What You Need to Get Started
The Hue smart lighting system offers a lot of functionality beyond just turning your lights on or off. Some Philips Hue bulbs let you dim the lighting, change color temperature, and change the bulb’s color. You can even create Entertainment areas in your home where you sync Spotify music with your Hue lights.
When you sync Spotify with Hue, your lights react to the music. They’ll change color according to the feel of the song (as specified in the metadata that accompanies each track) and pulse along with the beat.
To sync your music with your lighting, you’ll need the following:
Spotify account (free or paid) Device with Spotify app installed (smartphone, computer, streaming media player, etc. ) Hue mobile app on your smartphone for iOS or Android Hue bridge One or more color-capable Hue smart bulbs, lights, or lightstrips
Because the integration takes place within the Hue app, based on information streaming from Spotify, it doesn’t use or need a microphone to listen to or analyze the music. All lighting effects are created within the Hue app using special algorithms based on each track’s metadata.
How to Set Up an Entertainment Area in the Hue App
The first step in syncing your Hue lighting to your Spotify account is to create an Entertainment area in the Hue app. An Entertainment area is simply the group of smart lights you want to sync to music. Follow these steps:
In the Hue app, tap the Settings icon to display the Settings screen. Tap Entertainment areas. Tap Create area. Tap Listening to music. Enter a name for your Entertainment area, then tap Next. Tap to select the lights you want to include, then tap Next. On the next screen, tap Got it. Select the Location tab drag each light into where it is in your room. Select the Height tab and position the height of each light, then tap Done. Tap Done to complete the setup.
How to Connect Your Hue and Spotify Accounts
You’re not done yet. Now you need to connect your Hue and Spotify accounts, which you do within the Hue app.
In the Hue app, tap the Sync icon to display the Sync screen. Tap Get started. Tap Spotify account. Tap Next. Read the privacy notice then tap Next. Tap Sign in then sign in with your Hue account. Tap Next then log into your Spotify account.
How to Sync Your Hue Lighting to Your Spotify Music
Now you’re ready to start up the tunes. Follow these steps:
In the Hue app, tap the Sync icon to display the Sync screen. Tap What then select Spotify. Tap Where then select your Entertainment area. Tap Style and select from Classic or Pulse. Tap Intensity and select how intense you want the lighting effects to be (or Automatic for the default intensity. ) Tap Color and select the color theme (or Automatic for the default theme. ) Tap Brightness and select the desired brightness for the effect (100% is the default. ) Open your Spotify app on your phone or other device, select the music you want, and press Play.
The music now starts playing—and your lights start doing their thing.
Great Beats, Great Party Lights
When you sync your Hue lighting to your Spotify account you see some very cool lighting effects to whatever music you choose. Use this feature for the next party or gathering you host or just when you’re chilling to some tunes.
