# Hue Essentials

> For Philips Hue，deCONZ，diyHue

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1462943921](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1462943921)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id1462943921`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Thomas Vos
- **Category:** Lifestyle
- **Rating:** 4.20 / 5 (138 ratings)
- **Version:** 4.8.1
- **Last updated:** 2026-09-10
- **First published:** 2020-01-02
- **Size:** 269 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-23
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hue-essentials/id1462943921)
- **Website:** [https://www.hueessentials.com](https://www.hueessentials.com/)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://www.hueessentials.com/privacy-policy](https://www.hueessentials.com/privacy-policy)

## Description

Hue Essentials is a Chrome extension designed for Hue enthusiasts to maximize their lighting setup. It supports Philips Hue Bridge, Hue Bluetooth, deCONZ (ConBee), diyHue, and LIFX, offering scenes and effects drawn from photos or the built‑in library, sunrise/sunset fades, and music‑synced lighting for parties and entertainment areas. You can organize lights by rooms and groups, use Touchlink to discover new Zigbee lights, and store all creations on the bridge for quick access. The extension emphasizes fast, ad‑free performance and offers a premium upgrade for full content.

Automation and advanced controls let you trigger lights on door events, adjust blinds or humidity, enable Away from Home mode, and interact with bridges via the API debugger. All data stays on your bridge, and you can control multiple bridges simultaneously.

## Rankings

- #124,709 — Overall

## Review summary

Hue Essentials offers deep customization and automation for Hue lighting, including dimmer switch control, Touchlink, and the ability to repurpose older hardware. Many users praise its breadth of features and its ability to work when the official Hue app falls short. However, reviewers repeatedly report stability and connectivity problems with bridges and hubs, plus bugs that crash the app or prevent saving automations. Monetization concerns, such as paid features and cross-device licensing, along with mandatory cloud updates, also surface. Overall, strong potential for power users marred by reliability and pricing frustrations.

### Pros

- Extensive customization and automation options, including advanced button actions for Hue dimmer switches and Touchlink support.
- Broad device/bridge compatibility, including support for older Hue bridges (v1), legacy bulbs, and the ability to link to the new Hue Hub.
- Reliable performance in scenarios where the official Hue app struggles, with easier device discovery and bridging.
- Precise color control and scene tuning, including Kelvin/temperature adjustments.
- Strong support for Hue dimmer switches, expanding their functionality beyond the official app.

### Cons

- Frequent connectivity issues with bridges/hubs, sometimes presenting as 'no internet connection' or unknown parameters on new hardware.
- Pricing frustrations: microtransactions and premium features gated behind purchases, plus cross-device sign-in limitations.
- Bugs and instability: crashes, UI glitches, watch app problems, and automations failing to save.
- Mandatory cloud accounts and firmware updates to manage local devices, raising privacy and offline-use concerns.
- Installation and discovery friction: onboarding screens and features (like effects) that are hard to find or understand.

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1462943921)