To create a home automation routine, open your smart-home app, start a new automation, choose what triggers it, add any conditions that must be true, select the actions, then save and test it. For example: at sunset, turn on the living-room lights. The exact controls depend on your platform and connected devices.
How a home automation routine works
A routine links an event to an action. The event is the trigger: for example, a time, sunset, a person arriving, a sensor detecting motion, a voice command, or an accessory changing state. An optional condition narrows when the routine is allowed to run. The action is what happens, such as switching on a compatible light, adjusting a thermostat, activating a scene, or sending a notification. Home Assistant’s automation guide explains how triggers, conditions, and actions fit together.
A trigger and a condition are not the same. A trigger can occur while a condition is false, in which case the routine may not perform its action. Add a condition only when you need that extra check—for instance, turn on a light at sunset only if someone is home.
Create a routine in your smart-home app
- Open the automation or routine editor. The name and location vary by platform; see the platform-specific paths below.
- Name the routine so you can identify it later, such as “Sunset living-room lights.”
- Choose a trigger. Decide which repeatable event should start the routine, such as a time, sunset, motion, or a voice command.
- Add conditions if needed. Use these only to restrict the routine—for example, require a presence or device-state check.
- Choose one or more actions. Select the compatible accessories or services and specify what they should do.
- Save and test. Confirm the automation is enabled and that the trigger, conditions, and actions behave as intended.
The app can only offer the devices and controls supported by your connected equipment, integrations, account permissions, and available features.
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Google Home: create a household automation
- In Google Home, tap Add > Automation.
- Give the automation a name.
- Add a starter, then add any conditions and actions you need.
- Tap Save.
For “At sunset, turn on the living-room lights,” choose sunset as the starter and select a compatible light as the action. Add a condition only if it serves a specific purpose. Google distinguishes household automations from Personal Routines; household automations can be created and managed by home admins and members who have Settings permission. An automation without a starter will not run automatically, though it can be started manually if it has no conditions. Google says the new editor is still evolving, and some features may not be available in it. Switching back to the previous editor can make automations created in the new editor no longer editable there. Labels and editor availability may vary as the app changes. Google Home’s automation instructions have the current details.
Apple Home: create an automation on iPhone
- Open the Home app and tap Add > Add Automation.
- Choose a trigger category: people arriving or leaving, a time of day, an accessory being controlled, or a sensor detecting something.
- Follow the on-screen steps to choose the affected accessories and actions, then save.
For example, a motion sensor can trigger a stairway light. Sunrise and sunset triggers shift with the seasons. From the automation list, you can enable or disable, edit, test, or delete an automation. Apple’s documented use cases for Thread accessories require a Thread-enabled home hub—Apple TV 4K, HomePod (2nd generation), or HomePod mini—or a compatible third-party Thread border router for automations, notifications, and control while away. Apple’s iPhone Home guide describes the setup flow and requirements.
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Amazon Alexa: create a routine
- In the Alexa app, choose More > Routines > +.
- Select Add an event and choose what should start the routine.
- Select Add an action, choose one or more actions, and configure any extra settings shown.
- Save the routine.
A routine can use a chosen time or a voice phrase as its event, then run compatible smart-home actions. Alexa’s options depend on the devices and features available to your account; routines can be set up for a whole home or an individual profile. Amazon’s Alexa routine help outlines the flow.
Home Assistant: build an automation in the visual editor
- Go to Settings > Automations & scenes > Create automation > Create new automation.
- Add a trigger, such as sunset or a fixed time.
- Add a condition only if the action should run only when a particular state is true.
- Add the action, give the automation a specific name and description, and save it.
Home Assistant’s examples include using a sun trigger set for 30 minutes before sunset to turn on living-room lights, and pairing a fixed-time trigger with a workday sensor and a check that the light is on before dimming it. The lighting example requires Home Assistant to be installed and configured, an integration, and an integrated light. The automation basics guide explains the editor model, and the getting-started tutorial walks through an example. Home Assistant can also work alongside Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa through integrations, but a device or feature is not guaranteed to appear identically in every platform. See Home Assistant’s platform compatibility FAQ.
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Choose the platform that fits your routine
Before building a more involved routine, check whether your platform supports the trigger and conditions you need, whether your devices are compatible, and whether any hub or integration is required. Also consider which app your household already uses and whether the routine depends on internet, Wi-Fi, or a third-party service. The platforms differ in their documented requirements:
- Google Home: household automation permissions depend on home-admin or Settings access, and network or third-party service issues can affect execution.
- Apple Home: Thread accessories have a hub or border-router requirement for the documented automation and remote-control use cases.
- Home Assistant: integrations can connect it with major smart-home platforms, though controls and device support may differ between them.
If the routine does not run
- Check that the automation is enabled.
- Confirm the trigger actually occurred in the way and at the time you configured it.
- Check whether every condition was true when the trigger occurred.
- Confirm the target device is online and controllable from its app.
- Test the routine in its editor if your platform provides a test control, then inspect the trigger, conditions, and actions separately.
Automations are useful for convenience, but they are not dependable substitutes for manual controls in safety- or security-critical situations. Google warns that an automation may fail to start or stop when internet, Wi-Fi, or third-party services are unavailable. Keep a manual way to operate important devices, and do not assume a routine will run during every outage or across every device. Compatibility, region, language, permissions, subscription-gated features, and editor availability can affect the choices you see.
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