15 Unique Alexa Routine Ideas!

[@Jessicab-u7c]

Aww you treat your dog so sweetly I love that.

[@mylistmail]

Could 5pm be the best way

[@justindodson7471]

Thanks Reed! Love the tips! Glad ur getting your new house set up to help us see what real life examples for our own home automations can look like

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Justin I appreciate it!

[@mylistmail]

Baby 👶 is a responsive respect and I are going to see a doctor and we are booked at 10.30am and we are booked at 10.30am and we are booked at 10.30am and I will also include photos of it on the website and I will also set up in advance the other classroom

[@brandonm5341]

I’m addicted to watching your channel! I’m starting to buy smart home stuff for my parents house and your channel has given so many great ideas!!! I’ve been binge watching for days!!!

[@ChangeFromScratch]

I recently developed this obsession with smart plug automations. So far I have experimented with a couple thing. My first was finding the timing of a bottle warmer for exactly how long it takes for a baby bottle to warm-up from refrigerated to warm-enough-to-drink but still never getting to a temperature that is too hot for a baby to drink (in case I forget the bottle in the warmer or I fall asleep at night). My second, newest obsession, is timing exactly how long it takes to charge each of my usb-charged devices in various levels of depletion and then finding the most common charging times among them all so I can switch through different scenes when different devices are charging so as not to overcharge/damage their batteries. So far it has been interesting to say the least but if it gets as good as the bottle warmer… I’ll be able to charge anything, anytime and not worry about destroying (Bluetooth headphones or something) batteries because I left something tiny charging forever.

[@ChechuBeauty]

Your videos are only getting better and better

[@CCross777]

I use a custom built HomeBridge to get all of my devices talking with HomeKit, and let me tell you, the automations are pretty sweet. I have the Ring Security Arm it's self at night when it detects two cars in the garage, and when I open the garage to go to work, it disarms the Ring security system. Once the garage is closed, it rearms the system. Love your videos!

[@NoxSicarius1]

I suggest you keep the car in the garage at all times if this is the case. The easiest entry into any home these days is an unlocked car with a garage remote inside. If opening that door kills your alarm, you just created the perfect alarm free entry system for thieves. I suggest setting up a voice command through your phone with a different password. Google uses voice recognition so you have extra security there too. My alarm pass and my unlock front door and disable alarm routines are triggered with a dif pass than the actual devices inside. That's the 1 thing I hate about alexa junk, it's kind of far behind the times on device security and usability. google is far better, but i got like 7 free alexa devices

[@CCross777]

@@NoxSicarius1 I respect your point of view. :) And I did take in to consideration regarding my garage door remote, however, I do use the homelink system built into the car, and not the Physical Liftmaster remote. I use both Google Home and HomeKit. Google can open and close the garage door via voice + PIN as well, which is separate than my phone when I use Siri. Because the weather here in North Texas can be crazy within a moments notice, the car is almost always parked in the garage. Now the cool thing, I do have Key Delivery, and when they deliver packages with Amazon Key, my alarm system stays armed regardless of the garage opening. Its usually when the outside camera can detect my car, it then listens for the door open command via homelink, and then triggers the alarm disarming. I do enjoy tinkering with home automation as I work in IT, but im not a "the government is watching you" kind of IT person. lol.

[@NoxSicarius1]

@@CCross777 sadly a large number of people don't understand the extreme security issues with garage entry and most don't seem to have cars with built in transmitters. Cars are being increasingly targeted in my area for tools, money, and even parts in the middle of night. I know a few have had their garage remotes stolen as well. for this reason I added a deadbolt to the door and auto locker to it too.

[@PoisonWaffle3]

Thanks for another great video, Reed! You've got some good ideas here. I will implement a few of them in Home Assistant 👍

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Scott!

[@kdausu90]

Love the endings as always :D

[@neekster28]

This was hilarious! I watched the 1:41 "woah, watch your language Luna! Kids watch these videos." I paused it at "one of the new features with Alexa routines is cus..."

[@NoxSicarius1]

I suggest everyone sets up a night routine using goodnight or night mode or bed time. Mine makes sure all my garage doors are closed, all doors are locked, all lights and televisions are turned off, security is armed, and all blinds are closed. You literally just walk up stairs, get in bed, and send the command to have your entire house locked up and powered down without having to go check everything or turn it all off on your way through. probably the best command you can have.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks for watching! If you want to copy and paste these ideas into your Alexa app, here is the article with links to every automation: smarthomesolver.com/reviews/15-alexa-routines-in-2021/ **UPDATE** turns out you can schedule the Ring alarm to arm/disarm on a schedule in the Ring app. Thanks to AtlasTCJ and Math_U0sanchoz for showing me this.

[@curtisbme]

For those who have yet to watch "Inside" (watch it, it is amazing) and don't know the reference: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bZColnahfdhgm5I

[@SdBoy]

Do you know what Routine I install for my Ring 4 doorbell to announce on my echo's ?

[@sayididit2930]

Anyone know if Google Home can set routines based on the time of sunset (ex. 45 min before sunset)?

[@baitykris1]

Jeff is getting the "love" from you too? LOL Great video !

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Kristopher! Haha that Bezos song is so catchy and I love that whole Netflix special.

[@user-xu2pi6vx7o]

Not enough yachts!

[@davidferguson7075]

Lazy people are so ingenious. Love the routines. Great job

[@jordanvirts6627]

i got an alexa for chirstmas and a wifi light and govee leds, so im new to the smart home stuff. but this video has made me excited to get more

[@nope6786]

I love these videos, they are so helpful. Thank you!

[@clairecar9390]

Great video! Luna needs her own channel! So cute!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks! She got a lot of treats for this, so she would definitely love all the treats she'd get from her own channel 😂

[@DanSeaber-Shinn]

Love this Reed! Thanks so much 👍🏻

[@SmartHomeSolver]

I appreciate it Dan!

[@guiivilhena587]

I wish here in Brazil we get so many smart devices that you show us... Great videos tho, Reed, like always! Hello from Brazil 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷

[@LuxeLuminaSoaps]

This is SO cool! I've wanted to do something like this but didn't know if I could with the dots. I don't own any of these devices yet, but this helps me decide what to buy IMMENSELY. Thanks for these videos!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

That’s great, I’m glad it was helpful! Yes it’s crazy how much you can automate just with the Echo devices.

[@TheCriticizer811]

Hey Reed I have a great suggestion for routines, this is 1 of my favorite and the one thing I focused on. I have a total of 7 echo devices, from spots to dots to shows. And anyone with experience knows that every now and again they act up from time to time and get a little derpy. So I put all of them on s swicth, and when i say "Alexa take a break" She responds "Okay all the devices will be off for a few minutes, if you need to control anything while im gone, just use the dashboard" she then shuts off all the plugs to the device for 5 seconds, turns them back on and after 60 seconds all my device are back up and running so she says "Break time over, I am online and ready" This has been a life saver, as I really dont want to go around and unplug and re-plug in all my devices

[@MarkSmithMCS]

Incredible idea, though I don't personally have any issues with my Echo devices except during internet outages

[@TheCriticizer811]

@@MarkSmithMCS My issues are odd, Great example is spotify not responding, or she just gets stuck listening and not processing a thing I say, including stop and cancel. Here is something else odd too, I have 5 devices in a group called front room, that include the Livingroom, Kitchen and Bathroom, when a song is done, it will replay on the 4th gen echop and echo dot only (1 in my living room, other in the bathroom)

[@i-see-desertbaldo2369]

Great video! Thanks for compilation. I'd love to learn more about the Weatherflow Tempest device. Have you done a review of this unit?

[@dnoland77]

Bravo Reed. Very well done video. We missed you last week. Remember in your new house video you said that the new space would allow for more content creation and greater frequency? More please.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks David! Yes more videos in a few days.

[@aleksekokorev]

Would it be the nice to know about the alexa’s ‘guard’, and not as a protection, but as a way to trigger some automation (routine) based on the level of an environment noise level. For example, some noise from outside, and the windows are automatically closing. After the noise gone, windows open back after a while.

[@falovepa]

Unexpectedly cute video!

[@GeraldMcAlister]

We run our entire home on just Alexa + Ring! Ring gen 2 has Z-wave built in too, so no need for any extra hubs, keeping our setup simple. Some other routines we use: - we map “turn on/off the bedroom lights” in multiple variations to work for the room someone is in (instead of a room named just bedroom). That way, guests don’t need to know the room name to turn off the lights when visiting. - We have a routine to turn off all the lights in our home when we arm our home to leave via Ring. - For our cats, we have a motion sensor that detects when they use the litter box, and then triggers our roomba to vacuum up around it to clean any litter they track out of it. - we’ve recently been setting up some routines for our AC to set the temperature to be cold at night while we sleep, and then warm up for when we wake up. Simple, but so convenient!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Those are really great ideas! Thanks for sharing!

[@jese2222able]

OK I need a little more description on the turn on/off lights wo a room name. Bc I am going mad w my Alexa we are going to be fighting real soon. Im new at this so basically a child w a new toy but have no idea of its capabilities and sadly I am a visual learner. All videos I see tell me what she can do but NONE ACTUALLY SHOW ME HOW TO DO IT. Including this one which is so amazing on what he is doing w his systems here. Even Amazon itself doesn't give me a play-by-play. So if u know any videos that do or if u can help that be so so great. Thanks so much.

[@ClintGriffin1]

Your last video inspired me to get the Broadlink button and the IR blasters. Thanks for the new ideas!

[@user-eu5ol7mx8y]

0:35 wow, the grass and the bricks are so clean and pristine it almost looks like a 3D render

[@SharynS.]

And a dog pees on that!! Forget automation videos; we need grass upkeep videos!

[@melb2734]

​@@SharynS.Maybe that's the secret ingredient. Keeps the grass watered. LOL.

[@MBSzCat]

Am I crazy, pretty sure it’s turf

[@Zactivist]

Great ideas! I just bought that Broadlink button & hub. Been looking for something like that for my wife to use at night. One idea I haven't seen mentioned: a widget for Android called Buttons for Alexa. It allows you to voice-record Alexa commands and then (silently) trigger them from widgets. One widget can toggle 2 commands (like on/off) and show an indicator. Any png image w/transp can be used as the widget icons (or it has built in flat icons.) I use an old Android tablet with Launcher 10 that splits the screen into nice tiles that hold the widgets. It makes for a really nice custom control panel that's pretty flawless since it's speaking directly to Alexa via pre-recorded triggers. About the only issue is a slight delay, but I don't mind it. Also while it works fine for me, my wife doesn't want a lit screen at night in the bedroom- so for her I hope to set up those physical buttons.

[@aymansyed1351]

The amount of batteries you need to change to keep all your automation going. 😱

[@philipgraves9266]

I’m a huge lurker - I don’t really subscribe to channels until I feel like I need to, but you earned my sub with the Bo Burnham song in the outro. Great videos. Thank you!

[@dankelley9361]

Reed, keep your ideas coming! Love your channel & automations! With Alexa & custom automations your only limited by your ideas! Great! Love Luna too!

[@HughD]

Another nice and useful video, Reed. I love Alexa routines and have a lot of them you've got some useful ones, too. Thanks for what you're doing.

[@xtimex1]

I like your sense of humor, keep it up👍

[@brentkleinman6926]

I am going to for sure do that motion sensor for the outdoor lights! That is amazing. Sweet video!!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Brent! That would be perfect for your dogs!

[@jen-jac]

Amazing video for beginners! Thanks

[@troyavidano2524]

I would love to see a Google Assistant focused routines.

[@davidkahler9390]

Google assistant routines can barely do anything

[@OfficialJohnnyNelson]

Google's "Routines" capabilities are extremely limited. It'll be some time before they'll do more than rudimentary "arrive home" or "leave home" triggered routines.

[@davidnestico]

Same, just wish they were actually usefull though

[@micahjohnson9184]

@@davidnestico They are useful, just limited. However, I use Alexa routines but I still have Google too. Its better at answering my questions and explaining how to do things which I need it for. Plus integration with the apps services especially on Android. Are great, so both are good for certain things and when Matter comes together there strengths begin to cover the weaknesses of each other even more.

[@sayididit2930]

Anyone know if Google Home can set routines based on the time of sunset (ex. 45 min before sunset)?

[@johnyoung6479]

very good really enjoyed it thanks

[@felipesantiagotirado4287]

You mentioned that the sonoff sensor is connected directly to the Echo. I know not all Zigbee sensors work as intended when connected directly to the echo. I think a video testing the different Zigbee sensors with Alexa would be extra helpful! Thanks!

[@MarkSmithMCS]

Agree. I might step into local sensors and hubs soon and would be interested if there's any reason to look beyond the Echo 4G

[@ΘανοςΤ-φ2σ]

broadlink is insane ! for me it was that awesome device that hooked me in automations

[@JustinJamesAU]

Reid, you legend mate. Been watching you for a bit and your nugget of gold today is for the custom routines in Alexa. I use Yamaha Mussicast (which is brilliant and compatible with HA) and this is a brilliant tip! - for what is normally a long instruction set to Alexa. Just set it up, and instead of saying "Alexa, ask musiccast to play favourite one in the kitchen" I can now just say, "Alexa, turn the radio on" - Gold mate!! JJ

[@oliversmith7354]

This is a great routine. I have been using my Alexa powered Echo dot device and it's really amazing

[@robeccs]

Thank you for show us what we can do with smart home devices.😃👍🏼🍻✌🏽

[@AtefinhoKamoonaZOZ]

Man I love this channel

[@z9ski690]

One of the best videos so far. Great sense of humor

[@xxmyspac]

omg i been looking for a video about this thanks!!

[@HelloDrTaj]

This video was awesome. You gave me so many ideas :)

[@BigDavos]

Anyone know the name of that desk lamp beside the batman light? Also great vid!

[@shawnryan3196]

I have a long drive way and wanted to setup a sensor to my mailbox so Alexa can announce when the mail has run . I ended up using Yolink because it uses LoRa long range, low frequency and it works perfect . Because it is low frequency the signal blast right through my metal mailbox and over 300 Ft. to my house . If you are looking for something long range I would try it out

[@MarkSmithMCS]

I use a Wyze contact for that. Probably would not work for 300 feet though!

[@shawnryan3196]

@@MarkSmithMCS I have been using wyze also for my doors . Once they die I am switching to yolink . They are not near as small as wyze though

[@juliemandell]

@@shawnryan3196 Yolink is great for water leak sensors as well. That's what I originally bought from them and then added door sensors and then just yesterday a temperature sensor for the freezer.

[@koryholding1491]

Ring just added schedule arming and disarming. It is a game changer.

[@cinco_de_la_tarde]

Loved the Bo Burnham reference at the end.

[@jaredhelder]

Great video! I’d love to see some you’ve done with home assistant!

[@gamenew09]

Nice Bo Cameo, especially the song that was playing :)

[@beeble80]

These are great!!! I am working with Home Assistant and Google- I wonder how much of this can be duplicated there....

[@katelynphillips1505]

Technology makes our lives not only easier, but also more beautiful

[@burrholstrom3128]

wish amazon had the ability for you to record a sound and have that sound enable an amazon routine

[@afcragg]

I setup Apple Homebridge and added the Ring addon to be able to control it through Home Assistant and my Apple devices. I have the alarm arm itself at night and in the morning when I run my awake routine, I have the alarm disarm itself.

[@li9366]

Lovely and discreet!

[@GLICIOUS21]

Another great vid 💪🏾👍🏾

[@OfficialJohnnyNelson]

Reed, you're a smart home Genes!

[@tomaslozano6486]

excellent, helpful, thanks!!

[@derekmcneil5482]

Does anyone know if you can use multiple users for geo fencing on Alexa? Trying to have Alexa trigger routine when both my wife and leave the house

[@RexandCody18]

How did you change your voice? Is that your pitch?

[@xxWtChocolatexx]

Love the videos. We are buying a house next month and I can't wait to get my hands dirty.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

That is awesome, good luck!

[@Kara_Danvers6]

In the ring app under the base station’s mode schedules you can set it to arm and disarm at set times

[@SmartHomeSolver]

You're right! No more candy bribes for the young one. Thanks for pointing that out!

[@mcardenas23]

Yes I was going to post this! I’ve been using it for about a month now

[@hassanmirzaihm]

I have used routines and smart relays to create an Alexa in Game assistant for PC gaming.

[@s14tan]

Made it here before the notification lol.

[@Matewoo_LKB]

i don't know if this feature only works in certain countries, but in germany you can activate and deactivate the ring system automatically via the ring app. you don't need an amazon routine for that.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

You are right. I know it used to not be there when I originally set up the routine but I'm glad to see it there. Thanks for showing me that!

[@Matewoo_LKB]

@@SmartHomeSolver no problem :)

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Excellent video, Reed. Any chance on getting one with Google focused routines? Also. What an adorable pup! What breed?

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks! That would be great and it looks like there's a lot of interest. It's much more limited since you can't trigger automations from sensors or devices. But I'll definitely look into it. She's a rescue so we're not sure, but they were guessing wire haired terrier/chihuahua mix

[@Trains-With-Shane]

I would like to see what's possible. Although if it's limited I may invest in an Alexa device or two and see if i like that better. Right now i'm only using voice commands.

[@redyuri5477]

Hey, how can you make Alexa day a customs phrase? For example at 1:32 in the announce section down below

[@truthandlove0]

Yes, loved this, thank you! 👍

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@adrianna9377]

2:55 it's now possible to change from armed to disarmed with Mode Schedules on the Ring app; I just saw the new feature today

[@keningilbert]

At a few places throughout your video I noticed a TV hanging on the wall in portrait mode. By any chance are you using that to display movie posters?

[@davidwalker575]

Can you imagine how much data Amazon has about this guy and his family?

[@mark601]

Hey Reed! Really appreciate the videos you have loads of awe ideas. However, we are some like myself in non-native English-speaking countries like Denmark where Amazon arent even a thing! (Hard to believe I know). Anyway, Google for us/myself work so much better for those reasons so I was wondering if you would consider more Google oriented content or suggest google alternatives for you standard vids! Otherwise awesome stuff and still interesting video despite Alexa being useless for me :)

[@pamwheatley9775]

I love watching your videos for all the great info and I love the way you make it very funny. Thx for that. Problem is I need you to come to my house to set it up. I’m just soooo confused🤣🤣🤣🤣. Laughing but really am lost 😩😩😩😂😂😂

[@jc_tuba28]

Awesome :) keep it up!

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks Jacob!

[@nhtna4706]

Any thoughts for controlling lights mainly via Alexa routines with fire cube TV/ projector?

[@billpole]

You said that your ring alarm doesn’t disarm in the mornings due to security reasons - I had the same issue with a smart lock, which requires a numerical voice code when used with my Amazon devices in order to disarm. I got around it by using IFTT or If This, Then That. Works a treat, and now I can unlock my front door without having to remember or teach my family a 4 digit pin. Of course now you can also unlock the house simply by speaking to Alexa through the catflap, but that’s an issue for another day and it’s only if others know about this security vulnerability that it becomes a potential issue.

[@drewsch]

Nice Bo Burnham Inside reference!

[@niravniel561]

Hi Reed, thanks for the video, you mention routine with Hue motion sensor, how can you assign the motion sensor to a routine, its Zigbee, right ?

[@SmartHomeSolver]

When you add the Hue skill to Alexa it can pull in the Hue devices. Same goes for SmartThing devices. Yes the Hue motion sensor uses Zigbee and if connected to the Hue bridge you can use it to trigger Alexa routines.

[@TheMcGuireLife]

4:18 I’ll never play baby shark for you again then baby walks off

[@ronm6585]

Thanks Reed.

[@JosephHoolihan]

Brooo hahahah the ending is priceless! Side note... you ever check your IG DMs?!

[@alexescarce]

You can automate the ring to auto disarm at a certain time. You can do this in the ring app☺️

[@paus1973]

I like a lot the lamps you have around your house, especially the one with batman logo. What is the brand?

[@MichaelToub]

Hooray I’m the first comment!! I luv this channel !!

[@deepdoodoo3252]

First to make the 5th comment ..maybe.. 😂

[@AaronHuie]

That is an amazing TV! Great Job with the flush mount! What brand is it?

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Thanks! It's a Samsung Frame TV with white bezels.

[@AaronHuie]

@@SmartHomeSolver Thanks for the reply! Going on my Christmas list. Love your content man!

[@jizzlecizzle1388]

1:04 Closed caption was good, the voice recording wasn't, the echo dot 4th gen does not have a zigbee hub, not until matter is deployed and make devices like the echo show as well as dot - with undisclosed limited application regarding the generation, models - compatible.

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Oh good catch. I didn't mean to say Echo Dot but just Echo 4th Gen.

[@tweetytweetie22]

I wish I can hire you to do all these to my house 👍

[@prevaloir5362]

Why not pay for the stuff and learn how to set it up? it's better in the long run so you know how your devices work.

[@richardwhite3521]

Wall-e Lol thanks for the tips.

[@jester4761]

You can disarm ring with Alexa, but it needs a verbal code from you. However, anyone can just say "Alexa disarm ring, 'password'" and get results. Not good if you want security. I didn't know they updated the Alexa app to include these nice new features! Thanks for the heads up! You better know I'm going to find new ways to scare my wife while I'm at work. Lol she already thinks skynet is self aware.

[@dnoland77]

"alexa, speak faster (or slower) is one of my favorite ways to mess with people that have echos but don't keep up with the software changes.

[@jester4761]

@@dnoland77 Lmao. That! I can fix.

[@stevenvaden67]

What are you using for shades and curtains in the theater room? Great setup!

[@jamieb9168]

I created a routine with my new Echo Hub to show my Blink video door bell video on my Hub when it senses motion. During the routine set-up I saw one for weather. I'll have to look into it but I wonder if I can set a routine to turn some lights yellow if there's a Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued and maybe orange for a Severe Thunderstorm Warning. And pink for a Tornado Watch and red for a Tornado Warning.

[@Ak_1373]

Great video

[@MakeItWorkTech]

6:18 opens my KZbin channel and starts playing 👌 😂 Thanks for the shout-out 😉 ha

[@SmartHomeSolver]

Make It Work!

[@MarkSmithMCS]

Those routine links are awesome. Thanks! Hey, if you have a custom routine to turn on your TV and show your doorbell, is it possible to have it turn off again soon after so the TV doesn't get left on?

[@DoctorPan92]

only at 0:31 right now, i just had to pause to express my gratitude for saying "amazon" instead of you know who

[@NavigatedChaos]

How do you choose the skill and what screen it's displayed on? Like if I have a KZbin video of a stretching thing I need to do each morning, can I have that set as the skill, set up to do that after I get out of bed? Also it may have been mentioned and I missed it, but are routines voice specific and/or can they be? Can I have two "Goodnight Alexa" voice routines, but one voice turns off everything in one bedroom while the other voice does the whole house? Does it have the ability to detect different voices and only activate based on that voice?

[@lynnesadler5611]

Great video, I was wondering if I can use a Amazon flex with my ring door bell 4 as a notification to when someone rings the bell, I've already got a ring chime pro as the internet is rubbish in my flat,and I thought before I go at and purchase a second chime I remember I got a flex many thank for your help

[@jason01095]

Hi Reed! Great video, thanks! I had no idea Alexa routines had gotten so advanced - I clearly need to look at mine again :) Speaking of setting up routines (in 2021), I'd love to know more about how you approach thinking through setting up a routine / a group of routines to work together. The process likely starts with a "This thing keeps happening which requires my attention to address it. I bet there's a way to add some automation to lessen the need for me to be involved directly" .... but where do you go from there? Does your approach change much relative to the complexity of what you're trying to solve? We all think a little differently and therefore can approach problem solving differently, but I think this would make for an interesting video topic especially with the current feature sets available to us these days, so I thought I'd ask. Thanks sir!