App & Smart Control Guide

How to Use the Bright Home Lights App

Connect your controller, choose colors and effects, save presets, automate schedules, and manage supported smart-home integrations from one guide.

  • Presets and schedules
  • WLED-based control
  • Alexa integration guidance

Reviewed August 2026. App labels may vary slightly by app version, controller firmware, and supported integration.

01 · Devices

Connect and manage your controller

The Devices screen is the starting point for each lighting system. A device card shows the controller name, status, power control, and brightness. Local means your phone can reach the controller on the same network; cloud status indicates remote access is available when configured.

  1. Add the controller. Tap Add Device and follow the pairing steps for your network.
  2. Confirm connectivity. Use refresh if the status has not updated after joining Wi-Fi.
  3. Name the device. Choose a recognizable name such as Front Roofline or Patio.
  4. Verify the configuration. Open Edit & Configure to check LED count and segments before saving presets.
Bright Home Lights app Devices screen showing a connected lighting controller
Device cards put status, power, and brightness in one place.
Bright Home Lights app controller edit and configuration screen
Edit the name and controller configuration from the device menu.

02 · Presets

Choose a look or save your own

BHL Presets are ready-made themes organized around accents, events, holidays, and sports. Device Presets are looks saved to your controller for quick reuse.

  • Filter presets by category instead of scrolling through every option.
  • Search by name and favorite the looks you use most often.
  • Preview a preset, then adjust its colors or effect before saving it to the device.
  • Use team themes as a starting point and personalize the palette if needed.
Bright Home Lights app preset library with category filters and lighting themes
Browse BHL presets, device presets, categories, and favorites.

03 · Create

Build a custom lighting scene

The Create area combines three complementary tools. Start with Colors for a clean static look, use Effects & Segments for motion and roofline zones, or use the LED Grid for individual-light control.

Colors

Choose from the color wheel, fill palette slots, and adjust the dedicated white channel on supported RGBW lights.

Effects & Segments

Select an effect and palette, tune speed or intensity, then apply it to the whole system or selected segments.

LED Grid

Select individual LEDs or groups, apply colors, and use quick actions to create more precise patterns.

AI assistance

Describe a mood, event, or team to generate a starting palette, then review and apply it to your lights.

Bright Home Lights app Create screen with color wheel and palette controls
Color wheel, palettes, white channel, and AI theme tools.
Bright Home Lights app effects and roofline segments controls
Effects, palettes, speed, intensity, and segments.
Bright Home Lights app LED grid for selecting individual puck lights
The LED Grid supports individual-light editing.

AI color assist

Turn an idea into a starting palette.

Use a plain-language prompt, review the suggested colors, and apply the result to a compatible effect. You remain in control of the final palette, brightness, and animation.

Bright Home Lights app AI color assistant creating a custom palette

04 · Schedules & automations

Make the right lights turn on at the right time

Schedules run at set times or around sunrise and sunset. Automations can add conditions such as location when supported by your account and device settings.

  1. Open Schedules and create a new entry.
  2. Choose the device, action, preset, days, and time—or select a sunrise/sunset offset.
  3. Add a date range when a schedule should only run for a season or holiday.
  4. Save the entry and confirm its toggle is enabled.
Read the complete schedules guide →
Bright Home Lights app list of lighting schedules
Review and enable saved schedules.
Bright Home Lights app schedule editor with time and repeat controls
Choose the action, timing, repeat days, and date range.
Bright Home Lights app automations screen with location-based options
Use supported automation conditions for more control.

05 · Music sync

Create sound-reactive lighting

Music Sync uses audio input to animate the lights. Choose foreground and background colors, select a visualization style, adjust sensitivity, and start the session. Results depend on the supported controller and the audio environment.

  • Start with moderate sensitivity, then increase it in a quiet room or lower it near speakers.
  • Use contrasting foreground and background colors so movement is easier to see.
  • Stop Music Sync before returning to a normal preset or schedule.
Bright Home Lights app Music Sync setup with colors and visualization controls
Choose colors, visualization mode, and sensitivity.
Bright Home Lights app active sound-reactive music visualization
Monitor the visualization while Music Sync is active.

06 · Account, cloud & integrations

Control lights beyond the local network

A local connection handles everyday control while your phone and controller are on the same network. A configured Bright Home Lights cloud account adds supported remote features such as cross-device access, backup, sharing, automations, and voice-assistant integrations.

Advanced integrations

Home Assistant

Connect compatible WLED devices to a local smart-home installation.

xLights & LEDfx

Use computer-based sequencing or audio-reactive workflows when you need advanced control.

Bright Home Lights app account and cloud subscription screen
Sign in to manage cloud-enabled account features.
Bright Home Lights app integrations screen for smart-home services
Connect supported smart-home and advanced lighting tools.

07 · Personalize & protect

Themes, backups, sharing, and settings

The Settings area holds account controls and quality-of-life features. Select a theme for comfortable viewing, back up important configurations, invite trusted household members, and manage supported home-screen widgets.

  • Themes: choose the visual style that is easiest to read in your environment.
  • Backup & restore: save a known-good configuration before making major controller changes.
  • Device sharing: invite by email and select the appropriate Viewer or Member role.
  • Widgets: create shortcuts for power or frequently used presets when supported by your phone.
Bright Home Lights app theme picker with light and dark interface themes
Choose a light, dark, or branded app theme.
Bright Home Lights app backup and restore controls
Back up and restore important settings.
Bright Home Lights app device sharing screen with member roles
Invite trusted users and manage access.
Bright Home Lights app Settings menu
Find account, themes, integrations, widgets, and help.

Common questions

Bright Home Lights app FAQ

Why does my controller show as offline?

First confirm the controller has power and your phone is on the correct Wi-Fi network. Refresh the Devices screen. If it still does not appear, reopen the pairing guide and verify the controller’s network settings.

Should I configure LED count before creating presets?

Yes. Set the correct LED count and segments first so effects, colors, and saved presets map predictably to the physical installation.

What is the difference between BHL Presets and Device Presets?

BHL Presets are ready-made themes in the app. Device Presets are configurations stored for a specific controller and can include the selected colors, effect, palette, brightness, and segment behavior.

Can I control the lights away from home?

Local control works while your phone can reach the controller on the same network. Remote access requires a configured Bright Home Lights cloud account and a supported connected device.

Can Bright Home Lights work with Alexa or Google Home?

Supported voice-assistant control is provided through BHL Cloud. Follow the current integration guide and confirm that both your cloud account and controller are online.