The four actions
| Action | What you give it | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle Light | A light's name | Turns that light on if it's off, or off if it's on |
| Set Light Brightness | A light's name and a level from 1 to 100 | Sets that light's brightness |
| Activate Scene | A scene's name | Activates that scene on your Hue Bridge |
| Set Lighting (Focus filter) | A scene picked from a list | Activates the scene when a Focus turns on |
All four run in the background. HueCommand doesn't open when Siri or a shortcut uses them.
The actions control individual lights and scenes. There isn't a separate action for turning a whole room on or off; to do that by voice, make a scene for the room and activate it.
Using Siri
HueCommand registers two ready-made Siri phrases. On your device the app is called Command, so you say:
- "Toggle light with Command"
- "Activate scene with Command"
Siri then asks which light or scene you mean. You can also find both in the Shortcuts app under HueCommand's App Shortcuts.
For a shorter phrase, make a shortcut in the Shortcuts app with the action you want, fill in the light or scene name, and give the shortcut a name. Saying that name to Siri runs it.
How names are matched
- Matching ignores capital letters. An exact name wins first; if there's no exact match, part of a name works, so "desk" can find "Desk Lamp".
- If you have more than one Hue Bridge, HueCommand searches all the bridges you haven't hidden.
- If the same name is on two bridges and HueCommand can't tell which you mean, it tells you instead of guessing. Renaming one of them fixes it.
- If nothing matches, Siri tells you it couldn't find a light or scene with that name.
Building it into bigger shortcuts
Each action can be one step in a longer shortcut alongside other apps and system actions. Some ideas:
- Good morning: activate a bright scene in the kitchen, then set the bedside lamp to 30 percent.
- Movie time: activate a dim living room scene before opening your video app.
- Bedtime: toggle the hallway light, then activate a night light scene in the bedroom.
You can also run these shortcuts from Apple's Shortcuts automations, for example at a time of day.
How to set a scene for a Focus
- Open the Settings app and go to Focus.
- Choose a Focus, for example Sleep or Work.
- Under Focus Filters, tap Add Filter and choose Command.
- Pick Set Lighting and choose a scene from the list. Each scene shows its room.
- Done. The next time that Focus turns on, the scene activates.
The scene list includes scenes from every paired bridge, and when the Focus starts, HueCommand finds whichever bridge owns that scene.
At home and away
When your device is on the same network as your Hue Bridge, the actions talk to it directly. That is free.
When the bridge isn't reachable locally, the actions can fall back to your Hue account if you have Remote Control (Pro) set up. Without it, they need your home network.
Activate Scene applies a scene's colors. If the scene is a dynamic one, start its motion from the Scenes tab in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Is Siri control of Hue lights free in HueCommand?
Yes, on your home network. Using Siri and Shortcuts while away from home needs Remote Control, which requires Pro.
What do I say to Siri?
Say "Toggle light with Command" or "Activate scene with Command", and Siri asks for the name. Or make your own shortcut with any name you like.
Can Siri turn a whole room on or off?
Not with a dedicated action. Create a scene for that room, with the lights on or off as you want, and use Activate Scene.
Does it work from Apple Watch?
The HueCommand Apple Watch app doesn't include these Siri actions. On the watch, use the HueCommand watch app's room and light controls, which work through your paired iPhone.
Can a Focus change my lights automatically?
Yes. Add the Set Lighting filter from Command (HueCommand's name on your device; on the App Store it's Command for Philips Hue) to a Focus and pick a scene.