# LIFX — The Official LIFX App

> App for controlling WiFi-enabled smart lights with advanced features and automation. (iPhone/iPad app by LIFX.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifx/id657758311 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [LIFX](https://appshunter.io/developer/657758314)
- Category: Lifestyle, Utilities
- Price: Free
- Rating: 3.70/5 from 7,070 App Store ratings · 698 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 298 MB
- Languages: American English, Dutch, French (France), German (Germany), Italian, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Spanish
- Released: 2013-11-18
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifx/id657758311/reviews.md

## What is LIFX?

Like you, LIFX wants smarter light. This means we care about the way you control your smart lights, as much as we do about the lights themselves. We make it easy to get started with WiFi-enabled, bright, colorful smart lights that need no hub. Yep, you can start with just one device.

LIFX App 4 can not only help give you the best start, but will turn your experience “up to 11”. Automate your wake up Schedule, or set up your movie-watching Scene (then set up voice control so you don’t even have to leave the sofa), or play with Effects next time you’re entertaining. 

Features.
The LIFX app is packed full of features like:

- The Basics: on/off, dim, change color, change white temperature.
- Groups: control all lights in a group easily, including on/off and dimming with one touch from the Home Dashboard.
- Group personalization: choose a LIFX illustration to suit or personalize Group cards with your own pictures. 
- Schedules: automate your lights to fade, change color, and turn on/off, all visible in an easy calendar-style view.
- Effects: play with special effects like the music visualizer, fire, move, candle flicker, strobe, color cycle & more, all in one place.
- Scenes: set your lighting just the way you like it and save it for later.
- Themes: a library of one click color combinations for a Group, from ‘Proud’ to ‘Soothing’.
- Paint: with your finger in the app, paint color live onto your LIFX Z, Beam, Tile and Candle.
- Custom color palettes: add your favorite colors to a custom color palette.
- Discover Tab: find How To guides, learn about integration partners, or shop for LIFX
- and much more.

Example uses from our customers:

- Ambiance: schedule warmer light in the evening - to calm - and whiter light in the morning - to energize.
- “Moccupancy”: set irregular schedules to make it seem like you’re home when you’re not.
- Sleep: set your bedroom lights to deep red just before bed to produce more melatonin which helps you get better quality sleep.
- Stay put: you’ve settled into the sofa for a streaming binge but left the lights on. No need to jump up to the switch, just ask your voice assistant.
- Pet owners: if you're unexpectedly late home from work, turn the lights on for your dog from wherever you are.
- Silent notifications: use partner apps to give you a light flash if… your car is arriving, or the forecast says it will rain, or you are mentioned on social media, and much more.

HomeKit
Best color-changing smart bulb for HomeKit cnet 
Pairing LIFX with Apple HomeKit is easy using the HomeKit onboarding QR code available in the product packaging.

Stay in touch.
Need a helping hand, or want to offer us some advice? We would love to hear from you about your LIFX experience. You can reach us at support@lifx.com.
LIFX lights are available at lifx.com

## Key features

- Basic light control (on/off, dim, color, temperature)
- Group lights for easy management
- Automated schedules and scenes
- Special lighting effects (music visualizer, fire, etc.)
- Live color painting on compatible lights
- Custom color palettes
- HomeKit integration

## What do users think of LIFX?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 🌟 Excellent color quality and brightness
- 🔍 Customizable lighting effects and scenes
- 🔌 Easy setup and connectivity
- 📱 Responsive and intuitive app
- 🤖 Good integration with smart home platforms

**Cons**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues and unreliable performance
- 🤯 Confusing and cluttered app UI
- 🔄 Frequent app and firmware updates breaking functionality
- 🤖 Poor integration with smart home platforms
- 🕰️ Scheduling and automation issues

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Lights randomly disconnecting from app
- Scenes and effects not working as expected
- Scheduling issues and lights not responding to timers
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Frequent app crashes and freezes

**Most requested features**

- More granular control over individual lights
- Improved scene and effect customization
- Better scheduling and automation options
- Seamless integration with smart home platforms
- Simplified onboarding and setup process

## Recent user reviews (10 of 698)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lifx/id657758311/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Always disconnects

*2026-08-22, version 4.96.0*

This thing will not stay connected for more than a week and wants a QR code from the original package to reconnect.. bottom line it’s garbage

### 2/5 — Heats up phone and drains battery like crazy

*2026-08-13, version 4.96.0*

Heats up phone and drains battery like crazy if left open.

### 1/5 — Poor update

*2026-08-13, version 4.96.0*

I don’t like that now this app requires me to give them more information by forcing users to download I home and turn on iCloud.

### 2/5 — Almost

*2026-08-03, version 4.94.0*

One of the worst apps for getting lights to work in conjunction with one another when inline. 1. App has a MANAGE button but all you can do is rename something you’ve added. You can’t delete a string and just begin again. This is basic and should be much simpler. It’s not. Also, there’s no “SAVE” button on settings. Making the app more useless. I have two 12 light strings and they completely reset to different colors and effects, no matter what I do. I’ve had these a month and the app is 0 outta 10 for intuitiveness. 0 out of 10 for support. Like the product. But I can tell why these aren’t flying off the shelf. Fix it. Stop thinking everyone is an engineer.

### 2/5 — LIFX Switch is the LIFXApp

*2026-07-22, version 4.94.0*

This is not a smart switch. It’s a scam designed to lock you into the app.
The HomeKit setup process works just far. You get through the pairing, it shows up, and the basic setup features appear to complete. Then it completely fails to work properly with Any smart home ecosystem. You can’t even program the buttons or create scenes in Apple HomeKit, SmartThings, or Amazon Alexa…Controls don’t respond reliably, and you’re left with a switch that only functions the way LIFX wants it to — inside their own app.
If you want a smart wall switch that is only meant to look good, that’s about all this is good for. If you’re happy living entirely inside the LIFX app and don’t care about native HomeKit, Siri, or smart Home integration, then this might be fine for you. For everyone else, it’s a deliberate bait-and-switch. They advertise smart-home compatibility, give you just enough of the setup flow to feel official, then force you onto their proprietary app to actually use the product.
Save your money.

### 1/5 — Doesnt work anymore?

*2026-07-15, version 4.93.0*

Strong WiFi, powered on, bulbs keep disconnecting and now I cannot get them to reconnect.

### 2/5 — heats up phone

*2026-07-14, version 4.93.0*

When open or left open, app will often increase temperature of phone. as soon as it's closed, temperatures return to normal.  needs to highlight the active saved scene also.

### 4/5 — Still need Routines for Switch Backlights and matter upgrade function no longer working

*2026-07-08, version 4.93.0*

We need to be able to schedule the brightness and color of switches I don’t need bright blue at night. 

After the latest update I am no longer able to load my list of matter devices in the app it gives the “unable to fetch” error

### 4/5 — Mixed feelings

*2026-07-06, version 4.93.0*

This app is great and it’s also not so great bad.  It’s not just the app’s fault It’s connection issues, router issues.
It forces me to problem solve.

### 2/5 — Laggy

*2026-07-04, version 4.93.0*

IT NEVER CONNECTS

## Frequently asked questions about LIFX

### What does the LIFX app do?

The LIFX app allows you to control your LIFX WiFi-enabled smart lights. You can turn lights on/off, adjust brightness, change colors and white temperatures, group lights, and create custom schedules and scenes.

### What are the key features of the LIFX app?

Key features include basic light control, group management, automated schedules, dynamic lighting effects like music visualizers, saving custom scenes, painting colors live onto compatible lights, and creating custom color palettes. It also supports HomeKit integration.

### Is the LIFX app free to use?

The LIFX app is free to download and use. While the app itself is free, it is designed to control LIFX smart lights, which are a separate purchase. There are no in-app purchases mentioned for app functionality.

### What devices is the LIFX app compatible with?

The app is designed to control LIFX WiFi-enabled smart lights. It is compatible with Apple HomeKit, allowing for easy integration with Apple devices. Specific light models like LIFX Z, Beam, Tile, and Candle are mentioned for certain features.

### How can I use the LIFX app for ambiance and sleep?

You can use the app to create custom schedules that adjust light color and temperature throughout the day. For example, set warmer, calming light in the evening to aid relaxation and sleep, and brighter, whiter light in the morning to energize. You can also save these as specific 'Scenes'.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.96.0 — 2026-08-12

Various bug fixes and stability improvements

### 4.94.0 — 2026-07-15

Various bug fixes and stability improvements

### 4.93.0 — 2026-06-26

Various bug fixes and stability improvements

### 4.92.1 — 2026-06-20

Various bug fixes and stability improvements

### 4.92.0 — 2026-06-16

Various bug fixes and stability improvements

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*