How to reset a Cync / C by GE smart bulb
Cync Reset Stoplight is a free timer for factory resetting Cync and C by GE bulbs with your light switch. It tells you exactly when to flip.
1. Pick a sequence
2. Get in position
- Use a plain on/off switch. Dimmers, 3-way lamps and multi-function switches won't work. A power strip with a switch, or plugging a lamp in and out, works too.
- Turn the bulb OFF and keep your hand on the switch.
- Press Start. The timer runs on its own. Flip the switch whenever the color changes. It beeps at every change.
All Cync / C by GE reset sequences
Cync now lists the 1-second sequence as its main process. Older bulbs use one of the two alternate processes. If you don't know your firmware, work down the list.
| Sequence | For | Steps | Success signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Latest firmware · try this first | Most Cync bulbs on current firmware, including Reveal and Deco. | Start OFF. ON 1s, OFF 1s, five times. | The bulb flashes. |
| Alternate 1 Firmware 2.8+ · older bulbs | Older bulbs (2019-era firmware 2.8 or later) and light strips made before 2020. | OFF 5s. ON 8s, OFF 2s, five times. Then ON. | The bulb flashes on and off 3 times. |
| Alternate 2 Firmware 2.7 and earlier · legacy | Legacy C by GE bulbs on firmware 2.7 or earlier. | OFF 5s, ON 8s. Then OFF 2s / ON 2s ×3. Then OFF 2s / ON 8s ×2. Then OFF 2s, then ON. | The bulb flashes on and off 3 times. |
| Wafer downlight Switch method | Cync wafer downlights. Cync says to flip the switch 5 times or until it blinks, and gives no timing, so this uses a steady 1 second. | Flip ON/OFF 5 times, or until it blinks. | The light blinks. |
Other Cync devices
These don't use the switch-flipping sequences above, so you don't need the timer for them.
| Device | How to reset |
|---|---|
| Light strips (2020 and newer) | Hold the reset button on the control box for about 10 seconds. |
| Light strips (before 2020) | Unplug and replug the barrel plug, then run Alternate 1 by plugging and unplugging. It flashes 3 times when reset. |
| Wafer downlights (no switch) | Turn off, take the fixture down, then disconnect and reconnect the quick connector 5 times. |
| Wired paddle / button switches | Hold the power button until the light turns red, then release. It blinks blue. |
| Wired toggle switch | Press up until the LED turns red, then release. It blinks blue once. |
| Wire-free switches, remotes, motion sensors | Press and hold the pinhole button with a paperclip until the LED turns red. |
| C-Reach bridge | Unplug it, then hold the side button while plugging it back in. Keep holding at least 10 seconds until all 3 LEDs flash red. This also unpairs every device on the bridge. |
If it still won't reset
- Try a different fixture or lamp. Cync suggests this first.
- Try the next sequence down the list. Firmware age decides which one the bulb understands.
- If the bulb is still in your Cync app, deleting it there also factory resets it.
- Update firmware in the Cync app under Settings → Firmware Updates, then try again.
Cync reset FAQ
How do I factory reset a Cync bulb?
Start with the bulb off. Turn the switch on for 1 second, then off for 1 second, five times. Then turn it on and leave it. The bulb flashes when the reset worked. This is Cync's standard sequence for current firmware.
How do I reset an older C by GE bulb?
Older bulbs use slower sequences. Alternate 1 (firmware 2.8 or later): off 5 seconds, then on 8 seconds and off 2 seconds five times, then on. Alternate 2 (firmware 2.7 and earlier): off 5s, on 8s, then off 2s / on 2s three times, then off 2s / on 8s twice, then off 2s, then on. Both flash 3 times when the reset worked.
How do I know the reset worked?
Bulbs on current firmware flash once the reset is done. Older bulbs flash on and off 3 times. If nothing happens, try the next sequence down the list.
Why won't my Cync bulb reset?
The usual causes are the wrong switch or the wrong timing. Use a plain on/off switch; dimmers, 3-way lamps and multi-function switches don't work. Flip the switch right when each step ends, try a different fixture, try the older sequences, and update firmware in the Cync app under Settings → Firmware Updates.
Can I reset a Cync bulb without the app?
Yes. The switch-flipping sequences reset the bulb without the app. If the bulb still shows in your Cync app, deleting it there also factory resets it.
What do I do after resetting a Cync bulb?
Open the Cync app, Google Home or Alexa and add the light as a new device.