The tutorial you are about to read is not the least. Following a lot of feedback from members, we are going to offer you a tutorial on how to do routines with Alexa ! Because unlike love, Alexa love routine.
First of all, what is a routine? A routine is a sequence of actions that you determine yourself to meet your own needs, according to your desires: wake up gradually, receive a notification of arrival of mail, switch on or off at a fixed time ...
So we'll explain how it works and give you tips, like Huggy.
The creation of groups: the more the merrier ...
In some cases, you may want to act not on a single element but a set of connected devices. This is called a group.
You can put everything there in terms of connected devices. How it works ? It's relatively straightforward. In the devices section, press the + at the top right and select "Add a group". You can choose its name and then come and put the devices you want by checking them, quite simply. In the case presented, it is a light group comprising different lamps, from different parts. You can do this for anything you want: a set of devices in the same room, a set of Echo (this is the principle of multiroom), ...
This prerequisite was necessary in order to attack the routines as such.
The routines: the beginning of the fun!
That's it, we're getting there! What do we find in the routines menu and its submenus ? First of all, to access the routines, open the menu at the top left and select routines... Then press the + at the top right to create one.
From there, this is what we find. When you create a routine, two subgroups appear:
- "When it happens". It is the gateway to routine. The one where you will start your sequence.
- Voice : it is an activation ofAlexa by a sentence that you yourself will determine. For example, " Alexa, Cuckoo "or" Alexa, turn everything off ”.
- Plan : another way of entry, the realization of a routine at fixed time. You choose the time and days to activate it. Be careful, it's either every day, week or weekend. For the moment, no possibility of choosing only a few days in weeks ... It will be necessary to do as much routine ...
- Device : With compatible devices (door opening detectors, thermometers, etc.), you choose an action according to the state of the device or a threshold.
- "Add an action". So this is the heart of your routine. From there you will choose what to perform as an action.
- Alexa says: lots of choices ranging from a simple hello, to phrases created by yourself to a set of pre-established phrases.
- Connected home: This is where you will choose the actions to be performed by a connected device such as turning off a bulb or turning it on, acting on its brightness or color or even adjusting the temperature ...
- Message: receive a notification on the app, which you will write yourself.
- Music : play a track or a playslist, choosing your music service and setting a timer after which it will turn off, if you wish.
- Weather report : Alexa will announce the weather forecast for your city of residence (the one entered in your settings).
- New : Alexa will spell out the news based on your list of chosen Skills.
- Device settings: you can turn off your Echoes or adjust their volume.
- Wait: very useful, this function allows you to chain actions not afterwards, but after a certain time. Like turning on a light at X% and switching it to X + 10% 1 min later ...
- Traffic: Alexa will give you the status to a dedicated location (entered in your settings).
There you go, you know where to find your different parts of the routines. We will see how to articulate them with concrete examples.
Routines! Routines! Routines!
Here are some examples of routines on which you can base yourself so that you can fully understand the system and give you ideas!
So thatAlexa tells you that you have received a package:
A routine for a gentle awakening:
It's up to you to vary the pleasures and add music or other ...
Do you remember your group of lights? He's there :
Be careful, when you do certain routines, it is necessary to choose the device where the action will take place.
And now, thanks to this tutorial, you are the routines no longer have any secrets! You are free to do what you want with it !!
Hello Christopher,
A small thank you for your tutorial because I have just learned that to start your sequence, you need compatible devices (door opening detectors, thermometers ...)
Are you talking about detectors, which are compatible?
Thank you
Sorry, Jean-Christophe
Hello Philippe, thank you for this message.
Indeed, some devices can allow you to launch specific sequences. However, it is not easy to find which ones are compatible. because haphazardly luck .. With all the tests done only the aperture sensors and some cameras allow it ... Unfortunately, this is not something really developed via Alexa. But one possibility would be to create scenarios in the proprietary application and integrate them into a routine Alexa. Because the routines integrate the scenarios without problem.
This also gives an idea of a tutorial! Thank you!
Hello Jean-Christophe,
Thanks for this tutorial…
In the gentle awakening, I would like to create the routine: I get up
Alexa would turn on the light ...
But the problem is, I would like her to play RTL radio on my multiroom
And that's where I run into the problem! Impossible to get into the routine: "play RTL on MULTIROOM" which she does not understand!
Do you have something?
Thank you
Hello! Have you tried asking alexa, throws, or plays, rtl everywhere? For me it works. But it's tunein that's going to get started, not the radio skills.
Hi
I am in the process of setting up my morning routine.
Right now when I say " Alexa, start my day ”, here are the actions:
Turn on the coffee maker
Say hi
Read the news
Wait 15min
Switch off the coffee maker
I would like to add two things: After good morning, I would likeAlexa tell me the time
And after the news, I would like her to tell me if I have things planned via my google calendar.
Is it possible?
Thank you
Unfortunately, it seems that the agenda is still not available. The same for the hour. These are features that should not be long in coming, however.
Hello, I am trying to create a simple routine to launch a specific radio (181.fm good time oldies) on tune in, which I manage to do from the app but cannot do it.
I put in trigger word: " Alexa, launches the action one "or" Alexa play one hundred and eighty one ”or“ Alexa play my favorite radio ”but nothing helps. Do you have to wait a long time for the sentence to be taken into account or is there a trick?
Thank you
Hello,

After multiple attempts, I have just passed. I put very precisely “Station 181.FM Good Time Oldies”. Here is a capture.
Hello, in the routine for the parcel, which detector do you use for the mailbox? Thank you
Hello Matthew,
We used the Konyks Senso but it also works with the Zemi sensorsmart.
And we have tested both successfully Sensor Zemismart et Konyks Senso.
Thank you ! It's ordered, I just hope it will be good in terms of wifi range
There are still a large number of devices compatible with alexa. There are several models of opening detectors, motion detectors and even more devices that can be controlled by alexa (on / off modules, lights, sockets, etc.). You can easily find all of this on amazon, aliexpress, ... all this in wifi, directly usable by alexa via the skills corresponding to the material. For those who already have home automation at home, a little configuration and research allows with a little work to link alexa to the existing.
Hello, I love it Alexa and your page ... except that often the tutorials are made for Alexa Android and I am on windows 10 and I don't have ROUTINES in the app menu! Sniff!
G a chinese android 7 tablet and I can't install it Alexa ... I put my identifiers amazon … He records and I am always answered “the connection time is exceeded” and then nothing… impossible to do anything…
I uninstall I re-download and the same ...
An idea ?
Thank you!
Hello,
Unfortunately, you absolutely need an Android or iOS mobile device, the "browser" version only offering a small number of features. Normally, however, you should be able to install it, the application Alexa running from version 5 of Android. I invite you to try downloading an old beta version ofAlexa, which will update afterwards, but which may possibly resolve your concerns. Appointment here., download the app (you need to allow unknown sources, but fear not, this is an official beta).
Good luck!
Good evening have you the manipulation to delete the routines because the routines programmed with my HUE are erased but the programming remained it is very annoying because they are programmed with summer time.
please
Just open the routine in your app Alexa, open the 3 small dots at the top right and choose delete.
Hello
is it possible to make several sentences in the same routine
example just to open !! Alexa raise the shutter of the kitchen
Alexa raise the kitchen shutter
Alexa open the kitchen shutter
with 6 part it makes a lot of routine
good I answer myself
works it works with google home
not with Alexa !
Hello
is it possible to import existing routines
from one account to another
please
Hello,
No Unfortunately. 🙁
Hello,
I would like to start my morning routine " Alexa, je me leve ”which turns on light + RTL radio on my speaker group (made up of 2 echo plus + subwoofer)
The routine suggests that I choose only one speaker from the group and not the whole group
Is there a trick to do what I want,
Thanks for the reply
Jean Jacques
Hello,
Unfortunately the routines do not work on speaker groups.
Good weekend
Hello,
Is it possible to create a routine to turn on a device, wait a certain time, then turn off the same device without having to create 2 routines one to turn on the device at a certain time and then another to turn off the device at another time ? When I wanted to create a single routine, I couldn't organize the actions in the right order, instead of having to turn on wait turn off the order recorded in the app is: turn off turn on wait although entered in the right order.
Thank you for your help.
Hello,
When you do your routines, each action has two small lines on the right that you just need to keep pressed to place the action where you want and reorganize your routine as desired.
Happy Sunday and Happy Holidays!
Hi
Is it possible to create a routine that simulates sending voice commands to Alexa
Let me explain: the skill of my television only manages ON / OFF in the application.
But vocally, I can manage the change of channels, sound, inputs, etc….
How can I get these voice commands (which do not exist in the app) executed in a routine
Example: By voice I can do
- Alexa turn on the TV
- Alexa put channel N ° 1
- Alexa set the sound to 50%
What I would like via a routine:
- Alexa , TV night
... and she would chain the previous orders
Thank you
Hello,
Unfortunately, being a skill you can only launch it and not place commands which must be voice. Only a device such as a Broadlink RM Pro + hub, for example, allows it.
Good weekend
Hello,
I'm desperately trying to be able to turn a lamp on and off GENTLY, i.e. over 15 seconds for example to go from 0% to 100% and ditto in the other direction to turn off (The goal is to make a movie theater effect ... the film starts and the light gradually turns off)
I've been looking for weeks ... Your help would be HUGE for me
Respectfully
Hello,
To our knowledge, this type of fading can only be done via scenes on the application that manages the bulbs. You can then use them in a routine Alexa.
It's possible with Philips Hue, maybe with Tuya / Smart Life, but that remains to be verified.
Good Sunday
Hello, the routines in Alexa are very useful for automating sequences. In a routine, you can trigger an action following an event, set a time delay before triggering a second action. Only, if the initiating event of the routine disappears, the routine continues to run. example: when a door is opened, the associated sensor sends the info that the door is open, we wait 10 minutes and IF the door is still open, a message is sent to indicate that the door is still open. Currently, the routine continues to run even if the door has been closed and the message is sent after 10 minutes. Do you have a solution ? thank you
Hi,
With what type of sensor? I have not seen this on mine.
Good night
Hello, I have 2 brands of door switch: classic, unbranded (made in RPC) and LSC. The behavior is the same on both 2. if the door is closed during the time delay before the next announcement, the door open announcement is still announced at the end of the timeout, while closing the door should cancel the process. routine. But maybe it is a bug in the functioning of the routines. How to trace this question back to Amazone? thank you.
Hello, I have devices in all the rooms. When I start the timer, I would like it to ring in all the rooms. I do not know how to do. Thank you
Hello,
Unfortunately, this is not possible, only the device on which the timer is activated will start. However, it is possible to go through IFTTT (see our tutorial) to be warned about his smartphone for example.
Have a good day
Hello,
I have a Freebox Delta, a Samsung Qled 80 series TV (scene created on SmartThings to turn the TV on and off) and I don't have a hub.
I created a routine with several actions and expectations between certain actions.
Turn off the TV, mute the Delta, change the sound volume.
It all works perfectly.
The only downside is that I don't know how to add the action to put such and such a chain.
Hope you find the solution and wish you have a great day.
Hello,
I have a Freebox Delta, a Samsung Qled 80 series TV (scene created on SmartThings to turn the TV on and off) and I don't have a hub.
I created a routine with several actions and expectations between certain actions.
Turn off the TV, mute the Delta, change the sound volume.
It all works perfectly.
The only downside is that I don't know how to add the action to put such and such a chain.
Hope you find the solution and wish you have a great day.
Hello,
I have a Freebox Delta, a Samsung Qled 80 series TV (scene created on SmartThings to turn the TV on and off) and I don't have a hub.
I created a routine with several actions and expectations between certain actions.
Turn off the TV, mute the Delta, change the sound volume.
It all works perfectly.
The only downside is that I don't know how to add the action to put such and such a chain.
Hope you find the solution and wish you have a great day.
hello I have etersky roller shutter switches I manage to create a break or stop in smartlife but impossible to do a routine sequence in alexia? Is there a trick somewhere?
Hello,
Have you activated the skill Smart Life in Alexa? Are your switches going up?
yes in alexia and smart life I can move up or down a shutter without pb.
in smart life I manage to create a pause scenario and it works by pressing in the application but I cannot under alexia
You have to do a routine under Alexa, with a sentence like " Alexa, stop the shutters ”and come and get the scenario in order to activate it.
Hello,
Normally you should be able to do this with the skill SmartSamsung Things.
Have a good day too. 🙂
hello i'm looking for a way to create a routine that is triggered by location, like when i get to my house the garage door opens. No matter how much I looked, but I cannot find a trigger by localization whenalexa is supposed to do it against Google.
Hello,
Geolocation is currently not supported in routines Alexa.
Hello Jean-Christophe,
Is there a maximum number of routines that we cannot exceed or is it unlimited?
Hello,
I created a routine with a presence sensor (from Action) to turn on the light. It works nickel ...
So, I created a routine so that I could turn off the light but it doesn't work 😓.
I put: qd the sensor detects no mvt after 1 minutes the light goes out
Help would be welcome thank you 👍🏻😁🤞🏻
Happy new year 2021 especially
Hello,
Sorry for the time taken to respond, we were on vacation. 😉
Try extending the duration to see, it is possible that a minute is a little short for this type of Wi-Fi sensor (it works in ZigBee however).
Happy New Year too! 🙂
Hello Jean-Christophe, thank you for this tutorial.
I created a routine triggered by an IFTTT triger that produces an ad, but I would like this ad to be whispered, do you believe this function exists?
Hello Laurent,
No, unfortunately that is not possible at the moment, but it is a very interesting suggestion ...
Good evening 🙂
Hello, yes, I think we need to put a little bigger time delay. At home, it works very well with a tempo of 3 minutes. Good continuation.
Hi
I start to master more or less the routines… After those of GH that I master completely there
On the other hand I stumble on this very simple thing ...
I have 5 Tuya thermometers that go up well in Alexa and which I get the temperature by Alexa give me the temperature of Name Thermometer.
I would like that in the routine "I get up" which does a lot of things, Alexa gives me the temperature of these thermometers ...
I did not find how ...
The thermometers do not appear in the connected objects of the routines
Obviously it is only possible to put a single personalized order in a routine and at the end ... So impossible to chain 5 orders (which is obvious in GH)
Finally by creating a thermometer group, Alexa does not list thermometer temperatures like Google does but gives the average (stupid)
So if anyone knows how to do it, I'm a taker
Hello,
Unfortunately this kind of sensor is not yet fully supported by Alexa.
You can nevertheless "tinker" routines with "Custom" in "Add an action", GH style. 😉
Have a nice week end !