Q: Can I extend Philips Hue strip lights?

It depends on which lightstrip you have: Flux strip lights: Yes, up to 20-meter with 2m, 5m, 10m extensions. OmniGlow strip lights: No. Essential strip lights: No. Essential Flex strip lights: No. Play gradient lightstrip for TV: No Play gradient lightstrip for PC: No Outdoor strip lights are not extendable due to their weather-resisitant properties.

Q: Can I cut Philips Hue strip lights to size?

It depends on which lightstrip you have. Flux strip lights: Yes. OmniGlow strip lights: Yes. Essential strip lights: Yes. Essential flex strip lights: No. Play gradient lightstrip for TV: No Play gradient lightstrip for PC: No Any outdoor strip lights are not cuttable in order to maintain their weather-resistant properties.

Question 1

What is the difference between the types of Philips Hue strip lights?

Accepted Answer

There are different types of Philips Hue lightstrips:

Philips Hue Flux strip light is a multi-color strip light with RGBWWIC technology. It's designed to be concealed to give an indirect wall washing effect. Install behind furniture, under cabinets, or along wall coves. It comes in multiple lengths, can be cut to size and extended up to 20m with 2m, 5m, and 10m extensions.
Philips Hue Flux ultra-bright strip light with RGBWWIC technology. It's designed to be concealed to give an indirect wall washing effect. It's ultra-bright lumen output not only makes in ideal for ambiance lighting, but also as functional lighting to support daily tasks. Install along wall coves, under shelves, and in indoor spaces such as the dining room, kitchen, or home office. It comes in multiple lengths, can be cut to size and extended up to 20m with 2m, 5m, and 10m extensions.
Philips Hue OmniGlow strip light with RGBWWIC technology delivers multi-color light with seamless uniform light, with no visible dots, due to chip-on-board (COB) technology. Designed to be on show and not concealed, this versatile strip light offers a huge range of lighting options. It comes in 3m, 5m and 10m lengths. It can be cut to size, but not extended.
Philips Hue Essential strip light with RGBIC technology is the simple and accessible way to bring decorative lighting to any space inside your home without compromising light quality. The Essential strip light creates a beautiful ambiance by washing walls with a gradient of colorful light. It can be cut to size, but not extended. It comes in 5m and 10m lengths.
Philips Hue Essential flex strip light with RGBIC technology lets you decorate with light playfully because of its bendable design and its neon light effect. It can be bent into any shape you can think of. It can't be cut and extended. It comes in 5m and 10m lengths.
Philips Hue Play gradient lightstrip for TV produces multiple colors of light at the same time. Designed to be mounted behind a TV, it comes in three lengths, based on TV size: 55-inch, 65-inch, or 75-inch.
Philips Hue Play gradient lightstrip for PC produces multiple colors of light at the same time. Designed to be mounted behind a monitor, it comes in three lengths, based on monitor size: 24–27 inch, 32–34 inch, or three 24–27 inch for triple-monitor setups. ded.

Question 2

What is the difference between Philips Hue Essential strip lights and other Philips Hue strip lights?

Accepted Answer

The key difference between Philips Hue and Philips Hue Essential lies in their technology and functionality.

Essential (RGBIC) uses RGB LEDs only, while Hue (RGBWWIC) incorporates additional white LEDs, enabling Hue to produce full-spectrum whites ranging from 1000K to 20,000K, whereas Essential creates white light using RGB LEDs alone. Both technologies feature individually controllable LEDs (IC).

Hue strip lights provide premium color quality with accurate color matching via Chromasync technology, whereas Hue Essential offers basic light quality.

In terms of dimming capability, Hue strip lights achieve a much lower dimming level of up to 0.1%, compared to Hue Essential’s 5%.

Hue is designed for superior performance and vibrant color representation, while Hue Essential focuses on foundational lighting features.

Question 3

How do I know which strip light I should choose based on my needs?

Accepted Answer

You can compare the different characteristics and specifications of each model of strip light here

Question 4

Can I extend Philips Hue strip lights?

Accepted Answer

It depends on which lightstrip you have:

Flux strip lights: Yes, up to 20-meter with 2m, 5m, 10m extensions.

OmniGlow strip lights: No.

Essential strip lights: No.

Essential Flex strip lights: No.

Play gradient lightstrip for TV: No

Play gradient lightstrip for PC: No

Outdoor strip lights are not extendable due to their weather-resisitant properties.

Question 5

Can I cut Philips Hue strip lights to size?

Accepted Answer

It depends on which lightstrip you have.

Flux strip lights: Yes.

OmniGlow strip lights: Yes.

Essential strip lights: Yes.

Essential flex strip lights: No.

Play gradient lightstrip for TV: No

Play gradient lightstrip for PC: No

Any outdoor strip lights are not cuttable in order to maintain their weather-resistant properties.

Question 6

Can I connect different Philips Hue lightstrip types to each other?

Accepted Answer

No. Due to their internal electronics, all extentable Philips Hue strip lights can only be extended using extensions of the same type. For example, the Flux strip light can only be extended with the Flux extension.

Question 7

Which Philips Hue lightstrip should I use behind a TV or monitor?

Accepted Answer

Philips Hue Play gradient lightstrips for TV were designed specifically for TV screens. They come in three lengths, based on standard TV sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, or 75-inch.

Philips Hue Play gradient lightstrips for TV were designed specifically for TV screens. They come in three lengths, based on standard monitor setups: 24–27 inch, 32–34 inch, or three 24–27 inch for triple-monitor setups.

Question 8

Do I have to use the Play gradient lightstrip only to sync with the screen?

Accepted Answer

You don't have to, but the Play gradient lightstrip was specifically designed to sync with the screen it's attached to. If you don't want to use the lightstrip to sync, we recommend the ambiance gradient lightstrip.

Question 9

Which size Play gradient lightstrip do I need?

Accepted Answer

For TVs, we have three sizes of Play gradient lightstrips: made for 55”, 65”, or 75” TVs. For monitors, we also have three sizes: made for single 24–27” monitors, made for single 32–34” monitors, and made for 24–27” triple-monitor setups. If you have a different size TV or monitor, we recommend getting a Play gradient lightstrip that is slightly smaller than your TV or monitor. Because the lightstrip is bright, it does not matter if it does not reach the corners on the back of the TV or the monitor.

If you have a TV smaller than 50” or a monitor smaller than 24”, we recommend using Philips Hue Play light bars instead.

Question 10

How should I start when installing the Play gradient lightstrip?

Accepted Answer

You can find all the instructions in the Philips Hue app! Add the light to your Philips Hue system first in the app, which will give you step-by-step instructions on the physical installation.

You can also follow the instructions in the manual or watch the how-to video for TV installation.

Question 11

How do I add a lightstrip to my existing Philips Hue system?

Accepted Answer

To add a device, including lightstrips, to your Bridge, make sure your Hue app is updated to the latest version and follow these steps:

1. Gather the devcies you want to add and find their QR codes, located on the devices themselves.

2. In the Home tab, tap the three-dots (…) icon.

3. Tap Add devices and follow the on-screen instructions to scan the QR codes and add the devices to your Bridge.

Question 12

Can the power supply that comes with a Philips Hue lightstrip be used with other Philips Hue lights?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The power supply can be used with other lightstrips as well as other Philips Hue lights.

Question 13

Should I avoid the vents on the back of my monitor when installing the Play gradient lightstrip?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Try to place the Play gradient lightstrip’s mounts around the vents as best you can. Blocking the vents could result in your monitor overheating.

Question 14

Should I buy a longer lightstrip that is long enough to cover the bottom of my TV or monitor?

Accepted Answer

The Play gradient lightstrip was designed to line the sides and top of your screen. If you want even more light behind your screen, you can add a Play gradient light tube or Play light bar at the bottom of your screen.

Question 15

How do I mount the Play gradient lightstrip when my monitor differs from the sizes listed on the lightstrip’s packaging?

Accepted Answer

If your monitor is bigger than 24–27 in or 32–34 in, you can still use the Play gradient lightstrip. The distance between the edge of the monitor and the outside of the mounts should ideally follow the list below, but you can adjust the placement of the mounts so that the lightstrip sits closer to the center of your monitor:

24" monitor: 2.5 cm
27" monitor: 6.5 cm
32" monitor: 5 cm
34" monitor: 6.5 cm
Three 24" monitors: 4.5 cm
Three 27" monitors: 7 cm

Question 16

Why do I sometimes see a black screen when starting some video content?

Accepted Answer

The Play gradient lightstrip isn’t compatible with protected video content (DRM), which causes the screen to go black when streaming certain content.

Question 17

How does cutting or extending a Philips Hue lightstrip affect its lumen output?

Accepted Answer

The lightstrip will automatically adjust its lumen output when cut or extended to keep the wattage used consistent.

Lightstrips

Setup guide

How to videos

Release notes

FAQ list