Alexa Routines activate at a specific time or during a specific requirement being met. These are really helpful because they act as shortcuts for you in particular moments.
This means that you can use them to do something when you want it done without having to do it yourself.
But, can these routines work on a condition that acts as an “if then” clause? Here’s what you should know about this, including what it means.
Read:
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What Does “If Then” Mean For An Alexa Routine?
An “if then” routine on Alexa would simply be a type of routine that does one thing when a certain condition is met, or another thing if that particular condition isn’t met.
Say for example that there’s a particular fan or lightbulb being controlled by an Alexa routine. The condition in this situation would be…
- IF there is no movement in the room for 15 minutes, the fan will turn off.
- IF there is no movement in the room for 15 minutes but the TV is on, the fan won’t turn off.
With a routine like that, you would be able to save power when it’s necessary, and keep the lights on when you need them but aren’t moving around.
Is An “If Then” Alexa Routine Possible?
I’m not sure if you’ve already figured it out with the way I phrased my sentences but no, unfortunately “if then” routines aren’t possible on the Alexa App or devices.
You can’t set conditionals on them, and it’s simply something that these systems aren’t made for. There are workarounds that you can use for specific instances, however.
For example, you can have a separate routine active at the same time as another routine for two different outcomes. That way, only one will play when either outcome happens.
But, both functions can’t be put into the same routine. It’s a real shame because it would open up a lot more functionality on these devices, but it just isn’t possible on these systems as of now.
It is possible to change the functions of these devices using Home Assistant, though.
Home Assistant is a mobile app capable of helping you manage all the smarthome devices you have with just your phone. It’s easy to use, and gives you a lot more options with what Alexa is capable of.
If you install the app and set Alexa up with it, you should be able to create “if then” routines that match what you’re looking for. This way, you can create lots of different shortcuts that work conditionally.
Other than that, there isn’t anything else to do if you want to create “if then” routines. There’s just the option of Home Assistant and other apps similar to it.
Home Assistant is the one I mentioned in particular because it’s the most popular and offers ease of use. Hopefully it can help you set up the conditions you need if you end up using it.
