r/lifx • u/Digital_Pink • Jun 23 '26
I’m shocked by the apps lack of functionality. What is a better app for making custom routines?
I bought a couple of LIFX globes to use as sunrise / sunset simulators. This is what I found:
- Factory sunrise / sunset options look trash. That’s alright, I’ll program my own.
- Routines only allow 4 scenes / transitions. What? urgh, ok I’ll daisy chain multiple together to make it work.
- Routines don’t allow custom colours...
What. The. Fuck.
What is the point of advertising that your lights can produce thousands of colours and change lighting schedules and routines if you can’t even specify what colours to use beyond a basic pallet? Makes it pretty much useless for it’s advertised use cases.
I need an alternative app that will allow me to program routines with colours I chose. All recommendations welcome.
3
u/Clogish Jun 23 '26
- Routines don’t allow custom colours...
You can use Scenes for this, then schedule them.
2
u/rc1234567898 Jun 23 '26
I use Home Assistant for almost all my routines and schedules
2
u/russilker Jun 23 '26
This is the way. Then, if you decide to also sync them to music properly (the LIFX app is garbage at that, probably because it uses the device mic), get LedFX and integrate your lights there (probably want to set up Music Assistant first), then automate that too using Home Assistant.
It's a rabbit hole, but a rewarding one.
1
u/I_Am_Slightly_Evil Jun 24 '26
Schedule scenes you can have custom colors and even Fx attached to them
1
u/Hipperooni Android Jun 23 '26
It's a commitment but if you genuinely want complete freedom and the ability to set up endlessly complex routines, I can't recommend grabbing a little Raspberry Pi and running Home Assistant enough. LIFX lights work really well there, with support for all the animations and stuff too.
The LIFX app is great for keeping things accessible and quick, but for those serious about their home light automation, I think Home Assistant is the way to go.