I have a room with no overhead lighting. Instead, the 1-gang “light switch” on the wall controls half of a power outlet elsewhere in the room.

I think this is fairly common in the US (at least in older houses). The idea is that you’d plug a lamp into that outlet and control it via the switch. However, that outlet is the only good option for my TV, gaming consoles, laptop, etc.

I’d like to replace the current switch with a smart switch that can control LIFX devices but leaves the outlet powered. Is that possible with the LIFX 2-button switch?

I’m aiming for a solution that doesn’t require rewiring stuff inside the wall. I’m not an electrician and I hate patching drywall. 🙂

Usually, I’m a Philips Hue fan, but the LIFX outdoor string lights tempted me. Set up was smooth on both HomeKit and the LIFX app, and I’m loving the theme options…or would be, if the app didn’t crash every time I try to use them.😩

I’m on an iPhone 16 running iOS 18. Attempts to self resolve so far:

•	Reinstalled the app & lights
•	Updated the firmware on the lights
•	Made sure I have the latest app version

Still no luck. Anyone else having this issue? Or what have I missed, any tips or workarounds would be appreciated. As nice as these lights are, they are pricey to only have access to the basics features.

Does anyone know how to make the hardware effects work in home assistant? It doesn't matter what I try. I open up the control and use the drop down box to select the effect, it does nothing. I use the developer tools action. Select the Lifx: Colour loop effect and the light. It just says failed to perform the action. Unknown error. It works within google when I set the effect but never in home assistant. I know Google is going through the cloud and the home assistant is local but I thought you were able to set hardware effects locally. This is doing my head in.

I have a room with 9 lights controlled by a switch. All the lights are in scenes that are programmed to the switch. As of 3 days ago when I press the button on the switch to change the scene it will work for all but the same two lights every time. When I control it from the app it works perfectly. Tried reassigning the scene etc and nothing works. Very puzzled. Anybody else run into this before?

Hoping someone here can help me solve this, LIFX can't. I just got some of the LIFX Outdoor String lights. I happy with everything about them, except that LIFX does not sell their own and can't recommend third party low voltage cables. I'm a bit surprised because Hue sells their own, and there seem to be options for GoVee. I'm hoping anyone here can point me to low-voltage outdoor extension cables that might work with the LIFX outdoor string lights. Not sure what connector is needed and cable type. Thanks.

I ordered two of these https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XKYKJ9Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1bulbs to use in our outside lamps (they're covered) and they have *mostly* worked OK.

What's strange to me and I can't figure out is the flame FX is a different color on the bulbs. One of them is orange (as expected) and the other is more... pink? The bulbs have different firmware despite being ordered at the same time and both show as up to date, which seems strange to me as well. The "pink" bulb is the one on 3.91

Anyone know a way to get the bulbs to match colors in the FX?

Side note: LOL at the 1 bar of wifi strength. The bulbs are 10ft away from the Ubiquiti access point. I haven't had issues with them on wifi but 1 bar is insane that close to the AP.

https://preview.redd.it/wo7a17u6iyxd1.jpg?width=4080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3f1e12b0d50b71ad0881b9dc5853ba6b3f6d8f50

https://preview.redd.it/mbxfp7u6iyxd1.png?width=1008&format=png&auto=webp&s=2ed23c78ba455b541b3041e061189c8c5aac72a0

https://preview.redd.it/r1uq36u6iyxd1.png?width=1008&format=png&auto=webp&s=e9e0d408d3395458bd930dcc3bc50fef2cfb2200

I found a solution for customers using T-mobile 5g Gateway home internet.

1. Removing the lights from the cloud

2. Set up a dedicated 2.4ghz SSID

(T-mobile 2.4 ghz settings: All Recommended settings WPA2/WPA3 with AES encryption)

3. Reset each light prior to set up.

4. Airplane mode during set up. Connecting the phone to the 2.4ghz SSID wifi. (Android)

This set up combination worked very efficiently for me fortunately.

I understand a few existing products have been updated to include matter support, but it's unclear to me if my existing lights are applicable?

Is matter support a software/firmware update, or is this only for new hardware revisions?

I'm in Australia, and currently own a mixture of:

• LIFX Mini C (firmware 3.90)
• LIFX Colour 1000lm (firmware 3.90)
• LIFX Z (firmware 2.90)
• LIFX DL (firmware 3.90)

Are any of these applicable? How do I get the code to onboard them to matter?

Thanks!

I moved into a new apartment and wanted to set my light bulb up but can’t seem to figure out how to “reset it” I’ve tried manually entering in the HK number but nothing is working. Does anyone know what to do?

Whilst it might be Reddit's worst kept secret, we're happy to share that today marks the official launch of our new Permanent Outdoor Lights. Please note that as stock is still rolling out, we advise to check online to see if your store has stock before heading in.

---

LIFX is ready to elevate the holiday season with brighter, more vibrant light displays plus the added convenience of a one-time installation, thanks to the LIFX 50-foot SuperColor Permanent Outdoor Smart Lights.

Designed for ultimate customization and performance, these permanent lights promise to transform any outdoor space into a captivating spectacle. They offer sophisticated downlighting or energetic, animated displays that adapt seamlessly to any mood or occasion. Equipped with polychrome technology, customers can expect a more colorful light with nearly double the brightness of its leading competitors.

The length is also flexible, allowing customers to cut the cables down to size for use across different locations, or extend up to 200 feet using additional strands to get the perfect length along the eave of their home. Other key features of the smart outdoor lights include:

• 30 LED lights across two 25-foot lengths of cable, flexible enough for any use-case 

• IP67 weather-proof rating for year-round, durable outdoor use

• Standard plug with flexible mounting options via screw-in or long-lasting adhesive 

• Smart home-friendly, voice-compatible and Wi-Fi-enabled

• The widest range of cool to warm whites from 1500-9000K color temperatures for the perfect look and nearly double the brightness

• Dramatic true-to-life colors that can be scheduled, customized, or dimmed within the newly redesigned LIFX mobile app

• A rich palette of millions of colors and endless themes at the touch of a button

Similar to other outdoor LIFX products released earlier this year, the SuperColor Permanent Outdoor Lights integrate seamlessly with modern smart home systems, including Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and Samsung SmartThings with compatibility through Matter, the latest universal standard of smart home connectivity. This integration mix offers seamless control of all devices through a single app regardless of what you use to manage your smart home, eliminating the need for multiple apps.

The LIFX Smart SuperColor Permanent Outdoor Lights are available exclusively in-store or online at The Home Depot. For more information about LIFX and its range of smart lighting solutions, visit LIFX.com.

https://reddit.com/link/1gf7aps/video/4th7pq1atrxd1/player

https://preview.redd.it/5px9u9zatrxd1.jpg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=de0d2759f32009a110b189a2f77671f7d0aae74c

Whenever I trigger an effect on my LIFX lights, such as morph or move, my lifx light will drop its brightness down to 1%. How can I fix this?

https://preview.redd.it/8clde89tjkxd1.png?width=383&format=png&auto=webp&s=f1d283295b6942984f857650093e1f726bcb1253

Hi all, just wanted to properly announce that in app update 4.52.1 we'll be introducing two new Music Visualisers. First is an updated version of the old Visualiser and the second is a new 'EQ Visualiser' specifically for Polychrome lights.

These effects both still use the built in microphone to capture audio data, but they have been built from the ground up to provide better performance and audio analysis.

The standard Visualiser can be run on any LIFX light and will change brightness in sync with parts of the song. If you have multiple lights, the Ensemble setting will assign different lights distinct parts of the audio spectrum so you'll get a lot more diversity. (e.g. some lights will be reflecting the bass, while others the mids).

The EQ Visualiser divides up the parts of the frequency graph to different zones on your light.

With both effects you can select different themes to control what colours are applied to your lights.

The app update has been released on iOS and is just in review on Google Play at the moment. Keen to hear your feedback!

EQ Visualiser running on two Tiles

First, I was so hopeful for these products. As a coder, I looked forward to writing cool sequences for the product. Really, I was chomping at the bit.

Over $300 bucks in product going back to the store for refund. Why? Stupid software design decisions.

I managed to set up one set of (2 connected) string lights. In attempting to set up the second set of two, and finding it impossible, I was advised to clear the app (the lifx app) cache. I did. It erased the first successfully set up light.

Cache - a term used nearly universally to mean temporary or ephemeral data not important stuff like already installed hardware. That's one.

Two, no warning that this will erase previously defined groups, homes, etc.

Three, no feed back that the cache had been cleared. One might sit for a lifetime clicking on clear cache wondering if it did so.

Three fails on one feature. Hopefully a manager signed off on this feature. Fire them. A software team implemented this feature. Fire them.

Second, onboarding is in general a major fail. Apparently, you can onboard two different ways. Directly or with Home Kit. You are forced into Home Kit. But are you? If you wait 15 minutes (no explanation given), you can, in theory, onboard in the app.

Oh, and for that first successfully onboarded string light? It never actually worked in Home Kit.

For the second device I tried two different network controllers (the little black box - credit Roger Waters) both of which presented 2.4 GHz networks which I joined. Neither of them worked for onboarding - communication errors - when trying manually. No devices found when trying automatically.

I was about to have these permanently strung in tree limbs. I am glad I was able to cancel the electricians.

I would say these products are not ready for prime time but they're not new. The same problems I found appear in youtube reviews stretching back years.

These products are going back to Home Depot for refund. I wouldn't recommend any lifx product to anyone for any reason for any use for any purpose. None. Never.

Hi all,

We have some new downlights launching in 2025 and would love to get some users to test them out.

If you have the ability to install 4" canless or 4" retrofits and want to help, sign-up here.

If chosen, we will send you 2 units to test out (and keep). All you need to do is answer some questions and help us make sure the products are ready for prime time.

Thanks in advance.

https://reddit.com/link/1gdnipc/video/yjug1ubondxd1/player

I have a new apartment (that I won't be moving into for a few days) where the permanent network isn't set up yet. I have four brand-new LIFX tubes that I got from Home Depot. Three lit up fine and stayed lit up. The fourth lit up, but then started turning on and off randomly. It also started rebooting repeatedly as shown in the video. To be clear, none of them are connected to a Wi-Fi network or configured.

I opened a ticket, but the first request wasn't encouraging because the tech asked me to try a different lamp (which I've already done because this isn't my first rodeo) and to send the logs from the app (which makes no sense because the bulbs aren't on a network yet.) Can I send my ticket number to someone for some help, please?

Thanks in advance!

Saw new options for visualizer fx yesterday, one for normal lights and one for polychrome lights, but they have since disappeared. It was night time so I couldn't test them out and was planning to when I woke up, by which time they were gone.

Did anyone notice this?

Hi all, I will soon be setting up a new Eero router in a new apartment with new Lifx bulbs. Is there anything specifically about the Eero configuration that I should know? I'm not sure if you can create a separate IoT network on an Eero. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Got a couple two packs from Home Depot 4ish months ago, what info do I need to get a warranty replacement? I saved some of the paperwork but is there a serial number on the bulb housing? Or in app? It was paired and working and just stopped turning on at all under any circumstances. Thanks in advance for any tips! It’s an A19 1100 lumen bulb. Other three continue to work flawlessly.

Standard question…when Australia? :)

I have always had issues with getting the lights to updates. From making sure that my phone is on the right network to repeated failed attempts. These are the only cloud connected devices that I can think of that will not update on their own. Does anyone know why can't this be fixed so that they automatically update?

Recently bought the LIFX light beam bars and just wanted to know if the app or HomeKit was more reliable

The light is dope af and would love to keep it but i cant deal with the buzzing sound coming from the light. Does anybody know what could be causing the buzzing sound and if there's a diy fix? Since lifx is constantly trying to gas light everybody like their is not a buzzing sound it dont look like its getting fixed anytime soon so im trying to diy fix it.

If a lifx employee sees this atleast tell me what component is causing the buzzing....yall cant seriously tell me yall have tested this light and dont hear a buzzing sound coming from it no other led light i have does this

I posted a similar thing on r/Govee with no responses yet, but I'm just looking for some advice before I pull the trigger. I bought 2x 2m 1st gen LIFX Z strips back in 2017 and at the time I made my decision based on the fact the LIFX Z strips were brighter and more accurate and Philips Hue which was its main competitor. These two 2m kits have been fine for my current setup, but I'm moving house and going to be placing them horizontally on a wall with a 5m width which means I need 10meters in total and I'd need to upgrade.

For whatever reason LIFX are really hard to find in the UK but I already have an A19 bulb alongside the 2 Z strips so I face a dilemma of sticking with LIFX despite the astronomical price of £95 a meter or moving to an entirely new ecosystem ditching LIFX altogether.

I love the features of LIFX but to be honest the light connectivity issues are ass and I'm convinced its app related. I've followed the reccomended setup steps to isolate them onto their own 2.4GHz network but even so they drop out on the app all too frequently. And I'm convinced its the app simply because even when they drop out from the app I can still control them through the Google Home app. So frustrated with these issues I started to look elsewhere and found Govee.

On the surface they looked like the average Chinesium knockoff brand but looking deeper at their product stack I found the Govee Strip Light 2 Pro and watching a review of it I'm really impressed and seems to have the majority of features that LIFX offer and at £80 for a 5m kit it seems perfect for what I'm after. Does anyone have any experience with Govee and do you think its worth switching over? Or does anyone reccomend any alternatives?

No idea if this has ever been brought up but I’m going to ask about it anyway. Has there ever been any thought to adding functionality to the app to program “soft buttons” on a switch to allow triggering a bulb at a set brightness percentage? As an example, switch with bulbs in a restroom. In the middle of the night nobody wants to turn the light on full intensity. Why can’t we set one of the switch buttons to control the light with a specific brightness value? I’ve got several switches in my home already and this added functionality would be awesome.

I know I'm not the only one who has had this issue - and LIFX no longer supply the power supply as a standalone part. Trying to source one secondhand costs as much as replacing the whole lightstrip setup, so I wanted to know if there was a different way.

The main issue that makes replacing a burnt-out LIFX power supply difficult is that it only has a male DC plug. Most DC power supplies will use a male DC head - so this necessitates the use of the female-female barrel to connect them together

The below solution should work for LIFX and LIFX Z (as they both have the same power requirements).

LIFX: LC3C1IN

LIFX. 24V 1.25A 30W

LIFX Z: LZCTLDC2INT

LIFX Z. 24V 1.25A 30W

(Quick picture of the culprit 😡)

See: my burnt-out power supply that shorted my house twice and smells of burnt plastic :(

Was a real hassle to do the maths & sizing, but here is what works. You will need both of these:

Female to Female DC Adapter barrel 5.5mmx2.1mm
www.ebay.com.au/itm/272581121806

24V DC Power Supply 1.25A
https://www.jaycar.com.au/24v-dc-1-25a-power-supply-7dc-plugs/p/MP3494
(the blue-tipped DC head is the right size - 5.0mm outer diameter (OD) x 2.1mm inner diameter (ID))

See: DC Adaptor, Female-female barrel and the LIFX power input

Notes on the DC Power Supply:

Mine came with 7 heads - the blue-tip one is what works for me.

1. You may be able to find a DC power supply that just has a single tip - as long as it has a 2.1mm ID and 5.0mm OD, you should be okay.
2. It is important to make sure the voltage and amperage are correct! Too weak, and it won't be able to power the light strip effectively. You'll see that both the LIFX and LIFX Z require a 24V 1.25A 30W Power Supply.

2.1mm x 5.0mm is what I need

I put all of this together after heaps of research about the LIFX power supply & reading other threads here on this subreddit :) thankfully it works like a charm for me - but after the first burn-out, I always unplug my LIFX from the wall when I am sleeping or away from home. (Australian links, as I am Australian-based).

This still adds up in $$$ (this solution cost me $5 AUD + $48 AUD), but I'm trying to be conscious about electrical waste and didn't want to throw away my perfectly good lightstrip just cause the powersupply needed replacing.

I welcome any feedback from folks that know more about electronics & power than me!

So I have spent six months in the past making sure I disable all features on a separate IOT 2.4 network and providing a blanket of APs on 1,6, 11 channels, fixed IPs etc through my apartment to keep my 65+ LIFX (mainly the older downlight, some newer down-lights and Z strips) online. I got it to a nice consistent point where nothing would drop off unless I was silly enough to try doing some crazy light show using an app with fast changing light colours. (You can overwhelm the LIFX downlights).

Recently I noticed some lights start shows as offline in the LIFX app, but if I go into my UniFi app, they are still showing as fully connected, however the traffic shows 0kbps. You cannot issue any commands to them from that point not even a reset command and you cannot communicate with them, even via HomeKit, et cetera. These lights arent always ones with less than perfect connections…. One specific recurring one is 1.5metres from its AP!

This was after I changed one access point from my usual U6 pro’s to a U7 Pro. I tried swapping one to see if it provided even stronger connectivity because LIFX lights really need good connections to be reliable.

Mysteriously - there is one simple way to bring the light back into communication (without powering it off of course). Whilst it shows as connected in your Unifi app if you click the reconnect button under the setting screen for that particular device then a few seconds later it starts communicating again and it appears back online in the LIFX app.

I’m pretty sure it has only occurred with the LIFX lights that have been connecting to the new U7 pro AP, not the U6 Pro. This makes me suspect that even though nothing shows in the log for the device going dormant that it could be the Unifi end that has decided that it’s not worth talking to this device for some reason? Different code for the radios in the U7 pros?

What Does “reconnect” actually do on the APs?

Not sure if this is an LIFX question or a Unifi one so apologies that I will be posting it in both, any thoughts on how to debug this would be appreciated as well. Otherwise I’m starting to wonder if I could create a Home Assistant script to spot LIF Ex lights that I’ve had zero throughput for a long time and press the Unifi reconnect button but that would be a rather complex little script at best.

I'm a bit out of touch since lifx left uk and europe but still using and sourcing where I can,

Recently got a new PC and had to reach out to a plug in developer who used to have a lifx plug in to control via Web app which he sent me,

However can anyone tell me if there is an app on android that offers LAN control rather than through the cloud. Ideally not home assistant

I noticed that my Flic twist stopped adjusting the brightness of my lights when using the twist action.

As part of my own diagnosis I discovered that any actions using 'LIFX local network' were failing but those using the 'LIFX cloud' were working as expected.

As further troubleshooting I tried removing all my lights from the LIFX local network list in the Flic app, however when I click the button in the Flic app to 'reload LIFX bulbs' nothing is found.

I have not had any infrastructure changes in terms of network hardware or software.

Is this something anyone else has experienced or have any potential solutions?

Thank you in advance.