Replace Your Philps Hue Bridge with Hue Bridge Pro

Hi, it’s Jacob here, and in this short video I’m going to show you how you can replace your current Hue Bridge with the new Hue Bridge Pro — which unlocks some exciting features like Motion Aware.

I’ve got my new Bridge Pro and plugged it into my network. In the Hue app, I’ll go into Settings → Hue Bridges. At the moment my old hub is listed, but not the new one. To add it, tap the plus button and scan the QR code on the base of the Bridge Pro.

Next, you’ll choose how to connect — Ethernet or Wi-Fi. I’m going with Ethernet. The app finds the Bridge Pro, and of course the first step is a software update. Luckily this only took me about 2 minutes. Once updated, the bridge restarts. Wait until both front LEDs are white, then press the big button on top to confirm the connection.

Now we give the new bridge a name — I’ll go with “Hue Bridge Pro”. After that, you’ll see the option to migrate from your old bridge. This transfers lights, switches, entertainment zones, and more. Press Yes and select your old bridge.

Here’s the catch: Apple Home and Alexa setups don’t transfer. You’ll need to reconfigure those afterwards. For me that’s only 15 lights, so not too bad. If you’ve got dozens, allow some extra time.

The app then shows devices that won’t migrate (mine were unplugged lights). Continue, and you’ll see a message saying the process can take up to 30 minutes. For me it was about 15. During this time, don’t unplug either bridge.

When migration finishes, reset the old bridge with a paper clip to avoid conflicts. Then you’ll be prompted to reconfigure Apple Home or Alexa. I’ll show Apple Home. In the Home app, go to Settings → Bridges and Hubs, remove the old Hue bridge, and then add the new one through the Hue app’s Smart Home section.

This part is time-consuming: you need to re-add each light and switch, confirm its room, and check its name. But once done, everything is linked up again.

The new Hue Bridge Pro supports faster response times, up to 150 lights (compared with 50 on the old one), and crucially, the new Motion Aware feature. In my next video, I’ll demo Motion Aware and see how well it works. Check out the link at the end, and I’ll see you next time for more Quick Tips.