Hidden Tips and Tricks With Amazon Alexa Routines!

[@JOHNPAULFROMMONTREAL]

is that iftt option in your alexa a routine you created? wondering cause I do not have it. thank you.

[@AutomateYourLife]

You'll need to connect IFTTT to Alexa to get it to show up as an action in your routines!

[@camolotrzr4204]

good video Brian. can you recommend motion sensors for the Echo Dot Gen 3? or do you already have a video of this?

[@AutomateYourLife]

That's actually coming soon!

[@gustavomarcano8863]

My dude looking like the temp in the office giving the real tips. Awesome video thanks for sharing

[@AutomateYourLife]

You bet!

[@colinnewman2000]

Great video, thank you. I Love Alexa Routines but really wish they would go one step further so actions can be triggered only when multiple criteria are met (If temperature is below something and window is open then do this). It seems like a massive gap.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Agreed! It'll be huge when multiple conditions comes around.

[@dnoland77]

Brian, good video. 3 points though. 1. you have been able to change echo music groups volume without a routine. "alexa, everywhere group volume 4 (or) volume up/down". 2. Routines are the only way to make a stereo pair work as an alarm clock with music. 3. Still desperately waiting on your upcoming video for motion sensors that work with echo hubs:)

[@AutomateYourLife]

1. 100% I just like the option of doing that as part of the goodnight routine :) 2. Good one! Never tried that! 3. It's in editing!! It's a monster though!

[@berkshirereptileencounters6935]

Great video. Any idea how to remove devices on my alexa app. I go to settings I delete it goes away and comes back again. Even if the device has been renamed thrown away or isn't plugged in.

[@AutomateYourLife]

You'll have to disable or disconnect the service, OR delete the product from the manufacturer's app. If that's not working, and/or you have done those things, then just disable the device. It won't come back anymore. Disabling happens in the same place you delete it :)

[@berkshirereptileencounters6935]

@AutomateYourLife I've disabled before removing and that's worked now great cheers. I do have one problem with my amazon buttons the dot they are paired with makes a beep before responding to the routine half the time but not all the time this slows response and as they are supposed to be for turning lights on and off its annoying.

[@CannabisTechLife]

9:00 an even better trick I set up is to make a virtual switch in smartthings that alexa picks up. You turn that on when smartthings detects you're out of the house and you turn that off when smartthings detects you're back. I then hooked this up to turn on guard, and run my ecovacs .

[@AutomateYourLife]

😁😁😁😁

[@ehbarooo]

Nice video ! thank you for the solid info ! Is there any way to trigger a routine using nfc tags they are cheap easy to set up stick it everywhere simply tap phone to open light ! Endless possibility cheap ?

[@AutomateYourLife]

You coooooooooould go NFC -> Tasker -> Alexa on a tablet or phone :)

[@sal6830]

Thanks for the video. I have set routine for my outdoors lights to go on at sunset and a routine to go off at sunrise. The issue I’m having is that lights go on at sunset but sometime in the middle of the night the outdoor light are off. I then turn them back on and then they’ll go off at sunrise. I can’t figure out why it will not stay on until sunrise. Any suggestions? Please let me know your thoughts. Thank you

[@AutomateYourLife]

I would suggest that you look at the routines in Amazon's app, because there is a history tab. That would tell you if a routine had run sometime between the sunset routine Turning them on and you finding out that they were off. I would also check the manufacturers app in case you have an automation there or another app.

[@RC44E]

On repeat....little tips like this are helpful.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Glad you like them!

[@RC44E]

@@AutomateYourLife Just had to see if you added more short Alexa tips on your tutorials channel. That tip and simple ones on Alexa would be great there. IMO.

[@AutomateYourLife]

I agree! We will put these over there. Just didn't get it done in time 😀

[@suezsdad]

Hi, I NEED SOME HELP. I have a water heater with a recirculating pump. I would like to setup a routine with an Amazon Smart Plug to turn the pump on for 5 minutes every 30 minutes from 8 am until 11 pm daily. Any ideas???

[@AutomateYourLife]

Jerry, you could use any smart plug that works with Alexa and handles inductive loads like a recirc pump. Then just make routines that go at the times you want! NOW...having said that, I want you to watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWmvpYKVp7yNapI

[@seb9168]

Hi Brian! just discovered your channel. I have an Echo show 5 that displays a 12 hr forecast every 30-40 seconds. It's the same everyday showing snow at 6pm. with the wrong temps. Can I update that or totally eliminate it from the home screen? My location is correct with the temp in the upper left hand corner showing the correct temp.

[@AutomateYourLife]

That's an odd one. You can change the format of the home screen for sure. Just head into your settings and choose a different clock maybe? See if that solves it and go back after a couple days to your old clock screen to test

[@seb9168]

@@AutomateYourLife Thanks Brian. I will try that.

[@crackermantim]

great vid' but what i want to be able to do is delete the activity involved with a routine,seems i have to outright delete the routine to achieve this?

[@AutomateYourLife]

So you can delete the steps within a routine, but yeah...to get rid of activity, you can delete the routine or I think if you deleted your smart home data in privacy it would go.

[@AsDePicasMaGiA]

Hi Brian, do you know if it is possible to enable and disable a routine using a voice command?? I’ve only been able to do it with the toggle inside the routine in the app, but not with the voice!! Thanks!!

[@AutomateYourLife]

Ohhhh I've actually never tried to enable/disable a routine that way. I would think it's only in the app to be honest.

[@marcoabreufilho]

Hello Brian, I have motion sensors that I wanna then to work only after I say “Alexa, good night” or something like that. Is it possible to enable/disable routines through another routine? Or do you have any other solution suggestion?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yep, include a custom action that says "enable ROUTINE_NAME" :)

[@marcoabreufilho]

@@AutomateYourLife sorry for asking but could you give me an practical example? I’ve tried to write this sentence in a lot of ways I couldn’t make it work… For example, my routine name is “nightsensors”

[@AutomateYourLife]

Your custom action would be "enable nightsensors". No quotes obviously.

[@windos54]

Im Hearing What you Said To Get Routine for One Command. I Thought of Asking is How To Turn Light On and Off at Different Times in One Routine. Right Now I set Two Routines for One Light. Can You Help

[@firasf4178]

Hey! If i recall correctly you live in Canada. Is there a way to trigger automations in the great white north using geofencing directly in Alexa like I do on my google home? I am receiving my echos today, but up until now (using the alex app only) I am not able to do so!

[@AutomateYourLife]

I do it! It actually seems like it got removed in Canada. Here's how I did it though: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4OVqJhuYpygnbc

[@firasf4178]

Lol created a new account just for Alexa and linked it to a random US address and I now have all the functionality but I need to pay attention not to purchase anything from it hahah

[@AutomateYourLife]

There ya go. Now you're a king of automation!

[@faengelm]

Excellent! Best review of Alexa Routines I have seen.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Wow, thank you! I reallllly liked this video but it's hard to tell sometimes.

[@dnoland77]

Frank, TW HomeShow has a good one too.

[@Semirdin]

Hi Brian, I have a heating system with alexa skill which can be activated by saying alexa ask 'device' to turn on heating. I'm looking for a way to simplify that long sentence but didn't find a way how to add that in routine as the device itself can be controlled only via the skill and its not visible under devices in alexa app. Any ideas?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yeah! Do a routine that gives you a simplified statement to say, but then executes a customized action! Then type in what you normally say to Alexa there

[@Semirdin]

@@AutomateYourLife thanks but I had to do a workaround using IFTTT as the skill itself when inserted in routine does nothing else except open for further interaction. Anyway I have it solved where all actions are done via IFTTT applet.

[@AlfaMedtech]

How can I add more than one of the same skill to my routines ? When I add one it is gray out when I want to add another Custum one ? Help?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Sadly you can't right now. That's why some of the stuff in this video is so important...cause I think that will come with custom skill actions. kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5fcaIR8lNB6kKM

[@SpaceStrike]

Hey, I need some help from a pro! I am going to move this older smart tv in my room. I have a Original Xbox ONE 500gb(not the brand new one). Should I use the Xbox on my tv or should I get a firestick? Which would be faster

[@AutomateYourLife]

Firesticks are for ease of use and quick content consumption, but won't be the big gaming platform you get with the XBox! So...I think it's back to you for deciding what your primary use case is. Also, why not try the Xbox since you have it and see if you feel the need to upgrade?

[@SpaceStrike]

@@AutomateYourLife oh yeah, I’m not much of a gamer, I was mainly wondering if the Xbox would be faster for zed streaming apps!

[@miner3993]

New time watcher So I would like to ask if there's any way to walk in to a room in my house and say Alexa lights on and Alex knows what room im in and only turn on the light in that room. Thanks for the videos very helpful ☺️

[@AutomateYourLife]

Hey Cesar - You should be able to put both your speaker and your lights in a group in the app and then do that :)

[@houstonshomeautomation3524]

Also finally found out how to use the virtual switch ! Thanks

[@AutomateYourLife]

Glad I could help!

[@HughD]

Great job again, Brian. I use a lot of routines, but not many for music or Fire TVs, but I need to get going on those. Thanks for the "push." and keep them coming. One of my favorite triggers is the "An alarm is dismissed" which works great for those of us who aren't on a set daily schedule. You can have it do all the usual stuff whenever you silence any alarm you have set, regardless of the time. That way you can get the lights throughout the house and other things going like a weather report, etc. The copy is great when you have a lot of actions on a routine...I just need to remember it! Thanks again.

[@AutomateYourLife]

That's actually why I included it...I keep forgetting about that copy! ahahahahhaha! That alarm is dismissed is a great one. You're right. Now I feel like I should've talked about that here because of the great use case you just mentioned.

[@taylorrichard663]

how to you make mulltiple announcemnts in routines to more than one device?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Multiple routines, or use Messages as an action and Send Announcement

[@jarongebhardt]

i dont have the "costomized" routines Option. what to do?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Jaron - This is a feature available just in a few countries. What I've done is changed my Amazon account to a US one (or created a US one and then used that instead). Works well!

[@jarongebhardt]

@@AutomateYourLife I have tryed that like a year ago. My whole custom settings were reset so i changed it back. You could do a Video about the US Version and if its worth to change. That would be great

[@jarongebhardt]

Is there any chance you can do that?

[@ChristopherBriscoe]

Love ALL this!

[@AutomateYourLife]

😁😁😁

[@loganfisher3138]

Two things Amazon really needs to introduce to Alexa routines: "Spoken to" (think how "lights on/off" already works), and "spoken by" (routines varied by voice profile). Also, I really want to put routines into folders.

[@lifeautomated2209]

You can do this a little bit with the “learn voices” feature.

[@loganfisher3138]

@@lifeautomated2209 Barely. That only really works for a handful of things they have programmed in. In any case, they need to fix voice profiles before anything else. I do household sharing and the person I do that with also has a profile on my Alexa login, and this results in them having two voice profiles - this is a bug that desperately needs to be squashed. Either, they need to be able to access everything when they log in via their Amazon login to Alexa (they currently can't see everything when they do that), or Amazon needs to let me associate an Alexa profile on my account with an Amazon account of someone in my household.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Great idea!

[@mrvjtod]

I used a virtual switch via hubitat to only turn my garage dehumidifier in if all three garage doors are closed and the temperature is over 40.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Very nice!!!

[@Interbert]

#sharethelove​ thank you for al the info about all the tips and tricks.

[@AutomateYourLife]

You are so welcome!

[@WhiteZelda]

I have a small issue with one routine, the Good Morning, for some reason i created a duplicate with more and since the default one had very little commands and i didnt want to re-do it, i deleted it, but now everytime i use the Good Morning command it goes back to the default one instead of my customer one. And i cant recover the one i deleted to modify it. any ides what to do ?

[@AutomateYourLife]

I'm betting Amazon doesn't let you use a custom one with a different "ID". Better talk to Amazon support if you can't see it. Check the Featured section of routines though to see if there's a version there again?

[@SpaceStrike]

Hey! I did some research on what you said, and I think your right, the fire tablets have a new dashboard. Now my suggestion to you Is maybe a video explaining the uses of dashboards and why/why not every smart home should have a dashboard(compared to like voice commands or flic buttons)

[@AutomateYourLife]

Interesting suggestion! Thank you! I might just do something like it.

[@SpaceStrike]

@@AutomateYourLife wonderful!

[@overseasdomesticlogistics4179]

Excellent. Can you play moms custom recorded lullaby routine for baby

[@AutomateYourLife]

Little tough to do at the moment. I don't know of a way anyways

[@TiberiuStamatin]

#ShareTheLove - keep it up, your videos are great! Paul sent me :)

[@AutomateYourLife]

Secret Entrance unlocked, Paul Sent Me was the keyword

[@jreoss]

#sharethelove first heard of the contest from Paul. Love watching each of your opinions and uses.

[@AutomateYourLife]

That Paul guy is some kinda great!

[@thisexists6588]

I set up a specific song to an alarm routine and it repeats it perfectly to me (using Spotify as the provider) and it gives me a different song every time ;-; it’s like it picks up on only the artist or only one word from the song name. about to give up on using Alexa altogether and only use it as a Bluetooth speaker which sucks because it’s a cool idea. Anybody maybe know how to fix this?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Are you paying for spotify?

[@UnFormCirusprint]

Suggestion: do a video to setup Geo-fencing for MyQ with Alexa. The video out there are not good!

[@AutomateYourLife]

:) No longer have a MyQ anymore actually! Tough for me to do.

[@Carnivore-With-Reason]

Great info like always #ShareTheLove

[@AutomateYourLife]

Thank you Lazaro!

[@lucasstefan2932]

My coolest idea is putting a motion Sensor into my postbox 👌 do you have any creative ideas too ?

[@AutomateYourLife]

We put them into each one of our new review videos now! :)

[@claudesundae7290]

I don't know if this is the best video to make this request, but can we get something on home automation with a privacy first mindset aka "dumb" smart I.o.T.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Hey Claude - Any AYL video is the right one to make a request. What were you looking for? Options? Features of a couple options? An actual setup? :)

[@ronm6585]

Thanks Brian. Enjoying the cold? 😁🥶

[@AutomateYourLife]

LOL no!!! It just won't stop being so cold...

[@ronm6585]

@@AutomateYourLife Lol, I hear you. Next weekend I hear should be better.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Let's hope cause...such a good winter and then this!😭😭😭

[@ronm6585]

@@AutomateYourLife I hear that.

[@lifeautomated2209]

Wow, great tip

[@AutomateYourLife]

Glad you think so!!

[@berylwhite2983]

Great video you really did your homework! And yes by all means use your disable buttons. They are great for Christmas lights they're great for switching curtains and other items summer to Winter. And remember miss a got yearly reminders reminders now so she can remind you when to change the switches from one direction to another. You taught me a lot of things to cut out my workarounds.. I knew they were coming because they work sometimes and not another but now I have a feeling they're there forever. She's trying to outrun her little brother Google but I think she still going to have to really keep running. Be good we're about to have 7 to 14 inches of snow and a cold wind chill factor probably not anything for you as Canadian. And you need to get an alarm set up for when the wife's sticks you out in the snow

[@AutomateYourLife]

Ohhh you have some absolutely great ideas here too! I would expect no less from you

[@dnoland77]

I hadn't thought of using reminders to re-enable routines, good idea!

[@berylwhite2983]

@@dnoland77 another quick idea that I do every year is the Wi-Fi or zigbee plugs that you use for your Christmas tree or Christmas lights I drop them in the box so that as soon as they're ready to be used I pulled them out and on the side of the box it says what the plug is named in the Alexa program

[@janbibilo6975]

#sharethelove Paul sent me and I am so glad .Terrific videos.I have learnt a lot

[@AutomateYourLife]

Oh great Jan!

[@supernova8962]

Im not a big fan of Virtual switches...just seem little more steps and can be a pain

[@AutomateYourLife]

They tend to help if you need to bring a complex situation into an easily automated one in a separate system. It's like a variable in normal programming.

[@paul9387]

And again, more homework for me lol Brian, did Amazon finally come up with baby crying trigger option?

[@AutomateYourLife]

Not there...yet :(

[@soghacker]

I think you’ll appreciate this: I use this trick to create routines to unlock my Wyze lock. You’d say “that’s not possible” but it is, because the custom field in Alexa routines speaks with the same cadence Alexa does. This allows you to use punctuation to stretch out the command to include the response to the question that you know Alexa will ask you. So if you create a routine saying unlock Wyze lock and then a few commas and then spell out the numbers one at a time for your Alexa Wyze lock voice enabled code it works! I use this to have an NFC tag unlock my Wyze lock. My custom field looks like this in Alexa “Unlock front door, , , one two three four”

[@AutomateYourLife]

Nice work!!! Love it!

[@SpaceStrike]

I’m still waiting for the fire tablet to be considered an actual Alexa device and have the same features as a show

[@AutomateYourLife]

They have that new display mode! I'm pretty excited for the day there's parity too.

[@SpaceStrike]

@@AutomateYourLife unfortunately I think that’s only for the new tablets, but your right it’s goid to see progress

[@DuskyQed]

IFTTT is way too slow for most automations.

[@lifeautomated2209]

Good to know. I just bought that software

[@AutomateYourLife]

It depends on the service, but yeah you're usually going to have a pretty good delay with the smart home gear. I think it's great for services though, and for things you don't need to happen instantaneously. Especially for things like coming home right? Like I don't care if it takes an extra couple of seconds there...cause I'm not there!

[@DuskyQed]

@@AutomateYourLife Good point. When I set it up for motion sensors and light switches, people complained that it was too slow.

[@ColinHughesUK]

Sadly “on shuffle” does not work with Apple Music in Alexa routines Functionality been broken for a long time, if it ever worked at all is debatable. I blame Apple for this as Spotify and Amazon Music shuffle just fine

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yeahhhhhh...I'm not sure what that's all about with Apple cause the partnership between those two companies seemed to be something they were both so excited about!

[@ColinHughesUK]

@@AutomateYourLife it annoys me because Apple Music is a paid service 10 bucks a month and I pay that for it to work properly on all platforms where it has an official presence. If the Spotify Alexa skill allows for shuffling in routines Apple’s skill should too. Apple have known about this for a long time but have put zero effort into fixing it. Apple user forums and Reddit full of complaints but nothing gets done. Really disappointing

[@SpaceStrike]

Did you know that if you use the Internet Archive website and the University Blueprint Skill with RSS, you can play your own mp3 on Alexa. Ah who I am kidding, you probably do, but if you ever need me to explain more I’ll be glad too. Now I just hope they dont remove the university lecture blueprint.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Very cool! Did not know this!!

[@gigasoftgaming]

Why can't we use two skills for one routine? I want Alexa to arm my alarm, and also lock doors at the same time, I needed to make two routines, why can't I do it all in one?

[@AutomateYourLife]

I can't tell ya that one...I think you should just be using the Smart Home section to lock your door locks though, no?

[@gigasoftgaming]

@@AutomateYourLife I have 2 routines with Alexa that works it just seams like an unnecessary limitation to Alexa

[@Charlie_Chicago]

Now if you could only hack a scale.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Amazon does have a scale now 😃

[@GrandmaHatesTech]

My Alexa keeps on playing Tricks on me!

[@AutomateYourLife]

No granny...that's your son!

[@GrandmaHatesTech]

@@AutomateYourLife Probably my Grandson!!. Hey my Channel just reached 100 subscribers, I'm so happy :)

[@robertdjarv4558]

#sharethelove Paul sent me ;)

[@AutomateYourLife]

Welcome and thanks!

[@nerijusburcikas]

alexa routines sounds very good but not always working you can't trust them.

[@AutomateYourLife]

Yeah...that depends on country/services in each country. They're pretty good in general here in Canada.

[@letsfixsomethingathome8536]

#sharethelove Must be Covid that makes me love to "automate my life", my sisters home and Control the World... :) or how little control we have.

[@alanmalarkey]

Paul sent me #sharethelove I'm trying to be kinder towards 🤓 geeks

[@AutomateYourLife]

A good goal!

[@davidmeredith2695]

#sharethelove Flic buttons are better than Paul Hinbert lol

[@AutomateYourLife]

Oh snap!

[@garywain4011]

#sharethelove Paul said I had to do this or he wouldn't release my family.

[@AutomateYourLife]

He would!! LOL

[@houstonshomeautomation3524]

I dont wast money on stupid things ( eyeing up samsung vacuum )

[@AutomateYourLife]

ahahahahhaha, at least you know it going in!

[@bodaciuos357]

just four dollars ..... 5 for that ... 2 for this .. 12 a month ..144 a year .. oh yeah for got 12 for prime 288 a year .. oh don't forget you need internet 100 a month 1200 a year .. $ 1567 a year min .. what a bargain ..

[@AutomateYourLife]

Hopefully that's not the only reason you're getting internet!