- A software update bricked Philips Hue Bridge Pro devices
- The error required a very specific set of circumstances.
- Philips Hue has promised free replacements to affected users
In recent weeks, reports have emerged of bricked Philips Hue Bridge Pro smart home devices and it appears the culprit has now been identified. According to Philips Hue, the glitch was due to a recent software update, but the company has earned praise for what it’s giving customers to make amends.
The problem began in late June when Philips Hue released software update 2071353020, which was intended to include “several small changes” that would improve the product’s operations. However, reports began coming in that the update had caused people’s Hue Bridge Pro devices to crash and become unresponsive entirely.
In a statement to Ars Technica, Philips Hue explained the very specific circumstances that caused the issue: “The issue affects users who disabled automatic software updates, remained on a previous software version for an extended period, and then manually installed a firmware update after the update package had been stored on the Bridge for more than 10 days.”
Additionally, the spokesperson noted that “Our data shows that fewer than 100 Philips Hue Bridge Pro devices have been affected.”
Still, any interruption like this is a pain. If you are affected, you will not only have to wait for a replacement to arrive, but you will also have to reconfigure your lights and settings from scratch. That’s the kind of disturbance made even more irritating by the fact that it occurred after users updated their software, something people are often encouraged to do to get the latest bug fixes and improvements.
Free replacements
While it’s always unpleasant to see a software update brick your device, Philips Hue has received praise for the way it responded. Not only did it issue a fix, but the company promised that “we will replace affected Philips Hue Bridge Pro devices for free, regardless of warranty status.”
The decision has proven popular with Hue owners on Reddit, who noted in a popular thread that it’s a rare example of “a great company actually doing good.” Another comment noted: “Also taking into account RAM prices, bridge costs also increased. Kudos to Philips for this case.”
If you haven’t updated your Philips Hue Bridge Pro in a while and think your device might be vulnerable based on Philips Hue’s description, it might be worth contacting the company before trying to update. The last thing you want is to have a brick product on your hands.
And if you’ve already been affected, don’t look for a replacement device just yet. You may be able to get a free Philips Hue replacement, so be sure to explore that avenue first before spending a dime on something new.
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