---
title: "Light Scene"
description: "Configure the Light Scene Smart Rule to cycle through light scenes and assign actions to push buttons"
url: "https://taphome.com/en/docs/smart-rules/light-scene/"
language: en
lastmod: 2026-03-11
generator: hugo
ai:
  topics: ["smart-rules","light-scene","multi-value-switch","push-button-control","scene-cycling","lighting-automation"]
  questions: ["How do I configure the Light Scene Smart Rule?","How do I assign actions to different light scenes?","Can I use push buttons to switch between scenes?","What press types does the Light Scene Smart Rule support?","How do I duplicate actions from one scene to another?","What happens to scene actions after a power outage or system restart?","Can I control the multi-value switch from multiple buttons in different locations?","How do push button actions and multi-value switch state changes work together?","What happens if I change the multi-value switch device after configuring buttons?","Can I send notifications when a specific scene activates?","How do I cycle through scenes with a single button press?","What is the difference between a push button action and a scene action?"]
---

# Light Scene

Last updated: 2026-03-11

The **Light Scene** smart rule lets you define actions for each state of a multi-value switch and assign push buttons to control it. When the multi-value switch changes state, the actions mapped to that state execute automatically. Push buttons give you physical control — a short press, long press, double click, or triple click can each trigger a different command.

Think of it as a scene controller: you define what each scene looks like (which lights turn on, at what brightness), and then wire up physical buttons to select which scene should be active.


## Getting started {#getting-started}

Setting up a Light Scene takes three steps:

1. **Add a multi-value switch** — the states of this device will represent your scenes.
2. **Configure scene actions** — define what happens for each scene (state).
3. **Add control buttons** (optional) — assign push buttons to switch between scenes.

### Basic example {#basic-example}

You have a multi-value switch with three states (Off, Dim, Bright) and want each state to control your living room lights.

1. Create a new **Light Scene** smart rule.

2. In the **Based on value of** section, tap **Add Device** and select your multi-value switch.
3. The **Light Scene actions** section now shows one entry for each state of your multi-value switch (e.g., "Off", "Dim", "Bright").
4. Tap the "Off" entry, then tap **Edit** to open the action editor. Add an action to turn off all lights.
5. Tap the "Dim" entry, add an action to set lights to 30% brightness.
6. Tap the "Bright" entry, add an action to set lights to 100% brightness.
7. Tap **Save**.

Now, whenever the multi-value switch changes to a different state, the corresponding actions execute automatically.


## Multi-value switch {#multi-value-switch}

The multi-value switch is the core of this smart rule. Its states define your available scenes — one set of actions per state.


In the **Based on value of** section, tap **Add Device** to select a multi-value switch device. Only devices with multi-value switch capability are shown in the picker.

Once selected, the **Light Scene actions** section populates automatically with one entry per enabled state of the switch. Each entry shows the state name (e.g., "Scene 1", "Off") and either a summary of configured actions or **No actions** if nothing is assigned yet.

> [!NOTE]
> The multi-value switch is required. Without it, the **Light Scene actions** section stays empty, and no actions can execute — including push button actions.


## **Light Scene actions** {#scene-actions}

Each state of the multi-value switch gets its own action group. You can assign multiple actions per state — for example, turning on several lights at different brightness levels, setting a thermostat, and sending a notification.

Tap a state entry to configure its actions:
- Tap the entry directly or select **Edit** from the options menu to open the action editor.
- In the action editor, add actions for devices, notifications, or other commands.

### Duplicating actions between scenes {#duplicate-actions}

If multiple scenes share similar actions, you can duplicate actions from one scene to another instead of configuring them from scratch.

Tap the options icon on a state entry and select **Duplicate actions**. A dialog appears where you can choose which actions to copy and which target scenes to copy them to. This option is only available when other scenes already have actions configured.


## **Control Buttons** {#control-buttons}

Push buttons give you physical control over the multi-value switch. When a button is pressed, the smart rule executes the configured command — typically changing the multi-value switch to a specific state, which then triggers the corresponding scene actions.

### Adding a control button {#adding-button}

In the **Control Buttons** section, tap **Add Button** to select a push button device. After adding, the action editor opens automatically for the short press action.


Each control button shows a summary of its configured press actions below the device name — for example, "Short press action: Set to Scene 1".

### Press types {#press-types}

Depending on the push button device's capabilities, up to four press types are available:

| Press type | Description |
|:-----------|:------------|
| **Press** | Standard button press |
| **Long press** | Press and hold |
| **Double click** | Two quick presses |
| **Triple click** | Three quick presses |

Short press is always available. Long press, double click, and triple click appear only if your push button device supports them.

### Configuring press actions {#configuring-press-actions}

To configure what a press type does:

- **If the button supports only short press:** Tap the button entry to open the action editor directly.
- **If the button supports multiple press types:** Tap the button entry to see a dialog listing all available press types with their current actions. Select a press type to open its action editor.

You can also tap the options icon on a button entry to access the full menu:
- Configure any supported press type
- **Remove** the button from the smart rule
- **Rename** the device
- View **Detail** or **Service settings**

Each press type supports one action per button. Push button actions typically target the multi-value switch — for example, setting it to a specific state value. When the multi-value switch changes state as a result, the corresponding scene actions execute automatically.

> [!NOTE]
> If you change the multi-value switch device, all push button actions are automatically updated to target the new device.


## How the Light Scene works {#how-it-works}

### Two trigger pathways {#trigger-pathways}

The Light Scene smart rule responds to two independent trigger types:

1. **Multi-value switch state change** — When the multi-value switch changes state (whether from a push button action, another smart rule, or manual control), the actions mapped to the new state execute.

2. **Push button press** — When a configured push button is pressed, the smart rule executes the push button action for that press type (e.g., short press sets the multi-value switch to state 1). If the push button action changes the multi-value switch state, a follow-on evaluation fires the corresponding scene actions.

Both pathways can work together in a single smart rule.

### System startup {#system-startup}

When the system starts or when you save the smart rule configuration, the rule reads the current state of the multi-value switch and applies the corresponding scene actions. This ensures your devices stay in sync with the current scene — even after a power outage or restart.


## Examples and scenarios {#examples}

### Room lighting with three scenes {#example-room-lighting}

**Goal**: Control living room lighting with three scenes — Off, Relaxed, and Bright — using a wall-mounted multi-value switch.

**Configuration**:
- **Multi-value switch:** living room scene selector (states: 0=Off, 1=Relaxed, 2=Bright)
- **No push buttons** — the multi-value switch itself is the control

**Scene actions**:
- **State "Off"** — turn off ceiling light, turn off floor lamp
- **State "Relaxed"** — set ceiling light to 20%, set floor lamp to 50%
- **State "Bright"** — set ceiling light to 100%, set floor lamp to 100%

**Behavior**: When you switch the scene selector to "Relaxed", the ceiling light dims to 20% and the floor lamp goes to 50%. Switch to "Off" and both lights turn off. The scenes apply instantly each time the selector changes.


### Push button scene cycling {#example-scene-cycling}

**Goal**: Use a single wall button to cycle through lighting scenes. Short press advances to the next scene, long press turns everything off.

**Configuration**:
- **Multi-value switch:** hallway controller (states: 0=Off, 1=Welcome, 2=Evening)
- **Control button:** hallway wall button (supports short press and long press)

**Press actions**:
- **Short press** — set multi-value switch to next value
- **Long press** — set multi-value switch to state 0 (Off)

**Scene actions**:
- **State "Off"** — turn off all hallway lights
- **State "Welcome"** — set hallway spots to 80%, set accent light to warm white
- **State "Evening"** — set hallway spots to 30%, set accent light to dim amber

**Behavior**: A short press on the wall button advances the controller to the next state — cycling from Off to Welcome to Evening and back. Each state change triggers the corresponding scene. A long press at any point jumps directly to the Off scene.


### Multi-button setup with notifications {#example-multi-button}

**Goal**: Control bedroom lighting from two locations — a button by the door and a button on the nightstand. Send a notification when the "Good night" scene activates.

**Configuration**:
- **Multi-value switch:** bedroom controller (states: 0=Off, 1=Reading, 2=Good night)
- **Control buttons:** door button (short press only), nightstand button (short and long press)

**Press actions**:
- **Door button short press** — set to state 1 (Reading)
- **Nightstand button short press** — set to state 2 (Good night)
- **Nightstand button long press** — set to state 0 (Off)

**Scene actions**:
- **State "Off"** — turn off all bedroom lights
- **State "Reading"** — set bedside lamp to 60%, turn off ceiling light
- **State "Good night"** — set bedside lamp to 5% warm white, turn off ceiling light, send notification "Good night mode activated"

**Behavior**: Entering the bedroom, you press the door button — the bedside lamp turns on at 60% for reading. From bed, a short press on the nightstand button activates the "Good night" scene: the lamp dims to 5% and a notification is sent. A long press on the nightstand button turns everything off.

> [!TIP]
> Notifications attached to scene actions are sent when the multi-value switch changes state directly. If a push button triggers the state change, the notification is sent on the follow-on state change — not on the button press itself. This prevents duplicate notifications.


### Duplicating actions across scenes {#example-duplicate-actions}

**Goal**: Set up multiple similar scenes quickly using action duplication.

**Workflow**:
1. Configure the first scene (e.g., "Relaxed") with all desired actions — ceiling light at 20%, floor lamp at 50%, accent strip on.
2. Tap the options icon on the "Relaxed" entry and select **Duplicate actions**.
3. In the dialog, select all actions and choose the target scenes (e.g., "Bright", "Movie").
4. Tap **Duplicate**.
5. Open each target scene and adjust the values — for "Bright", increase all brightness levels; for "Movie", turn off the accent strip and dim further.

This saves time when scenes share the same set of devices but with different values.