What has changed in Philips Hue firmware 1.164.2?
Philips Hue's own lamp release notes for 5 October 2026 list four changes for lights on hardware platform 100b-129: bug fixes and stability improvements, support for Matter 1.4.1, support for Matter Apple adaptive lighting, and support for Zigbee and Matter concurrency in bridgeless mode. Hue does not publish further detail on any of them.
Hueblog says the 100b-129 platform covers every device with a built-in Matter-over-Thread chip: all of this year's new products, plus the E27 bulbs and GU10 spots from autumn 2025. Hue previewed the concurrency feature in June 2026 as an update promised for later in the year, so this is that update arriving.
| Change in 1.164.2 | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Zigbee and Matter concurrency | A bulb can stay on the Hue Bridge over Zigbee while also joining a Matter network over Thread |
| Matter 1.4.1 | Newer Matter specification revision on the bulb side |
| Apple adaptive lighting over Matter | Colour temperature shifts through the day for bulbs added to Apple Home via Matter |
| Bug fixes and stability | No specifics published |
Why does this matter for Home Assistant users?
For most Home Assistant users it changes little today, because the Bridge route is still the more complete way to control Hue lights. Hueblog sees "likely no advantage" to a direct Thread link for control, since nearly all Hue products already reach Matter through the Bridge.
The practical gain is range. Hueblog notes that constantly powered lights can help extend a Thread network to devices farther away, which suits anyone building out a mesh as described in our Thread smart home guide. Mains-powered bulbs make better Thread routers than battery sensors, so a few updated Hue bulbs can quietly strengthen coverage.
It also makes the setup order less rigid. Hueblog says a light already paired over Matter and Thread should be easier to add to a Hue Bridge later, so you can start bridgeless and add a Hue Bridge when you outgrow it. If you do run Home Assistant with Matter, our Matter setup guide covers commissioning, and our Matter devices guide explains what the standard does and does not cover.
Which Hue bulbs get the update, and which don't?
Only lights built on the 100b-129 platform, meaning bulbs with a Thread radio, are covered. Hueblog's June report names the Hue Essentials GU10 and E27 lamps, the current-generation E27 bulbs, the E12/E14 candle bulbs and the Hue Slim recessed lights as products with Matter over Thread. Older Zigbee-only bulbs are not affected, and Hueblog reports earlier lamp generations will not get firmware updates for this.
The firmware rolls out gradually, with no schedule published. Hue bulbs normally update through the Hue app, so check the app for a pending update rather than expecting it to appear instantly.
What do we not know yet?
Several details are unconfirmed. Hueblog's author describes the concurrency feature as an assumption and says Hue does not explain how "bridgeless mode" behaves once a bulb is also on a Bridge. Hue also has not said whether Apple Home can deliver the update to a bulb that was never set up in the Hue app, or how many Thread controllers a single bulb can join.
Treat any claim about backup Zigbee coordination or automatic failover as speculation: that idea appeared only in reader comments, not in anything Hue has announced. If you want to test the feature, update one bulb first rather than a whole house. Our Hue Bridge Pro price rise article explains the cost of the Bridge route if you are weighing the two.
Should you update your Hue bulbs now?
Yes, if you are on the Bridge and nothing is broken, it is a low-risk stability update that you can accept automatically. Wait if you rely on a carefully tuned Thread network, because adding extra Thread routers can change how devices route. Nothing in the release notes forces a change to your Home Assistant setup, and there is no UK-specific price or availability issue: it is free firmware.
