Smart Switches

Smart switches (also called remotes or dimmers) are physical buttons that control your lights without opening an app. We Love Lights provides powerful configuration options for Philips Hue switches and compatible Zigbee button devices.

What Are Smart Switches?

Switch Basics

Smart switches are wireless button devices:

Physical buttons: Tactile control without phone/computer
Wireless: Zigbee communication, no wiring needed
Battery powered: Place anywhere
Programmable: Customize what each button does
Multi-function: Single press, long press, different actions

Why Use Switches?

Convenience

Physical control without devices
Instant access on wall or table
Works when phone/computer isn't nearby

Family-Friendly

Guests can easily control lights
No app or tech knowledge required
Familiar interface (like traditional switches)

Reliability

Works even if network issues occur
Direct bridge communication
No dependency on apps or cloud

Speed

Instant response (no app launching)
Muscle memory location
Faster than voice or app control

Supported Switches

Philips Hue Dimmer Switch (RWL021/RWL022)

The most popular Hue switch:

4 buttons: On, Dim Up, Dim Down, Off
Wall mount: Included magnetic wall plate
Portable: Remove from wall plate for remote use
Battery: CR2450 coin cell, ~2 years
Range: Up to 12m (40ft) from bridge

Philips Hue Tap Switch

Battery-free switch:

4 buttons: Kinetic energy powered
No battery: Press generates power
Wall mount or portable
Requires firm press: Harder than battery switches

Philips Hue Smart Button

Single-button control:

1 button: Multiple press types
Compact: Very small, place anywhere
Battery: CR2032 coin cell
Simple control: Best for single scene

Third-Party Switches

Compatible Zigbee switches:

IKEA Trådfri remotes and buttons
Other Zigbee-compatible button devices
Feature set varies by model

Check supported devices for compatibility.

Viewing Switch Status

Quick switch info:

Click We Love Lights icon
Find Switches section
See basic status:
- Switch name
- Battery level
- Last button press (if available)

In Studio

Detailed switch information:

Open Studio window
Go to Switches section in sidebar
Select your switch
View details:
- Button layout: Visual representation
- Battery level: Percentage and status
- Model info: Type and firmware
- Configuration: Current button assignments
- Last activity: Recent button presses

Button Actions

Each button can perform different actions based on press type.

Press Types

Most switches support multiple press types per button:

Single Press (Tap)

Quick press and release
Most common action
Example: Turn lights on/off

Long Press (Hold)

Press and hold for 1-2 seconds
Different action than tap
Example: Dim up/down gradually

Double Press

Press twice quickly
Some switches support this
Example: Activate special scene

Release

What happens when you stop holding
Example: Stop dimming

Available Actions

Buttons can trigger:

Turn On/Off: Toggle or explicit on/off
Dim Up/Down: Increase or decrease brightness
Activate Scene: Apply specific scene
Cycle Scenes: Rotate through scene list
Set Brightness: Jump to specific level
Set Color: Apply specific color
Do Nothing: Disable button

Configuring Switches

Automatic Configuration

For supported switches (RWL021, RWL022), We Love Lights can auto-configure:

Connect switch to your bridge
Select switch in Studio
Click "Auto-Configure" or "Quick Setup"
Choose configuration preset:
- Standard: Factory default behavior
- Room Control: Control specific room
- Scene Cycler: Cycle through scenes
- Custom: Build your own
Test: Try each button
Save

Manual Configuration

Customize each button precisely:

Select switch in Studio
Go to Button Configuration section
For each button:
- Select press type (single, long, etc.)
- Choose action from dropdown
- Configure parameters:
  - Which lights/groups
  - Brightness level
  - Color settings
  - Scene to activate
Save configuration

Button-by-Button Setup

For Hue Dimmer Switch (RWL021/RWL022)

On Button (Top)

Single Press: Turn on to last brightness or specific scene
Long Press: Gradually brighten to maximum
Release: Stop brightening

Dim Up Button (Second)

Single Press: Increase brightness by 20%
Long Press: Continuously brighten
Release: Stop brightening

Dim Down Button (Third)

Single Press: Decrease brightness by 20%
Long Press: Continuously dim
Release: Stop dimming

Off Button (Bottom)

Single Press: Turn off lights
Long Press: Gradually dim to off
Release: Turn off immediately

Customize any button to do anything you want!

Scene Cycling

Configure switches to cycle through multiple scenes.

Scene-Cycle Pattern

Perfect for switches with limited buttons:

Select switch in Studio
Choose "Scene Cycle" pattern
Select scenes to include in cycle:
- Add 2-10 scenes
- Order matters (will cycle in order)
Assign to button:
- Usually "On" button cycles forward
- "Off" button turns off
Configure cycling:
- Wrap around: After last scene, return to first
- Reverse option: Press different button to cycle backward

Example Scene Cycles

Living Room Switch

Press 1: "Bright" scene
Press 2: "Relax" scene
Press 3: "Movie" scene
Press 4: "Bright" again (wrapped)
Off button: Turn off

Bedroom Switch

Press 1: "Reading" (bright)
Press 2: "Evening" (medium)
Press 3: "Nightlight" (very dim)
Press 4: Off

Kitchen Switch

Press 1: "Cooking" (bright task)
Press 2: "Dining" (warm medium)
Press 3: "Ambient" (dim accent)

Generic Button Patterns

Create advanced custom button behaviors.

Custom Pattern Structure

Trigger: Which button and press type
Conditions: When to execute (optional)
- Time of day
- Current light state
- Other device states
Actions: What to do
- Multiple actions possible
- Execute in sequence
Advanced logic: If/then conditions

Advanced Examples

Context-Aware On Button

If lights are off → Turn on to "Morning" scene (if before noon) or "Evening" scene (if after)
If lights are on → Cycle through 3 brightness levels

Multi-Room Control

Single press → Control current room
Long press → Control multiple rooms
Double press → All off

Scene Memory

On button → Recall last used scene
Off button → Turn off and remember current scene

Switch Rules vs Scenes

When to Use Switch Rules

Best for:

Dynamic behavior (changes based on conditions)
Complex multi-step actions
Controlling multiple rooms differently
Time-based behaviors

When to Use Scenes

Best for:

Simple, consistent lighting states
Single room control
Specific light configurations
When you want same result every time

Combining Both

Most effective: Use scenes triggered by switches:

Create scenes for desired states
Configure switch to activate those scenes
Easy to modify scenes without reconfiguring switch

Multi-Button Combinations

Some switches support detecting multiple simultaneous presses.

Combination Patterns

Two Button Press

Press buttons 1+2 together → Special action
Press buttons 3+4 together → Different action

All Buttons

Press all buttons → Emergency all-off
Press all buttons long → Reset configuration

Availability depends on switch model and firmware.

Switch Placement Tips

Physical Installation

Wall Mounting

Use included mount/adhesive
Place at comfortable height (standard switch height)
Near doorways for easy access
Consider 3M Command strips for renter-friendly installation

Portable Placement

Nightstand: Bedside control
Coffee table: Living room convenience
Kitchen counter: Cooking task lighting
Home office desk: Workspace control

Strategic Locations

Essential Locations

Bedroom entrance: Lights before entering dark room
Bedside: Control without getting up
Living room: Easy access from couch
Kitchen: Near cooking area
Bathroom: Near door (backup to motion sensor)

Multiple Switches

Large rooms: Multiple access points
Multi-story: One per floor for main lights
Duplicate switches: Same room, different ends

Battery Management

Checking Battery Level

Monitor switch batteries:

Menu Bar: Battery percentage with switch name

Studio: Detailed battery status:

Current percentage
Estimated remaining life
Low battery warnings

Battery Life

Typical battery life:

Hue Dimmer: 2+ years (CR2450)
Hue Tap: No battery (kinetic)
Smart Button: 1-2 years (CR2032)
Third-party: Varies by model

Replacing Batteries

Remove switch from mount (if wall-mounted)
Open battery compartment:
- Usually slide or twist to open
- Check manual for specific model
Replace battery:
- Note correct polarity (+/-)
- Use fresh, quality batteries
Close compartment
Test: Press button to verify
Remount on wall

Switch reconnects automatically; configuration preserved.

Testing Switch Configuration

Test Your Setup

After configuring, test thoroughly:

Press each button:
- Verify expected action occurs
- Check all press types (single, long)
Test edge cases:
- What if lights already on/off?
- Behavior at different times of day?
Test range:
- Works from intended location?
- No missed presses?
Adjust as needed:
- Tweak brightness levels
- Change scene selections
- Modify timing