Philips Hue Motion Sensor

Automatically Control Your Lights When Motion Is Detected

What is the Philips Hue Motion Sensor?

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor is a battery-powered indoor smart sensor designed to automatically control Philips Hue lighting when movement is detected. It connects through a Philips Hue Bridge and can trigger lights, scenes and automations without requiring you to touch a switch or open the Hue app.

The sensor also includes daylight detection, allowing your lighting automations to respond differently depending on how bright the room already is. Motion sensitivity can be adjusted in the Hue app, and the sensor can be placed on a shelf, mounted to a wall or attached to suitable metal surfaces using its included mounting hardware.

Key Takeaways

• Detects indoor motion automatically
• Built-in daylight sensing
• Battery-powered and completely wireless
• Requires a Philips Hue Bridge
• Adjustable motion sensitivity
• Can automate lights according to time of day
• Supports wall or freestanding placement
• Includes two AAA batteries
• IP42 rated
• Designed for indoor use
• 2-year Philips Hue warranty

Make Your Lighting Respond Automatically

Walking into a dark hallway, bathroom or bedroom should not always require reaching for a switch.

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor detects movement and can automatically activate selected Hue lights or scenes. Once no motion is detected for a configured period, the sensor can also tell your lights to switch off or return to their previous scene.

This makes the sensor useful for areas where hands-free lighting is convenient, including:

• Hallways
• Bathrooms
• Bedrooms
• Staircases
• Garages
• Basements
• Entryways
• Home offices

Because the sensor is battery powered, there is no electrical wiring required for installation. Philips Hue allows it to be positioned on a shelf, mounted to a wall or ceiling, or attached to suitable metal surfaces using the included magnet.

Why Choose the Philips Hue Motion Sensor?

Automatic Motion-Activated Lighting

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor detects movement and triggers compatible Hue lights through your Hue Bridge.

Instead of manually turning lights on every time you enter a room, you can create automations that activate lighting immediately when movement is detected.

For example:

• Turn hallway lights on when someone walks through
• Activate bathroom lighting during nighttime visits
• Switch on basement lighting automatically
• Trigger an entryway scene when arriving home

Philips Hue also allows the lights to switch off again after motion has stopped for a specified period.

Built-In Daylight Sensor

Motion alone does not always mean your lights need to turn on.

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor includes a daylight sensor that can determine whether the room is already bright enough. You can configure the brightness threshold in the Hue app so that lights remain off when natural daylight is sufficient.

This helps avoid unnecessary lighting during bright daytime hours.

Adjust Lighting Throughout the Day

The Hue app allows the motion sensor to trigger different lighting behavior depending on the time.

Philips Hue currently supports different scenes across up to ten time periods during the day.

You could configure:

Morning: Bright white lighting
Daytime: Lights remain off when daylight is sufficient
Evening: Warm, comfortable lighting
Night: Low-brightness lighting for easier navigation

This makes one motion sensor useful across your entire daily routine.

Adjustable Motion Sensitivity

Motion sensitivity can be adjusted through the Hue app.

If the sensor does not respond quickly enough when you enter a room, sensitivity can be increased. If it activates too easily, sensitivity can be reduced.

This flexibility helps you tailor detection to the room and sensor placement.

Completely Wireless Installation

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor is powered by two AAA batteries, which are included.

There is no power cable and no electrical wiring required.

This allows the sensor to be repositioned whenever your room layout or automation needs change.

Flexible Placement

The sensor can be:

• Placed on a shelf
• Positioned on a table
• Mounted to a wall
• Mounted to a ceiling
• Attached to a suitable metal surface using the included magnet

Philips Hue recommends positioning the front of the sensor toward the area where movement is expected. Higher placement can provide a wider detection area.

Control More Than One Light

One Hue motion sensor is not limited to controlling a single bulb.

Philips Hue states that a motion sensor can control:

• Up to three Rooms
• One Zone
• Your entire Hue lighting setup

You can also create a Zone containing only selected lights when you want more precise control.

This makes a single sensor suitable for controlling multiple lights across connected spaces.

Group Multiple Motion Sensors

Larger rooms or unusually shaped spaces may not be fully covered by a single sensor.

Philips Hue supports Device groups, allowing multiple motion sensors to work together. Up to 12 compatible sensors can be grouped, including indoor sensors, outdoor sensors and supported Hue Secure cameras.

Lights can remain active while at least one grouped sensor still detects activity.

Philips Hue Bridge Required

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor requires a Philips Hue Bridge-controlled setup and the Hue app.

If you want the sensor to trigger lighting, you will also need at least one compatible Philips Hue light.

The Hue Bridge provides the Zigbee-based smart-home network that connects supported Hue lights and accessories. Philips Hue describes Zigbee as the communication technology used by Hue products when operating through a Bridge.

Key Features

• Indoor motion detection
• Built-in daylight sensing
• Adjustable motion sensitivity
• Automatic light activation
• Automatic light shutoff
• Time-of-day lighting behavior
• Up to ten configurable time periods
• Wireless battery-powered operation
• Wall mounting
• Freestanding placement
• Magnetic mounting support
• Device grouping
• Hue Bridge integration
• Hue app control
• Software-upgradable firmware

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Name	Philips Hue Motion Sensor
Product Number	046677570972
Material Number	929003067502
Product Type	Indoor Smart Motion Sensor
Color	White
Material	Synthetic
Intended Use	Indoor
Connectivity	Philips Hue Bridge
Motion Detection	Yes
Daylight Detection	Yes
Adjustable Motion Sensitivity	Yes
Power Source	Battery
Battery Type	2 × AAA (LR03)
Batteries Included	Yes
Minimum Battery Lifetime	2 years
IP Rating	IP42
Operating Temperature	0°C to 40°C
Mounting Options	Wall or Freestanding
Overall Height	55 mm
Overall Width	55 mm
Overall Depth	29.9 mm
Weight	65 g
Software Upgradable	Yes
Warranty	2 Years

Official Philips Hue specifications list the product at 55 × 55 × 29.9 mm, 65 g, with two included AAA batteries, IP42 protection and an operating range of 0°C to 40°C.

Compatibility

Platform / Device	Compatibility
Philips Hue Bridge	Yes — Required
Philips Hue App	Yes
Philips Hue Lights	Yes
Hue Rooms	Yes
Hue Zones	Yes
Hue Scenes	Yes
Hue Device Groups	Yes
Indoor Use	Yes
Outdoor Use	No
Direct Standalone Use Without Bridge	No for Hue smart automation

The sensor requires a Philips Hue Bridge-controlled system for Hue automation features. Philips Hue specifically directs outdoor users to the separate Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor rather than the indoor model.

What's Included?

• 1 × Philips Hue Motion Sensor
• 2 × AAA batteries
• Mounting hardware

The sensor arrives battery powered and ready for wireless installation within a compatible Hue Bridge setup.

How to Set Up the Philips Hue Motion Sensor

Step 1: Position the Sensor

Place the sensor where it faces the area in which you want movement detected.

Step 2: Add It to the Hue App

Open Hue App → Settings → Devices, select the + button and add the motion sensor.

Step 3: Configure Your Automation

Choose the lights, Rooms or Zone to control and configure motion, daylight and timing behavior.

Smart Automation Ideas

Hallway Lighting

Automatically turn hallway lights on when someone enters and switch them off after the hallway becomes empty.

Nighttime Bathroom Lighting

Create a low-brightness scene that activates only during nighttime hours.

This provides enough light to move safely without triggering full daytime brightness.

Automatic Basement Lighting

Place the sensor near the basement entrance so lights turn on as soon as someone enters.

The lights can switch off automatically once no movement is detected.

Daylight-Aware Lighting

Configure the daylight threshold so lights activate only when the room is darker than your chosen level.

During bright daytime conditions, detected motion can leave the lights off.

Different Scenes Throughout the Day

Configure different scenes depending on the time.

For example:

• Bright lighting in the morning
• Neutral lighting during the afternoon
• Warm lighting in the evening
• Dim lighting overnight

Hue allows motion sensors to trigger different lighting scenes across up to ten different times of day.

Where Should You Place the Philips Hue Motion Sensor?

The sensor should face the location where movement is expected.

Good locations include:

• Near room entrances
• Hallway walls
• Staircase landings
• Bathroom entrances
• Basement entrances
• Bedroom walls
• Garage entrances

Philips Hue notes that higher placement generally allows the motion sensor to cover a wider area.

Because the sensor is wireless, you can test different positions before permanently mounting it.

Important Usage Notes

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor is designed for indoor use.

Its IP42 rating provides limited protection, but it should not be treated as a weatherproof outdoor sensor. Philips Hue sells a separate Outdoor Motion Sensor for exterior environments.

For reliable operation:

• Keep the sensor indoors.
• Avoid direct exposure to rain or water.
• Keep the front of the sensor unobstructed.
• Position it toward expected movement.
• Adjust sensitivity if necessary.
• Use a Hue Bridge for smart lighting automation.

Who Should Buy the Philips Hue Motion Sensor?

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor is particularly suitable for people who already use a Hue Bridge and want their lights to respond automatically to movement.

It is ideal for:

• Philips Hue smart-home users
• Hallways
• Bathrooms
• Bedrooms
• Basements
• Staircases
• Entryways
• Home offices
• Hands-free lighting
• Time-based lighting routines
• Daylight-aware automations

If you do not own a Philips Hue Bridge, the sensor is not intended to function as a standalone Hue lighting controller.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Philips Hue Motion Sensor?

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor is a wireless indoor smart sensor that detects movement and daylight conditions to automatically control compatible Philips Hue lighting through a Hue Bridge.

Who should buy the Philips Hue Motion Sensor?

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor is best suited to Hue Bridge users who want automatic, hands-free lighting in areas such as hallways, bathrooms, bedrooms, staircases and basements.

How does the Philips Hue Motion Sensor work?

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor detects movement and communicates through a Hue Bridge. The Hue system can then activate selected lights or scenes based on motion, daylight level and configured time-of-day settings.

What is included with the Philips Hue Motion Sensor?

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor includes the wireless sensor, two AAA batteries and mounting hardware for flexible indoor placement.

Does the Philips Hue Motion Sensor require a Hue Bridge?

Yes. Philips Hue states that the indoor Motion Sensor requires a Hue Bridge-controlled Hue setup and the Hue app.

Does the Philips Hue Motion Sensor detect daylight?

Yes. The Philips Hue Motion Sensor includes a daylight sensor that can prevent your lights from turning on when the room already has sufficient natural light. The daylight threshold can be configured in the Hue app.

Can the Philips Hue Motion Sensor turn lights off automatically?

Yes. The Philips Hue Motion Sensor can perform an action after motion has not been detected for a configured period, including switching lights off or returning them to a previous scene.

Can the Philips Hue Motion Sensor be used outdoors?

No. This model is designed for indoor use and has an IP42 rating. Philips Hue offers a separate weatherproof Outdoor Motion Sensor for exterior installations.

Why Buy the Philips Hue Motion Sensor?

The Philips Hue Motion Sensor makes Hue lighting more responsive by allowing your lights to react automatically to movement, daylight and the time of day.

Its wireless battery-powered design allows flexible placement without electrical installation, while adjustable sensitivity and daylight thresholds give you control over when automations should activate.

For homes already using a Philips Hue Bridge, the sensor provides a straightforward way to add hands-free lighting to hallways, bathrooms, bedrooms, staircases and other frequently used indoor spaces.