New Philips Hue app update improves smart lighting accessory onboarding

A new version of the Philips Hue app for iOS has arrived. Version 5.43.0 has been released a couple of weeks after its predecessor, version 5.42.0. This earlier update brought changes for the Home on/off switch and for scenes.

The release notes for version 5.43.0 state that there is a change for new users of Philips Hue smart cameras, like the Secure Wired desktop camera (curr. $99.99 at Amazon). You can now set up motion-triggered lighting when you first set up the camera. This feature has been available for some time but was not offered as part of the camera onboarding process until now.

Plus, there is a change for users who set up a new accessory like a switch or sensor. Historically, these devices were not automatically assigned to a zone or room, which could limit their functionality. Now, there is an automatic suggestion to create a zone to avoid this problem. Philips Hue suggests that you can always hide these zones at a later date by editing your home dashboard.

You can download the Philips Hue app version 5.43.0 from the Apple App Store. It is unclear when these features will reach the Philips Hue app for Android, which was last updated to version 5.42.0 on May 14th.