Hello fellow smart home enthusiasts! 
I recently purchased the new Philips Hue Motion Sensors (April 2025 model) and integrated them into my Home Assistant setup. While setting them up, I noticed that changing the entity names wasn’t straightforward. Here’s what I discovered and how I worked around it.
Initially, I tried renaming the entities through the Philips Hue app, Apple HomeKit, and directly in Home Assistant. Unfortunately, none of these methods worked, and I kept getting the error message stating the entity name was not editable. This was a bit frustrating, especially since my Eve motion sensors didn’t have this issue.
After some research and experimentation, I found a workaround. Instead of trying to rename the existing entities, I created custom automations and scenes in Home Assistant that reference these sensors. This way, I could effectively give them the names I wanted within the context of these automations. For example, I created an automation named “Hallway Motion Detected” that triggers when the motion sensor in my hallway is activated.
Here’s a quick tip for anyone else facing this issue:
- Use the Custom Automations feature in Home Assistant to create rules based on your motion sensors.
- Name these automations descriptively to reflect their purpose.
- You can even group multiple sensors together in a single automation for broader coverage.
This approach not only solves the naming issue but also enhances the functionality of your motion sensors by integrating them into more complex routines. For instance, I set up an automation where the hallway lights dim to 50% when motion is detected at night, providing just enough light without being too bright.
Another thing I found helpful was using Web Views in Home Assistant to create custom dashboards. I embedded the Philips Hue app interface into a Web View card, allowing me to monitor and control all my Hue devices from within Home Assistant. This was especially useful for adjusting light colors and brightness for different scenes.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into automations, I highly recommend checking out the Community Automations section on the Home Assistant forum. There’s a wealth of shared automations that you can adapt to your setup. For example, I found a fantastic automation that integrates motion sensors with smart locks, turning on lights when you unlock the door at night.
Lastly, don’t forget to take advantage of Voice Commands with Alexa or Google Assistant. You can create custom routines that trigger based on your motion sensors. For instance, say, “Alexa, turn on the evening routine,” and have it dim the lights, lower the thermostat, and play some relaxing music—all based on motion sensor data.
I hope these tips help you get the most out of your Philips Hue Motion Sensors! Let me know if you have any questions or if you’ve found other creative solutions. Happy automating! 