hue" end. it only took 10 minutes todo the same with Magic home, Techlife and other products. I will never wate money on another Philips device infact all my devices are available on Facebook marketplace. Over priced and over complicated and just not worth the stress. Simplification is key. Goodbye Hue. I'm done!

So annoyed with Phillips, my bridge is only supported on this older V1 app, which has its flaws. Means I can only use the new improved app if I purchase a brand new bridge. Feel like they don't care about their older existing customers who bought their system years ago. There are multiple other options out there now and I would highly recommend looking at these instead. - Update* I followed the below suggested option to upgrade, so this will still cost £45 for a new bridge! What a scam!