Cannot change color of some smartlife lightbulbs

[Bounceman44]

Hello, since the recent google home update on some specific smart life light bulb models I am unable to to change the color with google assistant or the home app. I can change the color in the W spectrum but not to an RGB color. I can however use the smartlife app to change the color to RGB. I can then ask google to change the color to another RGB color and it will work. If i change the color from RGB to a W color I cannot change it back to a RGB color. When attempting to change from a W color to a RGB color the indicator in google home changes to the RGB color then switches back to the previous W color. Google Assistant does not give any errors when trying to switch from a W color to RGB.

[Juni]

Hi Bounceman44,

Thanks for reaching out and for the details you’ve shared. Try to reboot your Wi-Fi router and your lights. Do the same thing on your mobile phone. If you have Google speakers you can reboot them to refresh. Once done try it again and observe if it makes a difference.

Regards,

Juni

[Bounceman44]

I did as requested and it has made no difference.

[Muddi]

Hey Bounceman44,

Chiming in, let's proceed with removing and relinking your SmartLife account from the Google Home app to refresh the connection of your devices. Once done, ask your Google Home device to sync all your devices and check if the issue has been resolved.

Let me know if that works.

Cheers,

Muddi

[Bounceman44]

This has not fixed the issue.

[Juni]

Hello there,

Got it. Create a new home and link your device there, then observe if this will make a difference. See the steps below on how to create a new home structure.

1. Open the Google Home app .
2. At the top, tap Add .
3. Tap Create new home.
4. Follow the steps.

Note: You can have up to 5 homes in your account.

Thanks,

Juni

[Bounceman44]

I have tried this and the issue still persists.

[Juni]

Hi folks,

Since we are experiencing this issue on the SmartLife App only, have you both had the chance to contact them for awareness? Both of you can also try to factory reset your lights and relink them to the SmartLife app and then to the Google Home app. 

Best,

Juni

[GoogHelp]

Hi, 

Context:

• I have 4 bulbs grouped under a room, and these bulbs are linked from SmartLife App into Google Home App.
• Google Home App lets you change the temperature, brightness, and colors (as a  group of lights or individually). 
• I am able to change all without any issues in the first 2-3 months they were installed... Keep in mind that I was able to do this by either changing it manually through the google Home app on my phone OR Speaking to my pixel phone or speaking to my nest-mini.

Problem:

• Around July 13-18 2023, the color changing capability just stopped working.
• In Google Home App there are two options with each light (or group of lights), First Option is Temprature (which works just fine still, they have pre-set temp colors or sliding scale. The second Option is Color, this is where the problem exists.
• The option to change colors on google home app is still there, BUT:
  • It is stuck on a single color, no matter how much you change the color on the app the end-result is the same color (whether you try to change the lights in a group or individually)
  • Even talking to nest-mini, it will confirm it is now changing light (e.g. "changing lights from Blue to Red")... but the lights don't change either
• Light colors still work because, when you go directly to the SmartLife App, each bulb can still be changed to any color you want... 
• Furthermore, once you change the color from the SmartLife App, THAT will be the default color of the Google Home App will just be fixated/stuck to...
• So essentially, Home App only lets you change to the Temperature option colors, or the last color you chose in the SmartLife app. 
• There must have been a google home update the ruined the integration

What I tried:

• Unlinked devices in google home from SmartLife and relinked it a while later.
• Changing the colors to something neutral in SmartLife and trying again in google Home
• Waited for another update to come through, thinking I am not the only one going through this. 
• Cleared Cache in SmartLife app.

[Juni]

Hi there,

Thanks for reaching out. I know how it feels when something isn’t working as it should. A few question:. what phone are you using (Android or iOS)? What Google Home app version is installed to your phone? Do you have other third party devices linked? If so, are you able to control them?  Try to relink Google Home app and observe if it makes a difference. Using another phone will also help us isolate this.

I look forward to your response.

Regards,

Juni

[Bounceman44]

I am having this exact same issue.
See my thread,
https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Home-Automation/Cannot-change-color-of-some-smartlife-lightbu...

[Juni]

Hi Bounceman44,

Got it. I'll merge this with that thread since it's the same issue. I suggest that you both follow the main thread for updates because this will be locked automatically once merged into that one.

Thanks,

Juni

[Prixxie]

Hi there!

I'm heading the same issues. I tried all of the options listed above.

Any news on an update? All capabilities work fine in smart life app. The connection in Google home just lets me change the temperature. 

Sometimes, if I use the home app on my Google nest display it will change to the color. Sometimes it changes to green. Very odd.

[Prixxie]

*having

[Juni]

Hi Prixxie,

Thanks for posting. Have you had the chance to try the steps provided in this thread? Give it a go and let us know the result by updating this thread.

Regards,

Juni

[Ssirv]

Hi, I have the same issue and have tried everything listed above. Still no resolution…

[Juni]

Hi there,

FightingForPhil, we understand and appreciate your feedback. You can still fill out the form if you are still experiencing this, so we can move on to the next step.

Ssirv, thanks for posting and sorry for the delay. Since the steps didn't work on your end, we'd be happy to take a look into this for you. Please fill out the form provided in this thread with all the needed information.

Thanks,

Juni

[Meowmf]

Hi, I have Tradfri (Ikea) smart bulbs and Gateway : I can change the color in the Google Home App, but when I try to change the color in a routine I have an error message saying this function is not supported.

What I tried : 

I relinked the account with Ikea Smart Home 1, and asked Google Assistant to resync all my devices.

I uninstall and reinstall the bulbs

I tried a custom command in the routine

Nothing of that fixed the problem

My phone is a Pixel7

[Juni]

Hi folks,

GoogHelp and Bounceman44, have you had the chance to try the steps provided in this thread? Give it a try and let us know if it works for you.

Meowmf, thanks for posting and for the details you’ve shared. Is this feature working on your lights? Have you had the chance to contact the manufacturer to seek guidance on whether this feature is supported on their lights?
 

Keep me posted.

Regards,

Juni

[Bounceman44]

Yes I have tried all suggested options, none have worked. I am currently in the proccess of talking to the smartlife devs about the issue.

[Meowmf]

Hi,

Yes, I called the manufacturer, and they say to adress the issue to Google... 

I'm really tired of this : changing the light color is a basic functionality in a smart home automations.  So I tried my routine with the Alexa app this morning, and surprise, it's working. In fact, a lot of my Google routines are bugging, and all of them are working really nice with Alexa. 

[Juni]

Hi folks,

Thanks for the additional info you've shared. We'd be happy to take a look into this for you. Please fill out this form with all the needed information, then let me know once done.

Regards,

Juni

[Bounceman44]

I have filled out this form.

[Juni]

Hi there, 

We got your form — thanks for filling it out. Our team will reach out to you via email to further assist you. Please keep your lines open as they may reach out to you via email anytime soon. 

Best,

Juni

[GoogHelp]

I am using Pixel 7 Android v13

[Bounceman44]

S22 ultra android 13

[FightingForPhil]

Same issue here. Has anybody had any success getting this working? Google will only change to the last colour I used in smart life. 

[Juni]

Hi FightingForPhil,

Thanks for posting. I know how it feels when something isn’t working as it should. Have you had the chance to try the steps provided here? Give it a try and let us know the result by updating this thread?

Regards,

Juni

[FightingForPhil]

Hi Juni- yes, with the exception of trying it on an android phone. I have a Pixel showing up on Monday, so I’ll try that, but it’s strange,  because this always worked before. 

I’ve uninstalled the lights, reinstalled, created a new home, and I’m still haven’t the same issue. The google home app lets me change the white temperature, but when I choose any colour whatsoever, it goes to what I used last in the smart life app. When I use the smartlife app, I have no issues and can change them to any colour. 

[Juni]

Hey there,

Understood. Thanks for the details you’ve shared. Let us know the result when you use your new Pixel phone by updating this thread. 

I look forward to your response.

Thanks,

Juni

[FightingForPhil]

Hi Juni, ok, I have the pixel 8 pro now. All software and updates are done on the phone and the bulbs. Still having the same issue. The bulbs change fine with the smartlife app, but with the Google home app, I can adjust only the temperature. Not the colour. 

[Juni]

Hi everyone,

Understood. Since the steps didn't work on your end, we'd be happy to take a look into this for you. Please fill out this form with all the needed information, then let me know once done.

Best,

Juni

[Juni]

Hi FreeDogs,

We got your form — thanks for filling it out. Our team will reach out to you via email to further assist you. Please keep your lines open as they may reach out to you via email anytime soon. 
 

Regards,

Juni

[FreeDogs]

The issue is still there. I have the same issue. Works in smartlife, works in Alexa, not working with google home. IOS here...but it doesn't work in every other device I have at home. It doesn't work with google home devices too.

I already tried everything in this thread and for me like for many others, everything don't work.

[FreeDogs]

Just to inform you that support reached me out but suggestions are like “restart” or “delete and re-add”. I thought Google was a little bit better than this. Of course nothing is working as it’s a software issue related to an update ad there are hundreds of posts also on reddit. Disappointing.

[Juni]

Hi folks,

DavidF44, we got your form — thanks for filling it out. Our team will reach out to you via email to further assist you. Please keep your lines open, as they may reach out to you via email anytime soon.

FreeDogs, thanks for the details you’ve shared. We suggest that you continue the conversation there so they can continue assisting you properly.

Regards,

Juni

[FightingForPhil]

Yaaaa. That's why I didn't bother filling in the form. Google tech support for known glitches has been less than stellar in the past. I usually find the best course of action is to just wait for them to keep denying they broke anything, while they quietly fix it in the background and say the issue must have been with our networks, or wait for them to just kill whatever product/service they broke. 

Don't get me wrong- I have a pixel phone, pixel ear buds, tons of Google/nest devices, and I don't plan on changing. Every company has issues. Google's pattern and track record for things like this definitely doesn't cause me to want to spend any time troubleshooting though. 

[DavidF44]

Hi same things here. Randomly stopped working with colors, exactly the same way it has been described here, have tried all troubleshooting suggested here. My Halloween colors worked just fine last year. 

Using pixel 6, on Google home, Google mesh home network. Only difference is my bulbs are linked with Lepro Lamps and I can change colors through that app, but automation will not operate withing Google apps. Only thing I haven't done is fill out this form that no one has stated worked either.

[Juni]

Hi DavidF44,

Thanks for the additional information you've shared. We'd be happy to take a look into this for you. Please fill out the form provided in this thread with all the needed information, and then let me know once done.

Thanks,

Juni