No, traditional mechanical 3-way light switches do not require a neutral wire to function for basic on-off lighting control because they simply interrupt the hot current path. However, modern smart 3-way switches, automated dimmers, and connected home keypads frequently require a dedicated neutral wire to power their internal Wi-Fi radios and microprocessors when the lights are turned off. You can troubleshoot switch wiring requirements easily by checking inside the wall box for bundled white neutral wires capped with wire nuts. You can verify that your corrective action is successful when identifying an available neutral bundle or installing a smart switch explicitly rated for no-neutral installations ensures reliable automated lighting control without flickering.
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