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arsmatticus Author

Level 1

39 points

Hue Bridge suddenly not working with Home app

I am running an Apple Home setup with two HomePods (v1), three HomePod minis, an Apple TV 4K (v1), and an Apple TV 4K (v2). My Apple devices are an iPhone 15 Pro, iPad Pro 11" M2, and iPad (9th gen), and MBP 14" M2 Max, as well as an M1 Mac mini running as a Homebridge server to create dummy switches and give me access to my Nest Learning Thermostat. Everything is running the most recent OS/firmware (iOS/tvOS/iPadOS 17). I have an AmpliFi Alien router, and all of my Home devices and bridges have static IP addresses. I have done extensive troubleshooting and can verify that all of my devices are updated and in good working order.

After realizing that my Home app was running in the background and killing my iPhone's battery on my brand new iPhone 15 Pro, I tried tinkering with settings, selectively unpairing devices, and ultimately wound up running the Apple HomeKit reset profile and completely nuking my HomeKit setup with something like 40-50 devices on it. After that, I spend hours trying to get my HomePods updated and initialized, as they kept getting stuck on "Configuring" for hours, and finally had to open a case with Apple Support. Then, as if by miracle, the HomePods started coming online one by one, after not working for nearly 48 hours, and I was able to begin rebuilding my Home setup.

I had just gotten all of my devices linked with HomeKit (a pain because Hue apparently doesn't transmit the names and rooms of the lights to HomeKit anymore) when all of a sudden all of my Hue devices stopped responding. My Hue hub now shows as being disconnected from HomeKit in the Home app, but the lights all work in the Hue app and can be controlled using the Hue dimmer switches. The Hue app says it is connected to Apple Home. I have tried unlinking (losing all the names and locations of the Hue lights and switches in the process) and Hue will stay connected for 15-30 minutes and then disconnect again. I am beyond frustrated at this point. Does anyone have any ideas/solutions? Anyone having the same issue?

Posted on Sep 26, 2023 9:08 PM

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arsmatticus Author

Level 1

39 points

Posted on Sep 29, 2023 1:22 AM

I have since solved the issue. Adding the Hue Bridge from the Home app using the HomeKit code on the sticker or from the Hue app directly now adds it as a Matter hub which has connectivity issues and lacks many features such as name and room sync and adaptive lighting. You have to instead tap the button on top and wait for it to appear in the list of devices (it’ll say Hue Bridge-XXXX [insert string of random numbers likely unique to your device], and then scan the code to add to HomeKit. Not as intuitive but crucial.

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58 replies

Jan 10, 2024 7:21 PM in response to arsmatticus

Okay, I am having the same exact problem as you and I'm starting to lose my mind trying to fix it. I removed all light accessories from the home app. Lights still work from the Hue app though. I noticed that my home pod says it's in standby mode so I'm not sure if that is part of the problem. It also says my apple TV is connected though and that this device can act as a home hub. Anyway...How did you solve the issue again? You held down the button on the white hue bridge?

Sean S

Level 1

65 points

Jan 12, 2024 5:46 AM in response to arsmatticus

I just started having this issue.

I’ve removed the hue hub from the Home app.. I’ve reset the hub to factory settings. I have tried to add the hub through both the Hue app and the Home app. The bridge can’t be found.

I tried your recommendation to press the button on the top of the bridge. The hub still doesn’t appear.

I am not sure what else I can try and do.

appreciate any suggestions.

Jan 16, 2024 10:41 AM in response to Sean S

Bonjour. I have an Xfinity modem and Eero routing system. I had the hardest time getting my network to discover the Hue Bridge. I was on the phone with apple and Hue tech support for ages and I kept hearing from both that there was a compatibility issue. Initially, my Hue Bridge was connected to the Xfinity modem with a LAN cable. It didn't occur to me to connect the Hue Bridge to the router with the LAN cable until I read somewhere that this seemed to solve the problem. So I tried it and by golly, it worked immediately. I have been up and running ever since and things are running smoothly with Apple Home. Once the Hue Bridge was recognized, though, Apple Home had me walk through the house so it could 'discover' each individual light and it was done in such a random order - kitchen, then living room, then master bath, then back to the kitchen, etc. etc. etc. I have 46 Hue lights! Man - did I get my steps in that day. I'm not very articulate at describing tech stuff so if anything needs clarification, please let me know. I did report the solution I found to both Hue and Apple but I don't know if my fix was something that applied to other people's situations.

Jan 20, 2024 2:17 PM in response to arsmatticus

I'm glad you found a fix. We just started dealing with this yesterday. Unfortunately, when we tap the button on top of the Hue bridge nothing happens. It never appears on the list of devices. Still waiting on advice from Hue, Apple, and Xfinity. So far everyone is just pointing fingers.

Jan 20, 2024 4:02 PM in response to arsmatticus

Hi Arsmatticus!

Great instructions. Read all the prior threads.

How do you "ensure the Hue hub is removed in the Apple Home app ? asking because in my case it dissappear to begin with from the Home Settings / Home Hubs & Bridges. Thanks!

Feb 21, 2024 1:25 PM in response to arsmatticus

After 2+ months of things not working, they got fixed about a week ago.

My steps/comments to fixing things in case others are experiencing similar situations.

Following the comments of many here I requested a new Xfinity Gateway.

I had an XB6. Requested an XB8. Xfinity tried to sell me an upgrade to my plan. I said "no". No XB8 for you then. They shipped me an XB7. While waiting for the gateway to arrive there was a firmware update for the HUE. Things still did not work. Not working means, I can't add the HUE hub to the apple homekit from the home app nor the HUE app. New router arrived. Replaced the router/gateway for the XB7. Kept the old wifi ID and passwords.

Tried adding the HUE from the apple Home app following the detailed instructions from arsmatticus. Failed. Would NOT find the HUE in the network. Tried again starting the process using the HUE app and it worked flawlessly. In less than 5 minutes everything got back to normal. Thanks everyone for your posts. Let's see how long this lasts.

Mar 26, 2024 10:03 AM in response to Robertharpool

Yeah that post was vague and understandably upsetting

Tap the button at the top

Of what? lol

Go to the Hue App on your phone and tap Settings in the bottom right corner

Scroll down to Smart home and click Apple Home to add your accessories

Hopefully you have named your lights/accessories well so that you can assign them to the correct rooms

Dec 21, 2023 4:44 AM in response to jocapps

Here ya’ go …

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/controller-for-homekit/id1198176727

Vancouver22

Level 8

36,776 points

Sep 29, 2023 12:57 AM in response to arsmatticus

It might be offline. In the Hue app is it green as “connected”? or red disconnected? If the latter, it’s the wifi. Reboot your router.

Vancouver22

Level 8

36,776 points

Sep 30, 2023 6:55 PM in response to arsmatticus

Oh well then, I don’t look forward to the day I might need to add it all from scratch. Glad you got it working.

arsmatticus Author

Level 1

39 points

Nov 9, 2023 4:56 PM in response to Thomascd6103

See my reply to Robertharpool and the previous reply to Vancouver, that should sum up what you need to do. That’s the only workaround I have figured out to date.

ryanlamb

Level 1

0 points

Nov 26, 2023 7:36 PM in response to Elvgif

Having this exact same issue and am stuck at this same step (except I get a “pairing with accessory failed” screen if I wait long enough.

arsmatticus Author

Level 1

39 points

Nov 26, 2023 8:11 PM in response to Elvgif

Have you tried to factory reset the Hue bridge? I started from scratch each time to reduce the number of unknown variables until I stumbled upon a solution.

ryanlamb

Level 1

0 points

Nov 28, 2023 9:37 AM in response to arsmatticus

I have around 30 hue bulbs and am really trying to avoid resetting the bridge. Don’t want to set them all up again

arsmatticus Author

Level 1

39 points

Dec 2, 2023 5:35 AM in response to Ohtobeaforager

Under “Add Accessories” and “More Options.” But do not select the Matter instance of the bridge. Use the HAP one (with letters and numbers after the name).

Hue Bridge suddenly not working with Home app