Getting Started

Welcome! This guide will help you install We Love Lights and take your first steps toward controlling your Philips Hue or Zigbee devices from your Mac.

Installation

We Love Lights is available exclusively on the Mac App Store.

Download from Mac App Store

1. Open the Mac App Store on your Mac
2. Search for "We Love Lights"
3. Click Get or the price button to download
4. Enter your Apple ID password or use Touch ID to confirm
5. Wait for the download and installation to complete

The app will automatically appear in your Applications folder.

First Launch

When you launch We Love Lights for the first time:

1. Open We Love Lights from your Applications folder or Launchpad
2. The app will appear in your menu bar at the top of your screen (look for the icon)
3. You may see a welcome screen guiding you through initial setup
4. Grant any permissions the app requests (these are needed for proper functionality)

Understanding the Dual Interface

We Love Lights offers two ways to interact with your smart home:

Menu Bar App

• Quick Access: Always available from your menu bar
• Common Tasks: Turn lights on/off, adjust brightness, activate scenes
• Minimal: Doesn't clutter your screen
• Perfect for: Day-to-day control and quick adjustments

Studio Window

• Advanced Controls: Full-featured window with all capabilities
• Management: Add devices, create scenes, configure sensors
• Organization: Drag-and-drop, hide/show devices, customize everything
• Perfect for: Setup, configuration, and power user features

You can switch between these interfaces at any time. The menu bar app is always present, and you can open Studio from the menu bar menu.

Initial Setup Steps

Step 1: Connect Your Bridge

Before you can control any devices, you need to connect We Love Lights to your bridge.

1. Click the We Love Lights icon in your menu bar
2. Look for "Find Bridge" or "Add Bridge" option
3. Follow the Bridge Discovery guide for detailed instructions

We Love Lights supports:

• Philips Hue Bridge (most common)
• Phoscon deCONZ Bridge (e.g., ConBee USB stick)

Step 2: Authenticate

Once your bridge is found, you'll need to authenticate:

1. We Love Lights will prompt you to press the button on your bridge
2. Go to your physical bridge and press the round button on top
3. Return to your Mac - the app will automatically connect
4. Authentication is now complete!

Your credentials are securely stored in your Mac's Keychain.

Step 3: Discover Devices

After authentication, We Love Lights will automatically:

• Discover all lights connected to your bridge
• Import rooms and zones you've created in the Hue app
• Load existing scenes
• Find motion sensors, switches, and smart plugs

This process usually takes just a few seconds.

Launch at Login (Optional)

Want We Love Lights to start automatically when you log in to macOS?

macOS Ventura and Later

1. Open System Settings
2. Go to General → Login Items
3. Look for We Love Lights in the list
4. If not present, click the + button and add We Love Lights
5. Ensure it's enabled

macOS Monterey

1. Open System Preferences
2. Go to Users & Groups
3. Select your user account
4. Click Login Items tab
5. Click + and add We Love Lights

Alternatively, some versions of We Love Lights may have this option in the app's preferences.

Interface Overview

Menu Bar App

Click the We Love Lights icon in your menu bar to see:

• Rooms/Groups: Quick access to all rooms and zones
• Lights: Individual light controls
• Scenes: One-click scene activation
• Preferences: App settings and options
• Open Studio: Launch the Studio window

Studio Window

Open Studio from the menu bar menu to access:

• Sidebar Navigation: Switch between bridges, rooms, devices
• Main Content Area: Detailed controls and settings
• Search Bar: Find devices and groups quickly
• Action Buttons: Add, edit, remove, and organize

Next Steps

Now that We Love Lights is installed and connected, you're ready to explore:

1. Menu Bar Controls - Learn the quickest way to control your lights
2. Studio Window - Explore the advanced interface
3. Device Control - Master light and device control
4. Bridge Configuration - Deep dive into bridge setup

Optional Advanced Setup

• Remote Access - Control lights when away from home
• Multi-Bridge Setup - Connect additional bridges
• Keyboard Shortcuts - Set up global hotkeys

Common First-Time Questions

"I don't see my bridge"

• Ensure your Mac and bridge are on the same WiFi network
• Try manual bridge discovery with the IP address
• See troubleshooting bridge connection

"Some devices are missing"

• We Love Lights automatically syncs with your bridge
• If devices are new, try refreshing the device list in Studio
• Bluetooth-only devices (no bridge) are not supported

"How do I add a new light?"

• Add lights through the official Philips Hue app first
• We Love Lights will automatically discover them
• You can then manage them fully in We Love Lights

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Ready to start controlling your lights? Head to the Menu Bar guide to learn the essentials!