# HueCommand — Full Documentation

> HueCommand is the most powerful third-party Philips Hue control app for iPhone and Apple Watch. It offers comprehensive light control, scene creation, smart automations, music-reactive lighting, and deep Apple ecosystem integration — all with a privacy-first approach.

## What is HueCommand?

HueCommand is a premium iOS app for controlling Philips Hue smart lighting. It communicates directly with the Philips Hue Bridge v2 over your local Wi-Fi network using the CLIP v2 API. It provides significantly more features than the official Philips Hue app, including an Apple Watch companion app, AI-powered scene generation, music-reactive lighting, bridge backup/restore, and energy tracking.

HueCommand is available on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hue-command/id6760245363

## Who is HueCommand for?

HueCommand is for Apple device users who own Philips Hue smart lights and want more control than the official Hue app provides. It's particularly well-suited for:

- Power users who want precise CIE color space control, Zigbee diagnostics, and device signal strength
- Apple ecosystem users who want Apple Watch control, Siri Shortcuts, and home screen widgets
- Privacy-conscious users who want opt-out analytics and local-only data storage
- Users with complex setups: multiple bridges, many rooms, or large light counts
- Users who want to back up their Hue Bridge configuration
- Party hosts who want music-reactive lighting without buying a Hue Sync Box ($300+)
- Users who want to track energy consumption across their smart lights

---

## Complete Feature Reference

### Color Wheel & Precision Control

HueCommand gives you full control over every Philips Hue light in your home using a CIE 1931 color space wheel — the actual color gamut your lights can produce. This is not a simplified color grid like the official Hue app uses.

**Color wheel features:**
- Full CIE 1931 color space — drag to select any color your lights can produce
- Pinch to zoom for precision color selection
- Real-time feedback — changes are sent to your Hue Bridge instantly as you pick
- Color temperature slider from warm 2000K to cool 6500K
- Brightness slider from 0–100%

**Multi-point gradients:** For Hue lights that support gradients (Gradient Lightstrip, Play Gradient Light Bar), set multiple color points along the strip for flowing color transitions.

**Color harmony overlays:** When picking colors, HueCommand shows complementary, analogous, and triadic color suggestions — helping you create rooms that look professionally designed.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-color-wheel

### Room Dashboard

The main screen shows every room in your home at a glance. Each room card displays which lights are on, their current colors, and lets you toggle the entire room with a single tap.

- Tap into any room to see individual lights, adjust brightness, change colors, or apply scenes
- "Turn Off All Lights" button at the top shuts down everything in your home with one tap
- Designed for speed — the most common actions take zero navigation

### Scenes & Scene Creation

Scenes save a specific configuration of lights — colors, brightness, and effects — so you can recall them instantly. HueCommand supports both static scenes (fixed colors) and dynamic scenes (animated color transitions).

**Custom scene builder:** Pick which lights to include, set individual colors and brightness for each light, name it, and save. Scenes are stored on your Hue Bridge via the CLIP v2 API, so they work even when HueCommand isn't running.

**Dynamic scenes:** Cycle through colors over time with configurable speed and palette. Great for parties, relaxation, or background ambiance.

**Scene templates gallery:** Pre-built templates organized by mood and occasion — warm, cool, energizing, relaxing, party, focus, and more. One tap to preview, another to save.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-scenes

### AI Scene Creator (Pro)

Describe a mood in plain English — "warm sunset for a dinner party" or "cool blue focus lighting" — and HueCommand generates a complete scene using on-device AI.

**How it works:**
1. You type a mood description in natural language
2. Apple Foundation Models (running on your iPhone's neural engine) generate appropriate color values and brightness settings
3. HueCommand creates the scene on your Hue Bridge
4. Activate it instantly

**Privacy:** The AI runs entirely on your iPhone. No data is sent to the cloud. No internet connection needed for scene generation. Your mood descriptions never leave your phone.

**Requirements:** iPhone 15 Pro or later (A17 Pro chip or M-series), iOS 26+, HueCommand Pro subscription.

**No other Hue app offers AI-powered scene generation.**

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-ai-scenes

### Light Effects

HueCommand includes a library of animated lighting effects:
- **Candle flicker** — warm, gentle flicker like a real candle
- **Fireplace glow** — warm orange-red dancing light
- **Ocean waves** — rolling blue-green transitions
- **Northern lights** — flowing green-purple aurora
- **Thunderstorm** — dramatic flashes with deep blue
- And more

Effects are orchestrated by HueCommand's animation engine running on your iPhone. The app sends rapid color and brightness changes to your lights in real time. Speed and intensity are adjustable.

**Free feature** — all light effects are included free, no Pro subscription required.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-light-effects

### Music-Reactive Lighting

HueCommand uses your iPhone's built-in microphone to detect beats in real time. The app listens to whatever music is playing — from any speaker, any source — and sends color and brightness changes to your Hue lights in sync with the rhythm.

**Key details:**
- Works with any audio source — Bluetooth speaker, HomePod, vinyl record, live instruments
- Adjustable sensitivity — from subtle ambient changes to full party mode
- Pick which lights or rooms respond to the music
- No Hue Sync Box needed (saves $300+)
- No separate app needed (unlike Philips Hue's own music sync which requires the separate Hue Sync app)

**Privacy:** Microphone audio is processed entirely on your iPhone in real time. It is never recorded, stored, or transmitted. The app only uses the audio signal to detect beats.

**Free feature** — music-reactive lighting is included free.

**HueCommand vs Hue Sync Box:**
- Cost: HueCommand is free. Hue Sync Box is $300+.
- Setup: HueCommand requires no setup. Sync Box needs HDMI connections.
- Audio source: HueCommand works with any audio. Sync Box only syncs with HDMI audio.
- The Sync Box is better for video sync (matching lights to on-screen content). For music-only sync, HueCommand is simpler, cheaper, and more flexible.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-music-sync

### Circadian Rhythm Lighting

HueCommand automatically adjusts your lights' color temperature throughout the day to match natural sunlight:
- Cool, energizing blue-white in the morning
- Gradually warming through the afternoon
- Warm amber in the evening
- Helping your body maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle

The circadian engine uses your location to calculate accurate sunrise and sunset times, then creates smooth transitions. Enable it per-room — your office stays cool and focused while your bedroom shifts warm in the evening.

**Privacy:** Location is used only on-device for sunrise/sunset calculations. It is never transmitted to any server.

**Free feature** — circadian rhythm lighting is completely free.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-circadian-rhythm

### Remote Access (Pro)

Control your Philips Hue lights from anywhere in the world. HueCommand connects to the official Philips Hue Remote API using OAuth 2.0 with PKCE — enterprise-grade authentication.

**Key details:**
- Toggle lights, adjust brightness/color, activate scenes, check status from anywhere
- Connects directly to the Philips Hue cloud — no custom proxy servers, no middleman
- Your Hue account credentials are handled entirely by Philips Hue and never stored by HueCommand
- Setup: Settings > Remote Access > sign in with your Hue account

**Pro feature** — requires HueCommand Pro subscription.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-remote-access

### Day Planner (Pro)

A visual timeline for scheduling your entire day's lighting:
- Add time slots to a timeline
- Assign a scene to each slot
- Set fade durations for smooth transitions between scenes
- See your whole lighting schedule at a glance
- Per-room schedules — different plans for different rooms

Example: Energize at 7am → Focus at 9am → Relax at 6pm → Dim at 10pm → Off at midnight, all with gradual fades.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-day-planner

### Smart Automations (Pro)

Create time-based rules that control your lights automatically. Automations run on your Hue Bridge, so they execute even when your phone is off or away from home.

- Set lights to turn on at sunset, dim at 10pm, turn off at midnight
- Pre-built templates to get started quickly
- Behavior scripts for complex logic

### Bridge Backup & Restore (Pro)

Export your entire Hue Bridge configuration and restore it if your bridge fails or needs replacement.

**What gets backed up:** Rooms, scenes (including per-light colors and brightness), device assignments, naming, and automations.

**How it works:**
1. Settings > Bridge Backup > Export
2. Backup saved locally on your device
3. To restore: connect new/reset bridge, import backup file
4. HueCommand recreates rooms, reassigns devices, rebuilds scenes

**The official Hue app has no backup feature.** Without a backup, replacing a Hue Bridge means rebuilding your entire setup from scratch — rooms, scenes, automations, everything.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-bridge-backup

### Apple Watch Companion App

A full Hue control app on your wrist:
- Toggle lights on and off
- Activate saved scenes
- Check room status
- Control brightness

The watch app syncs automatically with your iPhone — no separate setup. Requires watchOS 10.0+.

**The official Philips Hue app does not have an Apple Watch app.** HueCommand is one of the few Hue apps with a dedicated watchOS companion.

**Free feature** — watch controls are included free.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/apple-watch-hue-control

### Home Screen Widgets (Pro)

Add quick-toggle widgets to your iPhone home screen:
- Small widget — single room or light toggle
- Medium widget — multiple controls at a glance
- Widgets update automatically to reflect current light status
- Built with Apple WidgetKit for native performance

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-widgets

### Siri Shortcuts

HueCommand registers App Intents that work with Siri and the Shortcuts app:
- "Hey Siri, activate Movie Night" — trigger scenes by name
- Toggle individual lights or rooms
- Set brightness levels
- Works from iPhone, Apple Watch, HomePod, or any Siri-enabled device
- Build complex Shortcuts automations that include HueCommand actions

**Free feature** — Siri Shortcuts integration is free.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-siri-shortcuts

### Multi-Bridge Support (Pro)

Connect two or more Philips Hue Bridges:
- Each bridge managed independently
- Seamless switching between bridges
- For large homes (50+ lights), separate buildings, or exceeding the 63-device per-bridge limit

Free tier supports one bridge. Pro unlocks unlimited bridges.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-multi-bridge

### Switch & Dimmer Programming (Pro)

Customize what your Hue switches and dimmers do:
- Map any button to activate specific scenes
- Set toggle behaviors
- Configure brightness presets
- Supports Hue Dimmer Switch, Hue Tap Dial, Hue Smart Button, and other accessories

Goes beyond what the official Hue app offers for switch customization.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-switch-programming

### Device & Accessory Management

Detailed information for every device on your Hue Bridge:
- **Lights:** Power state, color, brightness, firmware version, model name
- **Motion sensors:** Detection state, battery level, light level readings
- **Temperature sensors:** Current temperature, battery status
- **Contact sensors:** Open/closed state, tamper detection
- **Switches & dimmers:** Button programming, battery level
- **Zigbee signal strength:** See how well each device communicates with your bridge — identify weak spots in your mesh network

Additional capabilities: rename devices, assign to rooms, identify lights (flash them).

**Free feature** — device management and diagnostics are free.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-device-management

### Energy Dashboard (Pro)

Track energy consumption across all your Hue lights:
- Per-device wattage estimates based on light type, brightness, and on/off state
- Consumption trends over time
- Room-level breakdown
- Usage pattern analysis

The Hue Bridge doesn't have a built-in power meter, so HueCommand estimates consumption using known wattage specifications for each Hue product model combined with real-time state data.

**No other Hue app offers energy tracking** — not iConnectHue, Lightbow, hueDynamic, or HueDisco.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-energy-tracking

### Usage Insights (Pro)

Analytics about how you use your lights:
- Which rooms are most active
- Which scenes get activated most often
- Suggestions for optimizing your setup

### Geofencing (Pro)

HueCommand uses Apple's CLMonitor API to detect when you arrive at or leave home, then automatically activates the scenes you choose.

**How it works:**
1. Define a geofence radius around your home
2. Assign scenes to arrive and leave events (e.g., "Welcome Home" on arrival, "All Off" on departure)
3. When your iPhone crosses the boundary, HueCommand triggers the corresponding scene on your Hue Bridge

**Key details:**
- Uses Apple's built-in location monitoring — battery-efficient and works in the background
- Requires "Always" location permission so iOS can monitor your position when the app is not in the foreground
- Location data is processed entirely on-device and is never transmitted to any server
- Multiple geofences can be configured for different locations

**Pro feature** — requires HueCommand Pro subscription.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-geofencing

### Entertainment API Streaming

HueCommand connects directly to your Hue Bridge's Entertainment API over DTLS (encrypted UDP), sending color and brightness commands at up to 25 updates per second. This is dramatically faster than the standard REST API (~10 commands per second) and enables smooth, real-time light animations.

**Key details:**
- 25Hz update rate over DTLS/UDP — the fastest way to control Hue lights
- Music visualization at full fidelity — every beat, every hi-hat, reflected instantly
- Replaces a $300+ Hue Sync Box for music sync use cases
- Uses your iPhone's microphone for audio input — works with any audio source
- Encrypted connection to the bridge (DTLS)

**Requirements:**
- An entertainment area must be configured on your Hue Bridge (set this up in the official Hue app)
- HueCommand detects available entertainment areas and lets you stream to them directly
- Color lights in the entertainment area

**Free feature** — Entertainment Streaming is available without a Pro subscription.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-entertainment-streaming

### Native Mac App (macOS)

HueCommand runs as a native macOS application on any Mac with Apple silicon or Intel running macOS 14 Sonoma or later. This is a true Mac app, not an iOS app running through Catalyst or compatibility mode.

**Key details:**
- Resizable windows that adapt to any desktop layout with responsive layouts
- Full macOS menu bar integration with keyboard shortcuts for common actions
- Proper window management, toolbar buttons, and contextual menus
- All features from the iOS app are available — color wheel, scenes, automations, music sync, remote access, energy dashboard, bridge backup, and more
- Connects to your Hue Bridge over your local network just like on iPhone

### Apple TV App (tvOS)

HueCommand is available as a native tvOS app for Apple TV, giving you big-screen control of your Philips Hue lights. Navigate entirely with the Siri Remote — no iPhone required.

**Key details:**
- Siri Remote navigation with focus-based interface — swipe to browse, click to toggle
- Big-screen display ideal for browsing scenes, monitoring rooms, and controlling multiple lights
- Scene activation, light toggling, brightness adjustment, and full room control
- Play/pause button on Siri Remote for quick all-off
- Connects to your Hue Bridge over your local network and supports remote access
- Requires Apple TV running tvOS 17.0 or later

### Apple Vision Pro (visionOS)

HueCommand runs as a native visionOS application on Apple Vision Pro. This is a purpose-built spatial computing app — not an iPad app running in compatibility mode.

**Key details:**
- Built with SwiftUI for visionOS using Apple's glass material system for depth-aware backgrounds
- Translucent panels float in your space and blend with your environment
- Eye-tracking hover effects on light and room cards — visual feedback as you look around the interface
- Pinch gesture to toggle lights, activate scenes, and drill into room details
- Ornament-based navigation — floating tab controls anchored to the window edge
- Full feature parity with the iPhone app: rooms, lights, scenes, effects, settings

**Requirements:** Apple Vision Pro running visionOS 1.0 or later.

Learn more: https://huecommand.com/hue-visionos

---

## HueCommand vs Official Philips Hue App

### Features HueCommand has that the official app does not:
- Native Mac app with resizable windows and menu bar integration (official app has none)
- Native Apple TV app with Siri Remote navigation (official app has none)
- Apple Watch companion app (official app has none)
- Native visionOS app for Apple Vision Pro
- AI scene generation from natural language (on-device, private)
- Music-reactive lighting without separate hardware (no Sync Box needed)
- Entertainment API streaming at 25Hz for ultra-smooth music visualization
- Geofencing — automatic scene activation on arrive/leave
- Bridge backup and restore
- Day Planner visual scheduling
- Energy dashboard and usage tracking
- CIE color space control with precision color wheel
- Zigbee signal strength diagnostics
- Opt-out privacy analytics

### Features the official app has that HueCommand does not:
- Hue Secure camera management
- Completely free (no premium tier)

### Can I use both apps?
Yes. HueCommand and the official Hue app communicate with the same Hue Bridge and work side by side. Changes in one app are reflected in the other. Many users keep the official app for camera management while using HueCommand for daily light control.

### Comparison with other third-party apps:
- **iConnectHue** — established since 2013, $5.99 one-time. Strong but aging UI. No Apple Watch app, no AI scenes, no energy tracking, no music sync, no visionOS app. Has geofencing and entertainment API as premium add-ons.
- **Lightbow** — focused on light shows, different use case.
- **hueDynamic** — focused on ambience/experience.
- **HueDisco** — focused on music sync only.

HueCommand's differentiators: energy tracking, circadian scheduling, modern SwiftUI design, native macOS app, native tvOS app, watchOS app, native visionOS app, AI scene creation, bridge backup, Day Planner, geofencing, Entertainment API streaming.

Full comparison: https://huecommand.com/compare

---

## Technical Details

- **Platform:** iOS 17.0+, macOS 14.0+, tvOS 17.0+, watchOS 10.0+, visionOS 1.0+
- **Architecture:** SwiftUI, MVVM, Combine, async-await
- **Bridge communication:** Local network via Philips Hue CLIP v2 API with Server-Sent Events for real-time state updates + Entertainment API (DTLS/UDP at 25Hz for streaming)
- **Remote access:** Philips Hue OAuth 2.0 with PKCE — direct to Philips Hue cloud, no custom proxy servers
- **Subscriptions:** Managed via RevenueCat through Apple App Store
- **Analytics:** TelemetryDeck (privacy-first, differential privacy, opt-out in Settings > Privacy)
- **Data storage:** On-device + iCloud Keychain only. No user data on external servers.
- **AI:** Apple Foundation Models (on-device only, no cloud AI, requires A17 Pro chip or later)
- **Requirements:** Philips Hue Bridge v2 (square shape) or later
- **Supported languages:** English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese, Korean (9 languages)
- **Bundle ID:** com.huecommand.app

---

## Pricing

- **Free:** Core features — light control, scenes, effects, music sync, circadian rhythm, Apple Watch app, Siri Shortcuts, device management
- **Pro Monthly:** Recurring monthly subscription
- **Pro Yearly:** Recurring yearly subscription (best value)
- **Pro Lifetime:** One-time purchase, permanent access to all Pro features

Pro features: Remote access, AI Scene Creator, multi-bridge support, Day Planner, advanced automations, switch/dimmer programming, bridge backup & restore, energy dashboard, usage insights, home screen widgets.

All subscriptions are managed through the Apple App Store.

---

## Privacy

HueCommand is designed with privacy as a core principle:

- **No personal data collected** — no names, emails, or account information
- **Local network communication** — the app talks directly to your Hue Bridge over Wi-Fi
- **Bridge credentials** stored only on-device and in iCloud Keychain — never sent to any server
- **Anonymous analytics** via TelemetryDeck with full opt-out (Settings > Privacy)
- **Microphone** used only for real-time beat detection — never recorded or transmitted
- **Location** used only on-device for sunrise/sunset calculations — never transmitted
- **No advertising identifiers**
- **No third-party data sharing**
- **GDPR and CCPA compliant**

Third-party services:
- TelemetryDeck — anonymous analytics (their privacy policy: https://telemetrydeck.com/privacy)
- RevenueCat — subscription management (their privacy policy: https://www.revenuecat.com/privacy)
- Philips Hue Remote API — optional remote access (their privacy policy: https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/support/legal/privacy-policy)

Full privacy policy: https://huecommand.com/privacy

---

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I control Hue lights from Apple Watch?**
Yes. HueCommand includes a full Apple Watch companion app. Toggle lights, activate scenes, and check room status from your wrist. The official Hue app does not have a watch app.

**Can I sync Hue lights to music without a Sync Box?**
Yes. HueCommand's music-reactive feature uses your iPhone's microphone to detect beats in real time. No Hue Sync Box ($300+) or extra hardware needed. Works with any audio source — Bluetooth speakers, HomePod, vinyl, live instruments.

**Does HueCommand track energy usage?**
Yes. HueCommand Pro includes an energy dashboard with per-device wattage estimates and consumption trends. No other Hue app offers this.

**Does the AI scene creator use cloud AI?**
No. It uses Apple Foundation Models which run entirely on-device. No internet needed for scene generation. Your descriptions never leave your phone. Requires iPhone 15 Pro+ with iOS 26+.

**Is HueCommand free?**
Core features are free — light control, scenes, effects, music sync, circadian rhythm, Apple Watch app, Siri Shortcuts, device management. Pro features (remote access, energy tracking, bridge backup, multi-bridge, automations, AI scenes, Day Planner, widgets) require a subscription or lifetime purchase.

**Which Hue Bridge do I need?**
Hue Bridge v2 (square shape) or later. The original round Hue Bridge (v1) is not supported as it was discontinued by Signify and lacks the CLIP v2 API.

**Can I use HueCommand and the official Hue app at the same time?**
Yes. Both apps communicate with the same Hue Bridge and work side by side. Changes in one are reflected in the other.

**How do I back up my Hue Bridge?**
Open HueCommand > Settings > Bridge Backup > Export. The backup includes rooms, scenes, device assignments, and automations. To restore, connect a new/reset bridge and import the file.

**Does HueCommand work with all Hue accessories?**
Yes — lights, motion sensors, temperature sensors, contact sensors, switches, dimmers, plugs, and other Zigbee devices connected to your Hue Bridge.

**What about my privacy?**
HueCommand communicates directly with your Hue Bridge over your local network. No personal data is collected. Anonymous analytics are opt-out. Microphone audio is never recorded. Location data never leaves your device.

**How does geofencing work?**
HueCommand uses Apple's CLMonitor API to create a geofence around your home. When your iPhone detects you've arrived or left, it triggers the scenes you assigned — e.g., "Welcome Home" on arrival and "All Off" on departure. Requires Always location permission. Location is processed on-device only. Pro feature.

**What is Entertainment Streaming?**
Entertainment Streaming uses the Hue Bridge's Entertainment API to send commands at 25Hz over DTLS (encrypted UDP), far faster than the REST API. This enables ultra-smooth music visualization that replaces a Hue Sync Box. Requires an entertainment area configured on the bridge.

**Does HueCommand work on Apple Vision Pro?**
Yes. HueCommand includes a native visionOS app with glass UI, eye-tracking hover effects, and ornament navigation. It's a purpose-built spatial computing app, not an iPad app in compatibility mode.

---

## All Links

### Main Pages
- App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hue-command/id6760245363
- Website: https://huecommand.com
- Features: https://huecommand.com/features
- Comparison: https://huecommand.com/compare
- Support & FAQ: https://huecommand.com/support
- Privacy Policy: https://huecommand.com/privacy
- Terms of Service: https://huecommand.com/terms
- Contact: contact@huecommand.com

### Feature Guides
- Color wheel & CIE color control: https://huecommand.com/hue-color-wheel
- Custom scenes & scene builder: https://huecommand.com/hue-scenes
- AI scene creator: https://huecommand.com/hue-ai-scenes
- Light effects (candle, fire, etc.): https://huecommand.com/hue-light-effects
- Music-reactive lighting: https://huecommand.com/hue-music-sync
- Circadian rhythm lighting: https://huecommand.com/hue-circadian-rhythm
- Remote access: https://huecommand.com/hue-remote-access
- Day Planner scheduling: https://huecommand.com/hue-day-planner
- Bridge backup & restore: https://huecommand.com/hue-bridge-backup
- Apple Watch control: https://huecommand.com/apple-watch-hue-control
- Siri Shortcuts: https://huecommand.com/hue-siri-shortcuts
- Home screen widgets: https://huecommand.com/hue-widgets
- Multi-bridge support: https://huecommand.com/hue-multi-bridge
- Switch & dimmer programming: https://huecommand.com/hue-switch-programming
- Device management & Zigbee diagnostics: https://huecommand.com/hue-device-management
- Energy tracking: https://huecommand.com/hue-energy-tracking
- Geofencing: https://huecommand.com/hue-geofencing
- Entertainment Streaming: https://huecommand.com/hue-entertainment-streaming
- visionOS support: https://huecommand.com/hue-visionos