Intents (advanced)

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.

How do I use 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> com.superthomaslab.hueessentials

Here is an example command to start the FIREPLACE effect in group 3 (one line):

adb shell am broadcast -a com.superthomaslab.hueessentials.START_EFFECT -e BRIDGE_ID 0123456789 -e GROUP_ID 3 -e EFFECT_ID FIREPLACE com.superthomaslab.hueessentials

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 at Hue Essentials > Hue bridges > [YOUR_BRIDGE] > Details > Identifier. (press and hold to copy)

GROUP_ID (String/Int)

The group identifier. You can find this at Hue Essentials > [YOUR_GROUP] > Three dots at top > Details > Identifier. (press and hold to copy)

• If this value is 0 it will target all the lights of your bridge. (supported on Philips Hue / deCONZ only)

SCENE_ID (String/Int)

The scene identifier. You can find this at Hue Essentials > [YOUR_GROUP] > Scenes tab >Three dots of a scene > Details > Identifier. (press and hold to copy)

EFFECT_ID (String)

The effect identifier; effects currently available: AURORA, CHRISTMAS, DATES, DISCO, FIREPLACE, FIREWORKS, LAVA, LEMONS, LIGHTNING, LILAC_LIGHT, PALM_TREE, RAINBOW, SEA, STRAWBERRY_LOVE.

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_ID
• GROUP_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_ID
• SCENE_ID
• GROUP_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_ID
• GROUP_ID
• EFFECT_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_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_ID
• GROUP_ID

Optional extras:

• ON (Boolean) - Switch this group on or off. Can be true (on) or false (off).
• BRIGHTNESS (Int) - Set the brightness of this group. Value must be between 0 (almost off) and 254 (highest brightness). This will only change the brightness of a light if the light is on. This can be used in combination with the ON extra.