I did some research over the weekend and spent a couple hours with tech support from Phillips hue. I FINALLY got them working. Lucky me got a one off issue.....like usual. Here is the issue and the solution should anyone else be experiencing the same thing now or in the future.
The issue arose from the release of the "new" Google Home app (new being relative as the app was updated in October-isj) that was an overhaul of the original. This caused an error in the Phillips Hue activations for the Google Home devices and Google Home app, the activations that allow the Google Home devices to have access to control the lights. When the new Google Home app was released, these activations were to carry over. There was an error when these activations were carried over, for some reason. This allowed me to link the Phillips Hue lights to the Google Home app but not actually able to control them through any Google Home device or app, even after multiple factor resets and account relinks to home. This is beacuse even though my account was activated in teh app, the individual Google Home devices were not correctly activated to allow control. The same went for the actual control of the lights in the Google Home app, I could only see they were added but not control them. These activations are stored to you account Phillips Hue account. So even if you factory reset the Google Home devices, reinstalling the Google Home app, and/or relink your Phillips Hue account to the Google Home app, the activations will just get pulled from your account where they are stored instead of creating new ones.
No Idea why they would set it up that way and not just generate a new code each time the Phillips Hue account is linked. Im sure there is a reason why though.
Here is the solution to the problem.
1. Go to your Google Home app and delink your Phillips Hue account from the Google Home App.
- Account>Settings>Assistant>Home Control>+ (Plus sign in bottom right corner)>Phillips Hue>Unlink
2. Deactivate bad Phillips Hue activation codes for Google Home devices on Phillips Hue account
- This is done at the followiong link https://account.meethue.com/apps
- Remove all codes except for known working codes. My lights were working with the Phillips Hue app, so I did not remove that code, the rest were linked to the devices I had. The remaining devices are not easily identified as they all merely said Google and gave the device ID. Due to this, I deactivated all Google Home devices in a catch all move. It should be noted that 3 devices did have Null in the spot where activation codes should have been. I suspect those were the bad one
3. Relink Phillips Hue account to Google Home app
- Account>Settings>Assistant>Home Control>+ (Plus sign in bottom right corner)>Phillips Hue>Unlink
4. Force close Google Home app and reopen it
At this time, if the lights are set up in the Phillips Hue app, they will appear on the Google Home app and will be able to be controlled through it. Additionally, voice command of the Phillips Hue lights through Google Home devices returns.
Hopefully this may help someone out there. I waited months to get a resolution and did multiple factory resets to get this simple solution. Not to mention the time spent with both Phillips Hue and Google technical support. This is a one off issue, I was told this never should have happened. At least they have a method to fix it thats simple. I just wish they whole activation code system was either more explained better. I didnt even know I could find them and device codes were not created but carried over. it didnt seem like the staff knew of it either that much because several techs never even mentioned doing this process. Just linking and relink, paired with factory resets.
post edited by Tyver - 2018/12/31 15:02:36