What HueCommand does on each device
HueCommand (listed on the App Store as Command for Philips Hue) is one app with a version for each Apple platform. Every version talks to your Philips Hue Bridge. Most features are the same everywhere, but some depend on what the device has, such as a microphone or Home Screen widgets.
| Feature | iPhone and iPad | Mac | Apple TV | Vision Pro | Apple Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turn rooms and single lights on or off, All Off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Brightness | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Color | Color wheel | Color wheel | Color presets | Color wheel | No |
| Activate scenes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Goodnight fade to off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Effects (candle, fireplace and more) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Music sync (uses the microphone) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Entertainment Streaming (Pro) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| AI Scene Creator (Pro, version 26 or later with Apple Intelligence) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Set up remote access (Pro) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Geofencing (Pro) | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Widgets and Control Center controls (Pro) | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Apple Watch works through your paired iPhone. Control Center, Lock Screen and Action button controls need iOS 18 or later.
Notes for each device
iPhone and iPad
The full app, including widgets, Control Center controls and geofencing. iPhone Duo is supported.
Mac
A windowed Mac app with menus, right-click actions on rooms, and ⌘1 to ⌘5 to switch tabs. It is not a menu-bar app.
Apple TV
Use the Siri Remote, and hold Select on a room or light for quick actions. Apple TV connects over your home network, so remote access is set up on your iPhone or iPad instead. With no microphone, there is no music sync or Entertainment Streaming.
Apple Vision Pro
A native visionOS app with visionOS hover effects. visionOS draws them, so the app never sees where you look. No widgets or geofencing.
Apple Watch
Room list with how many lights are on, per-room All On and All Off, single-light toggles and an All Off button. No scenes and no brightness.
HueCommand and the official Philips Hue app
HueCommand is an independent app. It is not made by Signify, the company behind Philips Hue. It works with the Hue Bridge you already have, so the two apps can be used side by side.
- Same Bridge, same lights: both apps control the same Hue Bridge. HueCommand listens to the Bridge's event stream, so changes you make in the Hue app show up in HueCommand.
- Your existing Bridge: HueCommand finds your Hue Bridge on your network and pairs with it when you press the round button on top of the Bridge. HueCommand does not add new lights to the Bridge, so add lights in the official Hue app.
- Entertainment areas: Entertainment Streaming in HueCommand uses an entertainment area that you create in the official Hue app.
- Not in HueCommand: HueCommand focuses on lights and accessories. It does not manage Hue Secure cameras.
- Shared data: scenes and automations you create in HueCommand are saved on your Bridge. Rooms, zones and scenes from your Bridge appear in HueCommand.
Pricing
HueCommand is free to download. Light and room control, scenes, effects, music sync, Goodnight, circadian presets and one Bridge are free. Pro adds remote access, more than one Bridge, AI scenes, automations, the Day Planner, geofencing, Entertainment Streaming, backup, energy and usage insights, widgets and switch programming.
Pro costs $2.99 per month or $19.99 per year (US prices; prices can vary by country), or a one-time Lifetime unlock. See the full list on the features page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use HueCommand and the Philips Hue app at the same time?
Yes. Both apps control the same Hue Bridge, and HueCommand picks up changes made in the Hue app through the Bridge's event stream.
Do I still need the official Philips Hue app?
Keep it for adding new lights and creating entertainment areas, because HueCommand does not do those. Day-to-day control of your lights, rooms and scenes works in HueCommand.
Which Apple device has the most features?
iPhone and iPad. They are the only devices with Home Screen widgets, Control Center controls and geofencing.
Does the Apple Watch app work on its own?
No. The watch app sends your taps through your paired iPhone, which talks to the Hue Bridge.