Have you lost the remote control to your LED Lights?
Or maybe you want a more convenient way to turn them on and off, or adjust them.
Whatever the reason, you’ve come to the right place!
Keep reading to find out.
- 5 quick steps to pair your LED lights with an app.
- 3 easy ways you can turn on LED lights without a remote.
- Whether it’s possible to use a smart switch to control your LED lights.
- And many more….
How to turn on LED lights without a remote?
To turn on LED lights without a remote, you need to manipulate their power source. Plugging it in and out is the easiest way. Another way is to control the LED lights through an app. Using smart switches can also be a long-term fix.
3 ways to turn on LED lights without a remote
#1: Use a power supply adapter
This is not rocket science. Just like any other appliance out there, you can simply use the plug to turn your LED lights on and off.
Most LED strip lights, upon installation, are connected to a power adapter and controller.
Sometimes, it’s also attached to a switch. Right next to the electrical switches of the main lights.
If you have them connected to a switch, then turning them on and off without a remote is not much of a problem.
If not, then you just have to exert an extra effort to get to the electric socket to plug it in out whenever you need to.
“Wait, mine doesn’t have a power supply adapter.”
If that is the case, you need to be a bit of an electrician here.
But, don’t worry, it’s pretty easy.
Step 1: Remove the strip receiver.
“What is that?”
Your LED lights circuit has different parts. One of them is the receiver.
It’s responsible for getting the signals from your remote. Using a digital signal, you’re able to control the intensity of your LED lights and change their colors.
The receiver is only present in LED circuits that can be dimmed and can change colors. And also with LED Lights that use remote controls.
The controller is the part that separates the light strips and the power supply.
Step 2: Connect the wires to the power supply adapter
The power supply adapter is responsible for regulating the voltage that goes through the circuit.
The voltage from the wall sockets is too much for a low-voltage light setup.
Now, you have to make sure that you’re using the right power supply adapter.
Otherwise, you might overload the circuit with a voltage too high. Or the other way around: it might not light up to its intended intensity.
To be sure, properly read manuals and labels.
Basically, what you need to do is to bypass the controller. You don’t have a remote anymore, so that is basically useless now.
Don’t worry, if by some magical event you find your remote again, just put the controller back in the circuit. Your lights should be back to their normal operation.
Note: This is a temporary fix. You won’t be able to control your lights like before. Taking out the controller means the LED lights are back to its default settings. No dimming. No other colors. Just plain white (or whatever color your lights are in).
#2: Use the app
“Oh wow, there’s an app?”
Yup.
Around the third time that my LED lights’ remote was stuck in some blackhole, I found out about this.
How?
Well, out of desperation I tried to dig for the manual in my drawer.
The lights were blinding me and I couldn’t stand them anymore so I was determined to find a way.
All this time, there was an app where I could control the LED lights with. Turns out, it was even better than the remote.
There was a feature where it can sync to the beats of the music I was playing on my phone.
Cool, right?
Now if you want to do that…
All you have to do is to check for app compatibility:
- Check the manual.
- If a manual is not available anymore, run a quick google search.
- Just type your LED lights model and add the word “app” behind it. If the search results show an app suggestion, that’s likely the one. Read descriptions and reviews to be sure.
If your lights are compatible with an app…
Step 1: Download the app.
Just click on the Google result with the download icon. This will automatically take you to either the Play Store or the Apple Store. Apps are model-specific so make sure you download the right one for your lights.
Step 2: Connect the app to the light.
There will be instructions on the app itself on how to do everything.
If your lights are not compatible with an app…
Don’t worry. We are at the point in technological advancement where there is an app for everything. This just costs a bit of money.
Step 1: Purchase a smart LED controller.
What it does is make your LED lights “smart”. By connecting to a wi-fi network, you can now control the brightness and intensity of your LED lights. Not only that, but you can also play with the colors.
Step 2: Attach the adapter to the strip receiver or to the power supply.
Remember, the existing strip receiver is for the remote. Since you want to control the lights using an app, you need to use an adapter to add that feature.
You may completely remove the strip connector. Leaving it there won’t change anything either. Your call.
Using the 4-pin connector that comes with the product, connect the adapter to the strip lights.
Step 3: Download the Magic Home App.
Step 4: Connect your phone to the wi-fi network of the controller.
The wi-fi credentials are on the box.
Step 5: On the app, connect to the controller as well via a direct connection.
Just tap on “LED strip” on the device tab.
This automatically puts the app in “hotspot mode” Alternatively, you can also use your wi-fi at home. Just change the settings on the app.
The wi-fi feature only works with 2.4GHz networks, and not on 5G.
The app is available in both the Apple Store and the Play Store. Aside from selecting colors and dimming your lights, you can also:
- Sync the lights to the beat of the music on your phone.
- Set a timer so the lights turn off automatically.
- Use voice control (with Alexa or Google Home).
To know how to use Alexa or Google Home with the wi-fi controller, watch here:
Interesting fact: Some remote controls don’t work when the device is not in their line of sight. For example, you have to direct the remote to the ceiling to turn on the LED lights. On the other hand, some remotes can control a device even if it’s in another room.
The reason for the difference is the technology used. Infrared can’t go through objects, it needs a clear line of sight. Radio frequency can go through walls.
#3: Use a smart switch
With this one, you can do all of the things that the steps above will let you.
Smart remote switches let you turn on and off the lights. Because just like way #1, you will be working with a switch.
And like way #2, this also involves apps.
There are many types of light switches. The far more advanced ones allow you to remotely control your home lights.
Meaning, this solution is not just for your LED lights. You can wire the entire home in a remote-controlled network if you want.
So if you’re on a vacation in Hawaii, you can turn on the lights at home. Just because you want to.
If you like this idea, you can try the Belkin WeMo Wifi Smart Switch.
Aside from the ability to control your lights from Hawaii, there are more features.
You can randomize your lights at home. This will trick any onlooker that the house is not empty. That is an added layer of protection.
Plus, you can also schedule your lights. As a result, you will never go home to a dark garage.
Despite the special features, installing a smart switch does not require special skills.
Don’t believe me?
Check out the steps:
Step 1: Make sure the power is off.
You have to turn off the main power source at home because you will be moving wires and uninstalling fixtures.
To make sure the power is off, turn on all the lights, then flip the main breaker off.
Step 2: Connect the lights to a new switch.
This step involves replacing the old switches with the ones you just bought.
This means that if your LED lights didn’t have a switch before, you will connect them to a switch now.
To do so, you have to unscrew the old switch plate. Once the wires are exposed, connect the wires to your LED strip lights.
If your LED lights had a switch before, just cut off the connection to the old one.
Wire the new switch. Then, screw the new switch plate properly in place.
Step 3: Install the receiver.
Just like the steps before, you need to add a special receiver to the existing circuit.
Read the manual to be sure. Although, basically, it’s just matching colors. Once that is done, you are not ready to…
Step 4: Set up the remote.
But before that, turn the power back on first.
How to turn on and set up your remote will depend on the switch you’re going to use.
Once you turn it on, make sure to test out all features. This way, you can return the item immediately if one of the promised features is not working.
If you can live without a remote control for your LED lights, you’re all good. But, if you’re the type to avoid all sorts of hassle, you can always buy a new remote for your LED lights.
If you think about it, the last two tips are actually an upgrade from your old setup.
However, if you’re ready to live the remote-less life (as far as your LED lights are concerned), that’s okay, too.
In fact, you might want to start reading on ways you can control your LED lights without a remote control.