QUICK SUMMARY
Philips Hue is offering free Bridge Pro replacements to customers affected by a recent firmware update issue, regardless of whether their device is still under warranty.
Philips Hue has confirmed that it will replace a select number of Hue Bridge Pro units affected by a recent firmware update issue, after users reported that their devices became completely unresponsive.
At the time, Philips Hue advised affected users to get in touch and apply for a replacement under warranty. Now, the company has confirmed that it will replace every affected unit free of charge, regardless of its warranty status.
Philips Hue hasn't yet provided a specific timeline for when the free replacement units will be sent out, although it continues to process affected cases as more reports come in.
Philips Hue told Ars Technica that the issue appears to be limited to users who had switched off automatic updates and were running older firmware for some time. The problem was reportedly triggered when an update that had already been downloaded to the Bridge was manually installed more than 10 days later, outside the device's usual update window.
Unfortunately, getting a replacement won't necessarily make the whole process seamless. Anyone affected will still need to set up their best Philips Hue lights, scenes and automations again from scratch, which could be a headache if you've spent a while building your setup.
