WLED Ambilight: How to Add Screen-Synced TV Lighting
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Want the lights behind your TV to change colour with what's happening on screen, similar to Philips Ambilight?
You can build an Ambilight-style system using WLED, an addressable LED strip and software such as Hyperion. WLED controls the LEDs, while Hyperion analyses the video and sends colour information to the WLED controller over your network.
However, there is an important catch: the difficult part is usually getting the TV picture into the software. The best setup depends on how you watch TV.
This guide explains how it works, what you need, which TV sources are suitable, and when a ready-made system may be a better choice.
First: Is WLED Ambilight Right for You?
| What you want | Most suitable approach |
|---|---|
| A simple glow behind the TV | Standard WLED TV backlight |
| Lights that react to a PC connected to the TV | WLED + Hyperion screen capture |
| Lights that react to a PS5, Xbox or HDMI device | WLED + HDMI capture setup |
| Lights that react to the TV's built-in apps | More complicated with DIY WLED; another approach may be easier |
| The simplest plug-and-play solution | Consider a ready-made TV lighting system |
If you only want a pleasant glow behind your TV, you do not need Hyperion or screen capture. See our WLED TV Backlight Guide for the simpler setup.
If you specifically want the LEDs to follow the picture, continue below.
How WLED Ambilight Works
A WLED controller does not normally analyse your TV picture itself. Instead, the jobs are divided between several parts of the system:
Video source → Capture → Hyperion → Network → WLED controller → LED strip
Hyperion analyses the captured image and calculates the colours for different areas around the screen. It then sends that information to WLED, which controls the individual LEDs.
WLED officially supports Hyperion and several other real-time lighting protocols, making it suitable for this type of screen-synchronised setup.
- TV or video source: provides the picture
- Capture method: gets the picture into the software
- Hyperion: analyses the picture
- WLED controller: receives the colour data
- LED strip: displays the colours
- Power supply: provides power to the LEDs
The Most Important Question: Where Does Your TV Picture Come From?
Your TV brand is not the main factor. How you receive and watch your content is much more important.
1. A PC Connected to the TV
This is usually the simplest DIY setup.
If your computer produces the picture being displayed on the TV, Hyperion can capture the computer's screen and send the resulting colour information to WLED.
For example:
PC → TV PC running Hyperion → Network → WLED → LED strip
This is particularly suitable for PC gaming and video played directly on the computer.
2. PS5, Xbox, Sky or Another HDMI Device
If your setup is:
PS5 / Xbox / Sky / streaming device → TV
the computer running Hyperion cannot simply capture the TV picture because the video is not being displayed on that computer.
A common solution is an HDMI capture setup:
Video source
↓
HDMI splitter
↙ ↘
TV HDMI capture device
↓
PC / Raspberry Pi
↓
Hyperion
↓
WLED controller
↓
LED strip
This works by giving the capture device access to the same video source that is being displayed on the TV.
Important: HDMI capture is not universally compatible with every combination of resolution, refresh rate, HDR format and copy-protected content. Check the capabilities of the capture hardware before buying.
3. The TV's Built-In Netflix, Disney+ or YouTube Apps
This is where DIY screen synchronisation becomes more difficult.
When you open an app directly on the TV, the video is processed inside the television. A computer running Hyperion does not automatically have access to that picture.
In other words:
TV → Netflix app → TV screen
does not provide a normal video feed that a PC can simply capture.
You may be able to use an external streaming device connected through HDMI instead, but that adds another device and changes the setup.
If most of your viewing comes from built-in TV apps, a ready-made camera-based or TV-integrated lighting system may be more convenient.
Will It Work With Any TV?
Most TVs can physically be used with a WLED backlight. OLED, QLED, LCD and other display types are not inherently a problem because the LEDs are mounted separately behind the TV.
The important question is how the video reaches Hyperion.
| TV setup | DIY WLED screen sync |
|---|---|
| PC connected to TV | Generally the easiest option |
| Console connected by HDMI | Usually requires capture hardware |
| External streaming device | Usually requires capture hardware |
| TV's built-in streaming apps | More difficult; external or alternative capture may be required |
| TV tuner / broadcast TV | Depends on how the video can be captured |
So there is no simple list of "compatible TVs". The video source and capture method are usually more important than the TV brand.
What Hardware Do You Need?
Addressable LED Strip
You need an addressable strip where individual LEDs can be controlled separately.
Common WLED-compatible options include WS2812B, WS2815 and SK6812. The best choice depends on the voltage, LED density, brightness and power requirements of your installation.
For a TV backlight, the aim is normally to create a smooth glow around the screen rather than maximum brightness.
WLED Controller
The WLED controller drives the LED strip and receives the screen colour information from Hyperion over the network.
An ESP32-based WLED controller is a practical choice for a TV installation. Choose the controller based on the strip's voltage, LED count and power requirements.
See our WLED Controller Guide if you are unsure which type you need.
Power Supply
The power supply provides power to the LED strip. Do not assume that a TV's USB port can power a complete backlight; available USB power is often limited.
For longer or brighter strips, the power supply, wiring and power injection need to be appropriately sized.
See our WLED Power Injection Guide for more information.
Computer or Raspberry Pi
You need a supported device to run Hyperion if you are using the DIY Hyperion approach.
This could be a desktop PC, laptop, Raspberry Pi or another suitable computer. The exact hardware requirements depend on the capture method and video being processed.
Capture Hardware
You only need additional capture hardware when the video is not already available to the Hyperion computer.
For HDMI sources, this may include an HDMI splitter and USB capture device. The capture hardware needs to support the video format you intend to use.
How Difficult Is It to Set Up?
A standard WLED TV backlight is relatively simple.
Screen synchronisation adds another layer of hardware and software. Depending on your setup, you may need to:
- Install Hyperion.
- Configure the video capture source.
- Connect Hyperion to WLED.
- Configure the LED count and layout.
- Match the physical LED positions to the screen.
- Adjust brightness, colour and smoothing.
- Troubleshoot the particular video source if necessary.
If you are comfortable with WLED, networking and Raspberry Pi or PC projects, this can be a very rewarding DIY setup.
If you want something that can simply be plugged in and used with minimal configuration, a ready-made TV lighting system may be a better fit.
Getting the LED Layout Right
Hyperion needs to know which LEDs correspond to which areas of the picture.
For example, LEDs along the top of the TV should represent the top of the picture, while LEDs on the left and right should represent the corresponding sides.
The direction in which the strip is installed also matters. If the LED order is wrong, colours can appear on the wrong side of the TV.
Take some time to configure the physical LED layout correctly before fine-tuning the effect.
What About Ready-Made Ambilight Systems?
DIY WLED is not the only way to create screen-synchronised lighting.
Ready-made systems are available that use approaches such as cameras, HDMI sync boxes or TV-specific integrations. Camera-based systems can be particularly useful when you mainly use the TV's own apps because the camera can analyse what is physically displayed on the screen.
The trade-off is that these systems typically give you less freedom over the LED hardware and put you into a particular manufacturer's ecosystem.
For someone who wants the easiest installation, a ready-made system may make more sense. For someone who already uses WLED or wants control over the LEDs, a WLED-based setup can be a flexible alternative.
So, Is WLED Ambilight Worth It?
For the right setup, yes.
The WLED part is flexible and well suited to controlling addressable LEDs. The main decision is how you will get your TV picture into the screen-capture software.
WLED + Hyperion is a good choice if:
- You already use WLED or enjoy DIY projects.
- Your main video source is a PC or suitable external HDMI device.
- You want to choose your own LED strip and controller.
- You want flexibility rather than a closed lighting ecosystem.
- You are comfortable with some configuration and troubleshooting.
A ready-made system may be better if:
- You mainly use the TV's built-in streaming apps.
- You want minimal setup.
- You don't want to run a separate computer or capture hardware.
A standard WLED backlight may be all you need if:
- You mainly want a glow behind the TV.
- You don't need the colours to follow the picture.
- You want the simplest WLED installation.
The important thing is to choose the setup that matches the way you actually use your TV. There is no single solution that is ideal for every TV, video source and user.
Already Have a WLED TV Backlight?
If you already have WLED lighting behind your TV, screen synchronisation can be the next step. The same basic WLED controller and addressable LED strip can form the LED side of the system; the additional hardware depends on where your TV picture comes from.
If you only want a simple WLED TV backlight, see our WLED TV Backlight Guide.
For help choosing the controller, see our WLED Controller Guide.