Step-by-Step Instructions for Setting Up Smart Lights

Smart lights connect through your Wi-Fi and let you control the brightness of your rooms using your phone or tablet. Installing a smart light is as easy as screwing in the bulb and setting it up in the app. If you have a Google Home or Amazon Alexa, you can even use your voice to adjust the lights. With just a few minutes of setup, you can easily control the lights in your home. This wikiHow article teaches you how to install a smart light.

Quickly Install a Smart Light

Insert a smart bulb in a light socket. Download the companion app for the smart bulb. Put the smart bulb in pairing mode. Use the app to connect it to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth and control the light. Then you can use the Google Home or Alexa app to connect it to your smart speaker.

Section 1 of 6:

Connecting the Light to Wi-Fi

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Plug the hub into your router if your lights came with one. Some smart lights can’t connect directly to your Wi-Fi, so they come with a hub that connects to your router. Plug the hub into your router using the Ethernet cord provided with the hub. Connect the hub, and it will automatically turn on so your lights will recognize it.^{[1]
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- Some smart hubs have battery backups so you can still control your lights even when your router is down.
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Screw the smart bulb into a light fixture and connect it to power. Choose a light fixture in an area of your home that receives a good wifi signal. Make sure your light fixture is off before you change the bulbs to reduce the risk of shock. Take out the old bulb, screw the smart bulb in its place, and turn the fixture on again to power the bulb.^{[2]
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- Your smart bulb may not work well if it’s too far away from your router. Check the connection on other devices in the room to see if they receive a strong signal.
- Keep the fixture or switch on while you’re using a smart light, or else you won’t be able to control it with your phone or tablet.
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The companion app is typically required to start setting up your light. Look for the name of the app on the box or in the light’s instruction manual, and search for the app on your device’s app store. Open the app and follow the on-screen prompts to start an account with the smart light provider.^{[3]
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Tip: Many smart lights have a QR code on their packaging so you can easily access the app by scanning it.
Most smart bulbs require you to put them in pairing mode so that the app can discover them. The way you do this is slightly different from one make and model to the next. In most cases, you will turn the light on and off several times using the light fixture switch to put it in pairing mode. When the light is flashing rapidly, this indicates that it is in pairing mode.
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Add the smart bulb to your Wi-Fi through the app. When you open the app, it should search for available devices to control. Otherwise, look for a button that says Find devices, Add bulb, Add lighting, etc, to search for your smart light. Once it appears on screen, tap on it to connect it to your router. ^{[4]
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- You may have to enter your Wi-Fi password to finish connecting the light.
- Each smart home app is different, so setting up your light may require extra steps. Follow along with the prompts on the screen to set up your light.
- Your light may turn off or blink while it syncs with your Wi-Fi.
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Rename the bulb to remember where it is. When you tap on the smart light on the app, you should see a Rename option in the menu. Type the name of the room, the light where the light is, or the fixture that the light is in so you can easily find it in the app later on.^{[5]
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- If you plan on using voice controls, make sure you name your light something that’s easy to say.

Section 2 of 6:

Controlling the Light with a Phone or Tablet

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Select the light you’re using in the app. Make sure the light fixture is on before you start. Open the app that controls your smart lights on your phone or tablet, and select the light you want to control. A menu will pop up with different lighting options you can test out.^{[6]
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- Some apps allow you to create rooms so you can easily control all the lights in one room of your home at the same time.
- Most smart home apps allow you to group lights by room or a group name. This allows you to control all the lights in a room at the same time. If you want to control a group of lights, tap the group or room name instead.
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Tap the on or off button to control the light. The main control for your light should be in the center of the screen. Otherwise, locate the prompt that says On/Off. Tap the button in order to turn your light on or off. As long as your phone is on the same Wi-Fi network as your light, your light should respond within a few seconds of pressing the button.^{[7]
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- Use your app instead of using the switch on the fixture whenever you want to turn your lights off again.
- Some apps let you change between a warm white, which has more yellow, or a cool white, which has more blue tones. Color-changing bulbs allow you to select a color. Choose the color that works best for your space.
Locate the brightness sliders on your light’s menu that adjust the brightness. Drag the slider to the left to dim your bulb or to the right to bring it to full brightness. ^{[8]
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Tip: You may be able to save certain brightnesses as presets so you don’t have to adjust the sliders each time.
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Use the palette wheel to change your smart light’s color. Some smart lights allow you to change the color of the bulb if you want something other than white. Locate the color option. Drag your finger around the color wheel to see how it changes the hue of your smart light. You may also be able to tap a preset color. When you’re happy with the color you selected, you can save it as a preset so you can easily change back to it.^{[9]
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- You can also adjust the brightness of the colored bulb by using the sliders at the bottom.
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Try the timer function to set when the bulb turns on and off. Locate the timer function while you have the bulb selected and tap on it. Change the times when you want the light to turn on and off each day to make a schedule. When the timer is active, your light will stay on during that period of time.^{[10]
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- Not all smart lights will have a timer function.
- You can still control the light as normal if you set a timer.

Section 3 of 6:

Setting up Voice Control with Google Home

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Open the Google Home app. The Google Home app is used to control your Google Home device and all of the smart devices connected to it. Download the Google Home app from the app store if you don’t already have it, and open it to the main menu page.^{[11]
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- Google Home is available in the App Store on iPhone or the Google Play Store on Android.
- You can buy a Google Home device from electronics stores or online.
To do so, tap the plus (+) icon in the upper-right corner and then tap Device.
This is the third option in the Add Devices menu. This allows you to link your other services (i.e., your smart bulbs) to your Google Home service.
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Tap your smart light brand. There is a long list of smart home apps and services that are compatible with Google Home. Tap your smart bulb’s brand.
- You can type the name of your smart bulb brand in the search bar at the top to search more quickly.
Tap Continue on the next screen. Then tap Agree & Continue.
You may be asked to sign in to the account you created with your smart bulb app.
The setup process will be different. You may be asked to assign different bulbs to different rooms or groups. The app will guide you through the process.
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Test the light by saying "Hey Google," followed by your command. Stand near your Google Home device so it can hear you saying your commands. If you want to turn on your lights, say, "Hey Google, turn on…" followed by the name of your light. The light should turn on within a few seconds of you saying the command. When you want to turn the light off, say, "Hey Google, turn off…" and your smart light’s name.^{[12]
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- You can also use your Google Home to change the colors and brightness as well. For example, you can say, "Hey Google, change smart light to blue," or, "Hey Google, make smart light brighter."

Section 4 of 6:

Using Amazon Alexa

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Open the Amazon Alexa app. The Alexa app has a blue icon with the Alexa logo. Tap the Alexa icon to open the Alexa app.^{[13]
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- You can find the Amazon Alexa app for free on the App Store on iPhone, or the Google Play Store on Android.
Tap the Plus (+) icon in the upper-right corner. Then tap Devices in the drop-down menu.^{[14]
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It’s next to an icon that resembles a light bulb.
You’ll see a list of brands that are compatible with Alexa. Tap your smart bulb brand.
The setup process will be different for each make and model. It will most likely ask if your light bulb has been set up using the smart bulb app and if it is turned on. Tap Yes to answer the questions. Then you will most likely need to sign in to the account you used to set up the smart bulb with the brand-specific app.
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Add the light to a room. When you are done setting up your light, it will ask you, "Where is your light?" Tap the room the light is in. Alternatively, you can tap Skip and create a group later.
- To create a group in the Alexa app, tap the smart bulb icon at the bottom of the screen. Then tap New Group. Follow the prompts to create a new group and assign devices to that group.
When you are finished setting up your smart bulb, tap Done to return to the Alexa home menu.
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Say "Alexa," followed by your command to control the bulb. When the device is connected, you can start using your voice to control your light. Stand near your Amazon device and say "Alexa" until the device lights up. Then give the command you want your light to do, such as turning on or changing color. The light should respond within a few seconds of the command.^{[15]
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- For example, you might say, "Alexa, turn on the smart light."
- You can still control your light through the app if you don’t want to use your voice.

Section 5 of 6:

Installing a Smart Switch

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Go to your electrical panel or breaker box and flip the breaker for the room where the smart switch will be installed.
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Remove the light switch cover. Unscrew the screws for the cover of the light switch you want to replace with a smart switch.
- Be sure to check to make sure there is no electricity going to the light switch. The labels in your electrical panel may be wrong. To make sure there is no electricity going into the light switch, purchase a no-contact voltage tester. Turn the light switch off and run the tester along both sides of the light switch while it is still connected. Make sure it doesn’t give off a positive signal.
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Identify the wires. There are four wires you need to be aware of. They are usually color-coded, but not always. If you are unsure which wire is which, you can check which wire is connected to which terminal on the old switch before disconnecting them. Mark them with tape if you have to. The wires are as follows:
- Line: The line wire carries electricity from the electrical panel to the light switch. This is often called the hot wire because it carries live electricity. The line wire is usually black or red.
  - If you are not sure which wire is the line wire, you can turn your breaker box back on and use a no-contact voltage tester to see which wire contains electricity.
- Load: The load wire carries electricity from the switch to the light. The load wire is also usually black. Some smart switches use line and load wires interchangeably. Some do not.
  - If you need to know which wire is the line and load wire, you’ll need to turn the power back on and use a no-contact voltage tester to see which wire carries electricity into the light switch. That is the line wire. The wire that doesn’t have electricity is the load wire.
- Neutral: The neutral wire carries electricity from the light and light switch back to the electrical panel. This wire is usually white.
- Ground: In the event of an overload, the ground wire carries excess electricity into the ground. This wire is usually green or a bare copper wire.
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Disconnect the wires from the old switch. If the wires are connected via screw terminals, use a screwdriver to loosen the screws and unwind the wires from the terminals. If the switch has push-in connectors, you may need to cut the wires close to the terminals using a pair of wire cutters.
- If there are multiple light switches in the panel, be sure to test them with a no-contact voltage tester to make sure there are no other live wires that are still hot. If there is, you will need to turn those off at the breaker box as well.
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Strip about ³⁄₄ in (1.9 cm) off all the wires. You’ll need about ³⁄₄ in (1.9 cm) of bare wire at the ends of the wires to connect them. If they don’t already have bare wire that you can use to connect them, use a pair of wire strippers to remove about ³⁄₄ in (1.9 cm) of the wire insulation from the tip.
- You can also use scissors or a wire cutter to cut the rubber insulation off the wire. Just be careful that you don’t cut into the metal part of the wire.
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Connect the wires to the smart switch. The terminals on the switch are usually color-coded the same as the wires or have a label on them. Connect the ground wire first. Then connect the neutral wire. Then connect the load wire, followed by the line wire last. Check the instructions if you are unsure which terminal is which.
- To connect the wires to a screw terminal, bend the tip of the wire so that it forms a "J" shape. Then wrap it around the screw and tighten the screw to lock it in place.
- If the switch has push-in terminals, make sure the wire is stripped to the correct length. Insert the wire into the terminal and push until it locks in place. Gently pull on it to make sure it is secure.
- If the neutral (white) wires are bundled together and there is no neutral wire available, you can remove the wire nut bundling the wires together. Purchase another short length of white wire. Strip both ends and twist one end of the wire together with the other neutral wires. Then twist the wire nut back on. Attach the other end of the wire to the smart switch terminal.
Once all the wires are connected, stuff them into the light switch socket so that they are behind the light switch. Then place the switch into the socket and screw it in place. Then attach the light switch cover.
Flip the breaker in your breaker box to restore power to the light switch. Then flip it on and off to make sure there is power to it, and it is connected correctly.
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Connect the light switch to the app. Once the smart switch is connected, download the brand-specific app that goes with your smart switch to your smartphone. Create a new account if needed. Then tap the plus (+) icon or select the option to add a new device. Select the option to add a smart switch. Follow the instructions to put the switch in pairing mode and connect it to the smart app. Then you should be able to control the light switch using the app.^{[16]
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- Once the switch is connected to the app, you may be able to connect it to your Google Home app or Alexa app if it is compatible.

Section 6 of 6:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Can you use smart bulbs with a smart switch? Not usually. Smart bulbs require a constant electrical current. A smart switch cuts off the current to the bulbs when they are powered off. However, there are smart switches that act as a relay to a smart bulb that provide constant power to the bulb.
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Can smart switches be used to dim the lights? Yes, if that is a feature of the smart switch. Dimmer switches are wired the same way as regular switches. You just need to make sure you use dimmable bulbs in the light fixture.
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What if there is no neutral wire? There are smart switches that don’t require a neutral wire. They are generally a little more expensive, but they are available.