I have my shortcuts set so when I open one exterior door, if the other exterior door is open, it shuts off the HVAC. When both are closed, it resumes whatever my previous thermostat settings were. That way it won't shut off if I'm just taking the trash out or checking the mail. Good stuff; not too many people making videos regarding more complex shortcuts like this. Keep 'em coming!
Nice! I love hearing about how other people are using these automations. Always good for inspiration! Definitely going to be doing more of these in the future. Crossing my fingers that the Convert to Shortcuts gets less buggy soon. I've got a couple of things I'm working on that I've hit some walls just because of bugs. Hoping fixed in next version of ios and will reveal soon!
Tkorn43 do you have the steps for this at all please? New to homekit and this is what I want to do in each room, but not sure how to get it to return to previous state when sensor is closed again.
@@rr2d2c23 every setup will be different based on the equipment you have and your house, but sounds like you want to enable the "resume" scene in the ecobee app, then utilize it on homekit. Really, the tricky part is incorporating logic to make sure you don't override another shortcut. For example: I have my heat turn off when I'm in my gym. When I leave the gym, I want the thermostat to resume, but not if it's also on hold for something else. So, I have my gym shortcut set up to check the status of the things that would also trigger a thermostat hold, and it won't resume if those are also tripped.
@@tkorn43 that sounds really complicated 😂😂. My heating system is hive, I am in the uk. I need to start simple. Trying to find some good tutorials online at the moment. Thanks for tip, it can get really tricky when you have multiple automations in one area can’t it
@@rr2d2c23 yeah, it can seem daunting at first... When I first got started, I was frustrated at the lack of tutorials of how exactly to set up a shortcut. It's mind boggling to me that Apple doesn't even put out instructions on how to use their own app! It really is one of those things that you'll tinker with for a few weeks, and once you learn more from actual successes and failures, you'll come to learn what works and what doesn't. My advice to any beginner: don't automate anything that you'd have to explain to a guest. If a guest has to learn how to use your house, then the automation isn't smart enough, and is sort of defeating it's own purpose. Only automate things in a way that they do what you already want to do... Like turning on lights in your house when you enter, after sunset, but only if no motion is detected inside first. Don't make it so that you have to override things in certain situations, because then the automation is giving you more work, not less. Best of luck!
It’s like you read my mind! Just installed an Eve door and window on my patio sliding door and have been making a rule in Eve, the convert to shortcut is the way to go! Thanks Chris!
LOL Nice! I need to break these down and put the whole shortcut on my blog as well to make it a little easier to follow. Will be hopefully posting some of these on the weekend.
Check the website on the weekend ( www.homekitgeek.com ) I'm thinking of actually adding a new section that will just contain some of these automation recipes. No idea how many I will have but I've gotten enough questions that I'm hoping it will be a useful resource. A the very least, these three, the IFTTT notification and a couple more that I'm working on now. ;)
Thank you so much for taking my question and putting it in one of your videos. I will be changing all go my closet door contact sensors to use your method. That will get rid of three extra automations that I will no longer need. On your Summer Time one, might I suggest that you tie that into a temperature sensor outside and if the outside temperature is in a certain range, then turn the thermostat on or off, or change the temperature set point accordingly. I love the contact sensor on a white board for additional checks. I was going to do this with a smart plug for when we have guests staying at our house, but I like the contact sensor idea better. I have automations that turns certain lights on and off automatically for me when I get up in the morning and when my in-laws visit, I don't want these automations to run.
Thank you for the inspiration! Totally agree on the Summer time suggestion piece! This is probably one I'm going to dig more into on the whole process to be honest. I did try to use the get weather details within the Convert to Shortcut piece, but to be honest, that API really sucks. No other way to say it. I've got an Eve Degree (weather Gen2) that's outside, but it's not reliable enough with the BLE connection to be able to rely on it within an automation like this. It's not shipping in Canada yet so I'm importing from the US. Once that arrives I have a few different ideas to bring hyper-local weather into these kinds of automations. Shipping currently shows sometime in early may so I'm hoping it will be here before summer! :) I had some extra contact sensors hanging out from my earlier days before I moved to the Abode security system. I'll probably be moving these to the front door so the kids can be part of the automation journey. Never too young!
Love the video! The white board with contact sensors is hardcore! 🔥 I love the "proxy" idea though; already thinking about how I can utilize this concept in my automations!
Thanks TBD! Really appreciate! This same idea is often used by creating dummy switches in Homebridge or sometimes a spare smartplug. As most of the kids in my house still don't have cel phones, the current location based automations just don't work for them so I had to get creative. Definitely let us all know what you come up with! For anyone who doesn't know: TBD is a coming up creator focused on Homekit as well! You should all go and subscribe to his channel!
@@Homekitgeek Thanks for the callout, Chris! I appreciate it. You have found some impressive ways to get creative and I'm so thankful for your support! 😎
Something that I was considering, inspired by your use of Contact Sensors, is setting up some Dummy switches for each person in HOOBS to do effectively the same thing. That said, I really like the "physical" nature of the contact sensors on the white board. Reminds me a little of the Clock at the Weasley house in Harry Potter showing where each member of the family is.
Thanks Howard! Hoobs/Homebridge dummy switches are definitely a way to go as well. I totally know what you mean about the Weasley Clock... I might have to see if there’s something there that I figure out.... :)
Great video, seems I have some scenes I have to modify and delete. I use a contact sensor on my home office door to turn on my desk lights. In automation short cut I check the status of one of the lights in the scene and not the sensor itself. Changing it I can eliminate one scene.
Yup. There are a ton of small things you can do to make your smarthome more efficient. I feel like I've just scratched the surface of what's possible now that I'm really digging into the Convert to Shortcuts piece. Also finding some jagged edges, but hoping those will be fixed in an upcoming release :)
Okay, I have tried to create the closet door automation and I cannot figure out how you were able to create the trigger of contact sensor opens or closes. I have the Aqara contact sensors, and I only have the option of when the state changes to Open or the state changes to Closed. I don't have an option for if the state just changes. How do I get that to work?
Hey Frederick! I used the Home+ app to create an automation that will trigger based on any state change. I’ve had a couple people reach out so I think I might go through this one in more detail. You can also create this trigger in the Controller for HomeKit app.
@@Homekitgeek Yes, please do. I am using the Home Controller app and I don't see any way to "convert to shortcut" I tried to create an automation in the Home Controller app and then see if I could edit it in the Apple Home app, but it doesn't show up. In the Home Controller app, there is a Green circle next to the name like the other automations that I have created in the Home app, but it doesn't show up in the Home app. I will try playing around with it some more to see if I can figure it out but a video explaining the steps to be taken would be very useful for me and others as well, I expect..
Can you tell me how I need to make a shortcut for a contact sensor when I forgot to close the window and I’m not back home(going away) to get a notification on my watch or iPhone ??
The software I'm using in the video is the default Apple Home app on macOS Big Sur. To create the triggers I'm using the Home+ app on my iPhone or iPad. Either will work.
I have missed this kind "if, then" for Apple Homekit. I have also other home automation systems where I have more Clewer possibilities and even LUA. I am a newbie with LUA. And all accessories are not usable with this other system.
AHhhh As far as I know the 2011 won’t support Big Sur. I have a Mac Mini from the same time which is not supported either. You can also do these same automations on any iOS 14 device ( iPhone/iPad) which is another way to configure the same thing.
Yes - Many people aren’t really aware of the advanced automations that are open to them because they only stay in the native Apple Home app. We’ve been able to do some if/then automations and other conditionals for a bit using 3rd party apps like Home+ or Controller, but with the addition of the Convert to Shortcut feature at the bottom of the scenes list, Apple’s automation capabilities just hit another level.
Thanks CB! I’ll definitely try that out! There’s not a lot of docs on this so I’m figuring it out as I go along. Would the initial trigger be passed in directly to the shortcut piece? What variable would I have to use for the IF statement to be evaluated?
Anyone know the limit for “convert to shortcuts” or “shortcuts run on HomePod” for the wait command? I want to do the same thing but want to wait 5 or 10 minutes. However, I’m betting something like 2 minutes is max. Seems any shortcuts i make with decent waits result in “something went wrong” error.
This is something I haven’t found a limit in yet... but definitely agree it’s probably going to be something fairly short. Need to do some testing. I have a feeling it might be a max time per action in a shortcut so there may be a way to repeat a 2min wait 5 times to get a 10min wait. Needs more experimentation. :)
I have my shortcuts set so when I open one exterior door, if the other exterior door is open, it shuts off the HVAC. When both are closed, it resumes whatever my previous thermostat settings were. That way it won't shut off if I'm just taking the trash out or checking the mail.
Good stuff; not too many people making videos regarding more complex shortcuts like this. Keep 'em coming!
Nice! I love hearing about how other people are using these automations. Always good for inspiration! Definitely going to be doing more of these in the future. Crossing my fingers that the Convert to Shortcuts gets less buggy soon. I've got a couple of things I'm working on that I've hit some walls just because of bugs. Hoping fixed in next version of ios and will reveal soon!
Tkorn43 do you have the steps for this at all please? New to homekit and this is what I want to do in each room, but not sure how to get it to return to previous state when sensor is closed again.
@@rr2d2c23 every setup will be different based on the equipment you have and your house, but sounds like you want to enable the "resume" scene in the ecobee app, then utilize it on homekit. Really, the tricky part is incorporating logic to make sure you don't override another shortcut. For example: I have my heat turn off when I'm in my gym. When I leave the gym, I want the thermostat to resume, but not if it's also on hold for something else. So, I have my gym shortcut set up to check the status of the things that would also trigger a thermostat hold, and it won't resume if those are also tripped.
@@tkorn43 that sounds really complicated 😂😂. My heating system is hive, I am in the uk. I need to start simple. Trying to find some good tutorials online at the moment. Thanks for tip, it can get really tricky when you have multiple automations in one area can’t it
@@rr2d2c23 yeah, it can seem daunting at first... When I first got started, I was frustrated at the lack of tutorials of how exactly to set up a shortcut. It's mind boggling to me that Apple doesn't even put out instructions on how to use their own app! It really is one of those things that you'll tinker with for a few weeks, and once you learn more from actual successes and failures, you'll come to learn what works and what doesn't. My advice to any beginner: don't automate anything that you'd have to explain to a guest. If a guest has to learn how to use your house, then the automation isn't smart enough, and is sort of defeating it's own purpose. Only automate things in a way that they do what you already want to do... Like turning on lights in your house when you enter, after sunset, but only if no motion is detected inside first. Don't make it so that you have to override things in certain situations, because then the automation is giving you more work, not less. Best of luck!
Great ideas!! I like the thermostat idea, that’s creative! Good use of convert to shortcuts.
Thanks Adam! After watching your Flowerbud review I need to see if I can access the vocolinc shortcuts here as well!
Those are some awesome ways to automate with convert to shortcuts. I had to go listen as I didn't know what rick rolling was. Well done Chris.
Thanks MDT! The irony.... I saved you from being Rick Rolled and unintentionally had you Rick Roll yourself! :)
I really loved to Add visitors in my homekit and automations based if im just with my Wife ir with visitors like my dad and brother in Law for example
hey Filipe! It’s definitely cool to be able to get your house to adjust based on who’s there!
It’s like you read my mind! Just installed an Eve door and window on my patio sliding door and have been making a rule in Eve, the convert to shortcut is the way to go! Thanks Chris!
LOL Nice! I need to break these down and put the whole shortcut on my blog as well to make it a little easier to follow. Will be hopefully posting some of these on the weekend.
@@Homekitgeek that would be awesome, I took a look and noticed it wasn’t posted, had it on my list to go back into the video and jot down the shortcut
Check the website on the weekend ( www.homekitgeek.com ) I'm thinking of actually adding a new section that will just contain some of these automation recipes. No idea how many I will have but I've gotten enough questions that I'm hoping it will be a useful resource. A the very least, these three, the IFTTT notification and a couple more that I'm working on now. ;)
@@Homekitgeek will do, thank you sir!
Loved the whiteboard contact sensor idea. Lots of possibilities with that. But of course nothing beats Rick Rolling your son...priceless!!! 😂
Thank you so much for taking my question and putting it in one of your videos. I will be changing all go my closet door contact sensors to use your method. That will get rid of three extra automations that I will no longer need.
On your Summer Time one, might I suggest that you tie that into a temperature sensor outside and if the outside temperature is in a certain range, then turn the thermostat on or off, or change the temperature set point accordingly.
I love the contact sensor on a white board for additional checks. I was going to do this with a smart plug for when we have guests staying at our house, but I like the contact sensor idea better. I have automations that turns certain lights on and off automatically for me when I get up in the morning and when my in-laws visit, I don't want these automations to run.
Thank you for the inspiration! Totally agree on the Summer time suggestion piece! This is probably one I'm going to dig more into on the whole process to be honest. I did try to use the get weather details within the Convert to Shortcut piece, but to be honest, that API really sucks. No other way to say it. I've got an Eve Degree (weather Gen2) that's outside, but it's not reliable enough with the BLE connection to be able to rely on it within an automation like this. It's not shipping in Canada yet so I'm importing from the US. Once that arrives I have a few different ideas to bring hyper-local weather into these kinds of automations. Shipping currently shows sometime in early may so I'm hoping it will be here before summer! :) I had some extra contact sensors hanging out from my earlier days before I moved to the Abode security system. I'll probably be moving these to the front door so the kids can be part of the automation journey. Never too young!
Love the video! The white board with contact sensors is hardcore! 🔥 I love the "proxy" idea though; already thinking about how I can utilize this concept in my automations!
Thanks TBD! Really appreciate! This same idea is often used by creating dummy switches in Homebridge or sometimes a spare smartplug. As most of the kids in my house still don't have cel phones, the current location based automations just don't work for them so I had to get creative. Definitely let us all know what you come up with! For anyone who doesn't know: TBD is a coming up creator focused on Homekit as well! You should all go and subscribe to his channel!
@@Homekitgeek Thanks for the callout, Chris! I appreciate it. You have found some impressive ways to get creative and I'm so thankful for your support! 😎
Something that I was considering, inspired by your use of Contact Sensors, is setting up some Dummy switches for each person in HOOBS to do effectively the same thing. That said, I really like the "physical" nature of the contact sensors on the white board. Reminds me a little of the Clock at the Weasley house in Harry Potter showing where each member of the family is.
Thanks Howard! Hoobs/Homebridge dummy switches are definitely a way to go as well. I totally know what you mean about the Weasley Clock... I might have to see if there’s something there that I figure out.... :)
Great video, seems I have some scenes I have to modify and delete. I use a contact sensor on my home office door to turn on my desk lights. In automation short cut I check the status of one of the lights in the scene and not the sensor itself. Changing it I can eliminate one scene.
Yup. There are a ton of small things you can do to make your smarthome more efficient. I feel like I've just scratched the surface of what's possible now that I'm really digging into the Convert to Shortcuts piece. Also finding some jagged edges, but hoping those will be fixed in an upcoming release :)
Okay, I have tried to create the closet door automation and I cannot figure out how you were able to create the trigger of contact sensor opens or closes. I have the Aqara contact sensors, and I only have the option of when the state changes to Open or the state changes to Closed. I don't have an option for if the state just changes. How do I get that to work?
Hey Frederick! I used the Home+ app to create an automation that will trigger based on any state change. I’ve had a couple people reach out so I think I might go through this one in more detail. You can also create this trigger in the Controller for HomeKit app.
@@Homekitgeek Yes, please do. I am using the Home Controller app and I don't see any way to "convert to shortcut" I tried to create an automation in the Home Controller app and then see if I could edit it in the Apple Home app, but it doesn't show up. In the Home Controller app, there is a Green circle next to the name like the other automations that I have created in the Home app, but it doesn't show up in the Home app. I will try playing around with it some more to see if I can figure it out but a video explaining the steps to be taken would be very useful for me and others as well, I expect..
Can you tell me how I need to make a shortcut for a contact sensor when I forgot to close the window and I’m not back home(going away) to get a notification on my watch or iPhone ??
Hi, what is this software you use, is it for iMac
The software I'm using in the video is the default Apple Home app on macOS Big Sur. To create the triggers I'm using the Home+ app on my iPhone or iPad. Either will work.
@@Homekitgeek Ok. thanks, I have an older HighSierrs OS, and iMac 2011, so I need to check if I can install Big Sur.
I have missed this kind "if, then" for Apple Homekit. I have also other home automation systems where I have more Clewer possibilities and even LUA. I am a newbie with LUA. And all accessories are not usable with this other system.
AHhhh As far as I know the 2011 won’t support Big Sur. I have a Mac Mini from the same time which is not supported either. You can also do these same automations on any iOS 14 device ( iPhone/iPad) which is another way to configure the same thing.
Yes - Many people aren’t really aware of the advanced automations that are open to them because they only stay in the native Apple Home app. We’ve been able to do some if/then automations and other conditionals for a bit using 3rd party apps like Home+ or Controller, but with the addition of the Convert to Shortcut feature at the bottom of the scenes list, Apple’s automation capabilities just hit another level.
You might find that you dont need the “Get the state of …” step and start directly with the “if” statement in your shortcut. Saves you one step 🙂
Thanks CB! I’ll definitely try that out! There’s not a lot of docs on this so I’m figuring it out as I go along. Would the initial trigger be passed in directly to the shortcut piece? What variable would I have to use for the IF statement to be evaluated?
Anyone know the limit for “convert to shortcuts” or “shortcuts run on HomePod” for the wait command? I want to do the same thing but want to wait 5 or 10 minutes. However, I’m betting something like 2 minutes is max. Seems any shortcuts i make with decent waits result in “something went wrong” error.
This is something I haven’t found a limit in yet... but definitely agree it’s probably going to be something fairly short. Need to do some testing. I have a feeling it might be a max time per action in a shortcut so there may be a way to repeat a 2min wait 5 times to get a 10min wait. Needs more experimentation. :)