Homekit Automations with shortcuts!

Question

teymur88 Author

Level 1

9 points

Homekit Automations with shortcuts!

Hi All,

My devices: iPhone XS Max – iOS 13.4.1, AppleTV 4K – tvOS 13.4

I’m experiencing some issues with homekit automations which involve

shortcuts. My scenario is following:

WHEN motion is detected, IF (current security system state is AWAY), THEN switch on/off

any accessory.

This automation doesn’t work! Now, the point here is checking a Security Device (lock mechanism/security system/etc) status! Any automation

involving a security device status check won’t work for whatever reason.

P.S

Your trigger can be anything, your security device can be a lock mechanism /

security system. I wrote another automation involving a status check of another

security device (lock mechanism) and that didn’t work either. Can anyone try to reproduce this

on their side? Can we get some help from Apple? I’ll attach my automation

snapshot.

Regards

Teymur

Apple TV 4K, tvOS 13

Posted on May 13, 2020 4:42 AM

Reply

Answer 1

bilbay

Level 1

4 points

May 14, 2020 7:22 AM in response to teymur88

Yes I have a few automation/shortcuts that use the get info command. For some reason they almost always fail to work the first few times I try them and I have to disable and then enable them again. Sometimes I have to close the app and reopen it first. It seems as if HomeKit takes a few attempts to learn or follow the commands. I also have the Aqara home security and it should work. Here is a simple one I made. If the bedroom door (aqara sensor) is closed and someone opens the back door (aqara sensor) then turn on 3 Phillips hue lights.

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Answer 2

bilbay

Level 1

4 points

May 14, 2020 8:46 AM in response to teymur88

Actually I just remembered I do have this one that works. When my driveway detects motion, and the back door is unlocked, it turns on a light, and plays music on the home pod. In order for it to work, I had to add the light. The homepod would not play unless I added the light first. Something I learned from Shane Wheatley’s YouTube channel. Here are the screenshots.

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Answer 3

bilbay

Level 1

4 points

May 13, 2020 2:28 PM in response to teymur88

Your missing the "get state of my home" command in the shortcut screen. It should come before the "if" command. That is how your homekit knows if the alarm system is on or off. It will get the alarm status. Your "set" my home command should come before the "otherwise". Any thing that comes after otherwise tells your shortcut what to do when the "if" statement does not apply. Most of the time the otherwise ends the shortcut and nothing follows. So it should read "Get the state of my home", "if statement", "set my home, then "otherwise', then "end."

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Answer 4

teymur88 Author

Level 1

9 points

May 14, 2020 7:44 AM in response to bilbay

Hey bilbay, I don't think you get the point. Read my initial post again carefully. The point is checking the state of a security device! Door/Motion/Leak/etc sensors are not security devices. Security devices are: a Lock Mechanism, a Security System.

If you happen to have any of those then try creating an automation in Home app which involves a condition of checking status of those and then taking action like turning the lights on.

P.S in your example above you're actually polling that "bedroom door sensor " status twice. Once when you use "Get State of my home" Second time is when you do IF. Getting rid of the "Get State of my home" and leaving just the "IF" will do the same.

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Answer 5

bilbay

Level 1

4 points

May 14, 2020 8:37 AM in response to teymur88

I will try a security device If automation when I get home. As for polling the door twice. It is set correctly and works fine. I have several and they all work as desired. I have tried them without the get statements and they didn’t work.

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Answer 6

bilbay

Level 1

4 points

May 14, 2020 1:00 PM in response to teymur88

Something is definitely wrong. I just tested the 2 automations that use the door lock and now they won’t work. They worked on Saturday, but not today. At least one of them did on Saturday. The other automations that use the door sensor, location, etc work fine, but the ones that use the door locks are not working. So I am at a loss too. I hope Apple or someone can help.

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Answer 7

teymur88 Author

Level 1

9 points

May 14, 2020 1:18 PM in response to bilbay

Now finally you agree that automations involving a security device status check won’t work. I’ve asked a several people to test that none of them had a luck in getting that to work! Apple, please help!

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Answer 8

teymur88 Author

Level 1

9 points

May 14, 2020 9:06 AM in response to bilbay

That is really strange! You might want to redo those. Mine work without using the get statement. That get statement you would use only to set a variable, and use that later on. Check this out:

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