The recommended way to automate your lights is by using the Tasker plugin which is easier. The alternative (manual) method described on this page uses intents. Intents can be sent using almost any automation app (like Tasker) or through terminal (ADB) commands. Both methods are described below.
Send intent using Tasker
- Download Tasker from the Google Play Store. (Tasker is a third party app and Hue Essentials is not affiliated with Tasker in any way).
- Open Tasker;
- Tap (+) under TASKS;
- Enter a name for your task and tap (V);
- Tap (+) and search for Send Intent under the System category;
- Fill out the action and extra(s) as described in the examples on this page. For example to start a scene with id 1234 in group 3:
- Action:
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.START_SCENE - Extra:
BRIDGE_ID:0123456789 - Extra:
GROUP_ID:3 - Extra:
SCENE_ID:1234
- Action:
- Set Package to the following depending on the store:
- Google Play Store / other:
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials - Amazon Appstore:
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.amazon - Huawei AppGallery:
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.huawei
- Set Target to Broadcast Receiver;
- Go back to the main screen of Tasker and use the task you just created in a profile. (See help of Tasker for full details.)
Send intent using terminal commands
Automate Hue Essentials using terminal (ADB) commands.
Here is how the command should look like (one line):
adb shell am broadcast -a <ACTION> -e <EXTRA1> <VALUE1> -e <EXTRA2> <VALUE2> <PACKAGE>
Here is an example command to start the scene with id 1234 in group 3 for Hue Essentials from Google Play (one line):
adb shell am broadcast -a com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.START_SCENE -e BRIDGE_ID 0123456789 -e GROUP_ID 3 -e SCENE_ID 1234 com.superthomaslab.hueessentials
Extras
These are the extras of which some are required for the commands. The available commands are explained further down this page.
BRIDGE_ID (String)
This is the identifier of the bridge where the command will be executed. You can find this in Hue Essentials > Hue bridges > Select your bridge > Details > Identifier. (press and hold to copy)
GROUP_ID (String/Integer)
The group identifier. You can find this in Hue Essentials > Select your room/group > Three dots at top > Details > Identifier. (press and hold to copy)
If this value is
0it will target all the lights of your bridge. (supported on Philips Hue / deCONZ only)
SCENE_ID (String/Integer)
The scene identifier. You can find this in Hue Essentials > Select your room/group > Scenes tab >Three dots of a scene > Details > Identifier. (press and hold to copy)
EFFECT_ID (String)
The effect identifier. The value of this parameter depends on the version of Hue Essentials. You can find the version in Hue Essentials > Open the left side menu > Settings > About.
If you have Hue Essentials 2.x.x or higher:
You can find this in Hue Essentials > Select your room/group > Effects tab > Tap three dots of your effect under ‘My effects’ > Details > Identifier. (press and hold to copy)
If you have Hue Essentials 1.x.x:
You can find this in Hue Essentials > Select your room/group > Effects tab > Select your effect under ‘My effects’ > Details > Identifier. (press and hold to copy)
ENTERTAINMENT_PROGRAM (String)
The entertainment program; values currently available: dance_sensation, disco, fireworks, lightning, police_lights
Commands
Toggle group (on/off)
This command will switch on a group if it is off or on otherwise.
Action
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.TOGGLE_GROUP
Extras
BRIDGE_IDGROUP_ID
Start scene
This command activates a scene in the given group. The extra GROUP_ID is used to limit the scene to a group.
Action
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.START_SCENE
Extras
BRIDGE_IDSCENE_IDGROUP_ID(Optional for Hue | Required for TRÅDFRI and deCONZ)
Start effect
This command starts an effect in the given group.
Action
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.START_EFFECT
Extras
BRIDGE_IDGROUP_IDEFFECT_ID
Stop effect
This command stops a running effect. If both extras are provided, then the effect in that group will be stopped. Otherwise all currently playing effects will be stopped. If no effect is currently playing, this command does nothing.
Action
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.STOP_EFFECT
Extras
BRIDGE_IDGROUP_ID(optional)
Start entertainment program
This command starts an entertainment program in the given group.
Action
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.START_ENTERTAINMENT
Extras
BRIDGE_IDGROUP_IDENTERTAINMENT_PROGRAM
Stop entertainment program
This command stops a running entertainment program. If both extras are provided, then the program in that group will be stopped. Otherwise all currently playing programs will be stopped. If no program is currently playing, this command does nothing.
Action
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.STOP_ENTERTAINMENT
Extras
BRIDGE_ID(optional)GROUP_ID(optional)
Set group state
Set the state for the given group.
Action
com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.SET_GROUP_STATE
Required extras
BRIDGE_IDGROUP_ID
Optional extras
ON(Boolean) - Switch this group on or off. Can betrue(on) orfalse(off).BRIGHTNESS(Integer) - Set the brightness of this group. Value must be between1(almost off) and254(highest brightness). This will only change the brightness of a light if the light is on. This can be used in combination with theONextra.
