How To Connect LED Strip Lights To Mobile Phones? 3 Best Ways

Looking for the best and simplest way to control the LED light with your phone? The great news is you can control them at home using your phone’s Wifi or Bluetooth.

Most of the LED strip lights are compatible with smartphones and other similar devices. This makes using and customizing LED lights more convenient than ever. Some companies offer dedicated mobile apps for easier use. 

This article will offer an in-depth tutorial on how you can connect LED strip lights to your phone-

3 Ways To Connect LED Strip Lights To A Mobile Phone

Controlling LED strip lights with a mobile phone has never been this easy. You can follow these three simple methods to connect and customize the LED lights just by tapping your cellphone-

01. Bluetooth

Bluetooth is the easiest and most conventional way to connect an LED to a phone. As every smartphone has a Bluetooth feature, this method doesn’t face any barriers. The LED light comes with an in-built mobile app that can be installed by scanning the package QR code. Or, you can find the app installation somewhere inside the user manual guide.

After installing the app successfully, turn on your mobile Bluetooth. The app will scan for devices to connect automatically or manually in some cases. After this, a message will show on your phone screen regarding successfully connecting to the device. Then go to customization settings and change the color intensity, LED temperature, or even sync to music if the LED is compatible.

The only challenge you will face regarding Bluetooth connection is distance. You cannot control the LEDs from a far distance, as Bluetooth is only enabled in a 30m radius. Moreover, only one mobile phone can be connected to the LED at the same time. So, if everyone in your family wants to change the light mode, it can create a hassle.

02. Wifi

Using Wifi to connect your LED to your phone is a smart system for residential, commercial, and industrial areas. Unlike the Bluetooth one, multiple devices can be connected to the same LED here. You can learn more in-depth about Wi-Fi-enabled LED here.

EZ Mode

First of all, you need to buy an LED compatible with or enabled for Wifi. Then, install the app using a QR code or manually from the App Store. After signing up for the app, add the LED light to the app by turning on the pairing mode of the controller.

Hold the controller button for at least 3 seconds to turn on pairing. When the LED blinks after holding, it shows the light is ready for pairing. Now you can add the LED to the app by clicking the plus sign on the top right or the middle of the app screen.

The steps mentioned above are the EZ mode of connecting the LED to Wifi. This one is the easiest and simplest one. However, if these steps don’t work on your device, try the AP or access point mode. 

AP Mode

The pairing process is similar to the EZ mode. Hold the controller button until the flashing or blinking of the LED starts. In AP mode, the controller acts as a Wi-Fi hotspot. The important step is to switch to AP mode by clicking on the top-right button in the app. 

Then go to the phone’s Wi-Fi, and click the Wi-Fi LED lights. If no message pop-up notification is shown, you have to confirm the Wi-Fi connection deliberately. 

03. Integrated App

Many premium or high-quality LED lights come with an integrated mobile app. The all-in-one mobile app works as a remote and controller for the LED. All you need is to properly install the app and then create an account with a distinct username and password. 

The app can auto-detect the LED light. Additionally, Bluetooth or Wifi may be required to connect to LED to the device. This creates scope for dynamic lighting customization, music sync with LED, smart home integration, and voice command. 

Benefits Of Connecting LED Lights To Phone

You can wonder why everyone is obsessed with connecting their LED to their phone. Well, there are some extraordinary benefits that a phone connection provides you-

• Convenience 

When an LED is connected to a phone, there is no need for a manual switch or remote. Anyone can easily turn on or off the lights without getting up from the couch or bed. This creates a sense of convenience and comfort for the owner. 

Also, there is no need to reach the switchboard. Users can change the light setting on the go while cooking, watching TV, and studying. 

• Full customization

The integrated apps on the mobile phone have a color cycle where the user can customize from millions of color combinations. There is also an option for creating dynamic effects, thematic color changes, or bringing a party vibe with RGB LED lights. 

As the user can create endless custom presets with just their cellphone, everyone prefers to connect the LED to their phone

• Automation 

Most of the LED lights support automation and scheduling. So, you can set a time when the LED light will change color and turn on/off. This is done easily on a mobile. As a result, you can control your house lighting even while traveling. 

There is also motion activation available in a smart home system. Here, the light only turns on when motion is detected; otherwise, it stays turned off. 

• Energy efficient 

As mentioned in the previous point, opting for automation and scheduling of LED through mobile allows for energy saving. As lights are scheduled for a fixed time, there is no chance of energy wastage. 

Additionally, activating motion sensors in the staircase lighting, hallway, or garage LED fixtures can significantly reduce energy consumption. Overall, providing a sustainable solution for lighting and decoration.

• Music sync 

If you’re hosting a party in your home, a mobile connection with LED comes with a great benefit. You can easily change the lighting mode to a party or schedule one before the event. 

Many high-quality LED light offers a music sync feature. Here, the light changes color and intensity along with the music beat, creating a vibing ambiance for the guests.

Scheduling LED Light With Phone

The fun and most necessary part of connecting the LED light to the mobile phone is scheduling. Let’s see how to schedule an LED light with your phone-

App

Apart from the integrated app that comes with the LED light itself, you can download third-party apps to schedule the lights. For instance, Tuya Smart, Smart Life, Magic Home, and Philips Hue are some of the popular lighting assistant apps. They help to customize and set the time for the light.

The steps are pretty easy. Once you open the desired application, in the settings, there is a schedule or timer option. Click that button and set the color and lighting period. This is similar to setting alarms on the mobile clock. Moreover, you can save the schedule and use it repeatedly. 

There is also a color and mode customization facility in the app. Suppose you set up a dramatic or bold color simulation and save it for movie time. Next time, when you’re watching a movie, just click the saved option. 

Voice Command

If your mobile supports voice command activation, then set up some phrases and link them with your LED system. For example, if the voice commands good morning, then the living room lights will turn on. In contrast, with the goodnight voice command, the bedroom light will be dimmed to a fixed intensity. 

Voice commands are also useful in the case of an emergency. When you’re in a hurry or running late to the office, a simple goodbye command can be set up to turn off all the home lights. This also saves energy. 

AI Assistant 

Google Assistant,  Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, Samsung Bixby, and Cortana, all these popular and globally used AI assistants, can schedule the LED light in your home. You can set a routine for reading time and movie time in these assistants. 

Some advanced AI assistants can read the outside weather and temperature and generate custom mood lighting compatible with the owners. 

Connecting LED Strip To Phone: Common Issues And Solutions

Although an LED strip connected to a phone provides immense benefits to the owner, some issues can appear. Some common issues people face while connecting an LED to their phone, with solutions-

• The wifi connection of the LED may appear as a failed connection. The reason behind this failed connection is that most LEDs don’t support 5Ghz networks. You need to separate the 2.4GHz band, which the LED strip supports.
• In some cases, the app can search and be unable to find the LED light. This can be due to a Bluetooth disabled area or improper installation of the app. Enable your mobile Bluetooth to stay in enabled mode until you change it. 
• The app’s schedule does not work properly. This can be due to the wrong timezone selected in your app. Change the time format and check the time zone according to your local time.
• Finally, another common issue that arises is the app not connecting to the LED light. The solution is to avoid third-party apps and only install the apps that come with packaging or a manual guide. 
• If you follow the steps correctly and still get no connection, then reset your LED. Here is how you can do it.

Conclusion

To wrap up, the simplest way to connect an LED light to a phone is via Bluetooth, wifi, and an integrated mobile app. Bluetooth works best for short distances and as a temporary solution. Whereas wifi controlled and mobile apps are best for scheduling different custom lighting presets. It is essential to invest in a good-quality LED light for easy connection and automation. 

However, if you want the best strip lights, contact MylikeLED for premium LEDs on a decent budget. Also, our after-sales services and on-time delivery are popular among worldwide consumers. 

FAQ

Do all LED lights connect to phones?

No, only the smart LED lights are able to connect to a phone. The packaging comes with a specific label such as “Wifi enabled” or “Bluetooth compatible”. The traditional or only wired LED lights cannot be connected and controlled through the phone.

Why won’t my LED connect to my phone?

There are many reasons why your LED isn’t connecting to the phone. Some common issues are using a 5GHz wifi band, using a third-party app, not enabling Bluetooth properly, and finally, the controller not being activated in pairing mode.

How to put LED lights in pairing mode?

To put the LED light controller in pairing mode, hold the reset or power button on the controller for 3-5 seconds. The LED light must be turned on beforehand. Then you’ll see the blinking of the LED light, which is a signal that the light is in pairing mode now.

What app is used to control LED lights?

Although many LED company offers an in-built app, it may not work properly. Some of the most popular and common apps used to control LED lights are Tuya Smart, Govee Home, Philips Hue, Nanoleaf, and SmartThings.