How Does Smart Lighting Work? Bulbs, Switches, Hubs and Apps Explained
Last updated: 12 October 2026
Quick answer: Smart lighting works in three layers. First, a smart bulb, smart light or smart switch that has its own electronics. Second, a wireless link to your phone: Wi-Fi or Bluetooth straight to the device, or Zigbee through a hub that connects to your home Wi-Fi. Third, an app or voice assistant that sends the commands. A smart bulb or smart light controls one light, while a smart switch controls every light wired to it.
The three layers: device, connection and control
Every smart lighting setup has a device, a connection and a control, and the connection decides whether you need a hub.
- Device. A smart bulb, smart light or smart switch contains a small radio and circuit that receive a command and then switch or dim the light.
- Connection. The radio uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Zigbee, covered in the sections below.
- Control. An app on your phone, a voice assistant, or both. The Mausklick Series β Smart Switch listing, for example, states “Timer, scheduling and automation to toggle on / off using iAppliances App”.
Smart bulb vs smart switch vs smart light: what each one controls
A smart bulb or smart light controls only itself, while a smart switch controls every light wired to it. The table compares the three.
| Smart bulb | Smart switch | Smart light (whole fitting) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you replace | The bulb | The wall switch | The light fitting |
| What it controls | That bulb | Every light wired to that switch | That fitting |
| Wiring work | None if it fits your existing holder | Yes, it connects to your home’s wiring | Installed like any new fitting |
| Watch for | A wall switch left off cuts its power | Whether it needs a neutral wire, and whether it needs a hub | A wall switch left off cuts its power |
| Example on our site | SUNSHINE Smart LED Bulb β 10W (E27, Wi-Fi) | Mausklick Series β Smart Switch | HaloPro Duo Smart Surface Spotlight 24W; Dahlia Recessed Smart Downlight 12W Round 3-Tone |
A smart bulb suits a lamp or a single fitting where you do not want to touch the wiring. A smart switch suits a room where several lights share one switch. A smart light suits a fitting you are installing anyway, such as during a renovation. Whether a smart switch needs a neutral wire depends on the model, and our guide to smart switches without a neutral wire explains how to check. Browse our Smart Switch and Smart Lighting categories.
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or a hub: how the connection works
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices generally connect straight to your phone or router, while Zigbee devices connect through a hub that links them to your home Wi-Fi.
| Connection | What our listings state | In general |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi | SUNSHINE Smart LED Bulb: “Featuring built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, it requires no hub”; “Remote control via mobile app” | Joins your home router the way a phone does and is controlled from the maker’s app |
| Bluetooth | Dahlia Recessed Smart Downlight: “Smart Bluetooth Control” | A short-range link between your phone and the light, so the phone generally needs to be nearby |
| Zigbee through a hub | Mausklick Series β Smart Switch: “A zigbee hub is required”; “Control from anywhere”. HaloPro Duo: “Connects to Zigbee hub” | Devices talk to the hub, and the hub talks to your Wi-Fi |
With Bluetooth, your phone needs to be nearby, so it is commonly used for one room rather than a whole home. The Dahlia listing names Bluetooth control and does not mention a hub or how several lights are grouped, so ask us before you order for a whole room. The SUNSHINE listing states it supports “2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only (not compatible with 5 GHz networks)”, so check that your router offers a 2.4 GHz network before buying a Wi-Fi bulb. Our guide to the MOWE smart kitchen covers Wi-Fi hobs and hoods controlled from a phone app.
Do you need a Zigbee hub, and where does it go?
You need a Zigbee hub when the devices you choose are Zigbee devices, so check the listing for the exact model. The Mausklick listing states “A zigbee hub is required”, and the HaloPro Duo listing states that the light “Connects to Zigbee hub” and is adjusted “through a mobile App or voice assistant Apps like Alexa or Google Home”.
A hub is, in the words of our installation page, “a separate unit that links Zigbee devices to your home network and phone app”. The Wireless Smart Gateway (MW803Z, MOWE) listing describes the same job: “Acts as a communication bridge between smart devices connected by Zigbee and Wi-Fi in the smart home ecosystem.” Its specifications list 2.4G Wi-Fi and Zigbee 3.0. Place a hub where it has a good Wi-Fi signal and sits close to the Zigbee devices it controls, because walls and distance weaken wireless signals; ask us if your home is large or has several floors. The Mausklick and HaloPro Duo listings do not name a specific gateway, so confirm which one suits the devices you choose before you order.
If you would rather buy the hub together with the switches, the Smart Home System Package listings (Basic, Standard and Premium) in our Smart Home Package category each list a gateway described as “Central hub to connect and control all smart devices” and each state “Create scenes like βHomeβ, βAwayβ, or βSleep Modeβ”.
What happens when the Wi-Fi or power goes off
A power cut switches a smart light off like any other light; without Wi-Fi, what still works depends on the product and the app. Control from outside your home and voice commands generally need an internet connection, because the commands pass through the online service of the app or voice assistant. A smart bulb or smart light cannot be controlled while its wall switch is off, so leave that switch on. After a power cut, whether a light comes back on, stays off or returns to its last setting depends on the product. Ask us about the exact model if it must keep working without Wi-Fi.
Planning it: wiring and renovation timing
Smart bulbs that fit your existing holders need no wiring change, but smart switches and smart lights are easiest to plan before the walls and ceilings are closed. If you are renovating, decide where the smart switches and any hub go before the electrician starts; our lighting plan for renovation guide lists what to decide. Fitting a smart switch means working on your home’s wiring, so have a professional do it.
Send us your floor plan
Send your floor plan to our light specialist, who can assess it and recommend how many fittings each space needs. Tell us which rooms you want to control and whether you are renovating. To plan switches, lights and fans together, see our smart home page. Our installation service page has a smart home section headed “Make it smart while the walls are open”. You can also see products in person at one of our 5 showrooms; call the branch first to check what is on display.
FAQ
How does smart lighting work?
Smart lighting works in three layers: a device with its own electronics, a wireless link to your phone, and an app or voice assistant that sends the commands. The link is Wi-Fi or Bluetooth straight to the device, or Zigbee through a hub that connects to your home Wi-Fi.
Do smart lights need a hub?
Zigbee devices do; others depend on the product. The Mausklick Series β Smart Switch listing states “A zigbee hub is required” and the HaloPro Duo listing states that it “Connects to Zigbee hub”, while the SUNSHINE Smart LED Bulb β 10W (E27, Wi-Fi) listing states that it “requires no hub”. Read the listing for the exact model.
What is the difference between a smart bulb and a smart switch?
A smart bulb replaces the bulb and controls that one light. A smart switch replaces the wall switch and controls every light wired to it. It connects to your home’s wiring, so a professional should fit it, and your switch box may need a neutral wire.
Can I control smart lights with Alexa or Google Home?
Some can, so check the listing for the assistant you use. The Mausklick Series β Smart Switch listing states it “Works well with Google Home”, the HaloPro Duo listing names “Alexa or Google Home”, and the SUNSHINE Smart LED Bulb listing names “Alexa / Google Assistant”.
Do smart lights still work if the Wi-Fi or power goes off?
A power cut switches a smart light off like any other light. Without Wi-Fi, it depends on the product, but control from outside your home and voice commands generally need an internet connection. A smart bulb or smart light cannot be controlled while its wall switch is off, and whether it comes back on after a power cut depends on the product, so ask us about the exact model.
Written by the Lighting Hub team, Since 2009.
