IFTTT is a conditional programming statement that means ‘if this, then that.’ When a company uses the IFTTT, it offers a software platform that can connect with apps, services, and devices from other developers or brands.
This helps trigger more automation involving different devices, services, and apps. IFTTT works by use of Applets which connect two or more devices or apps together. Applets contain triggers or actions which direct them to start or end an action.
With an IFTTT Applet, you gain a platform to transform your apps or devices and make them do things they couldn’t do on their own. So how does IFTTT work?
Here is a general outline of how you can get started with IFTTT services;
- Create a free account with IFTTT.
- Browse through the IFTTT website or app and identify the different things that might interest you.
- Connect these services contained in the Applet or connection.
- If there are more applets you might be interested in, connect them with the service.
There are various apps and smart home automation services that have incorporated the IFTTT program into their systems. They include;
IFTTT Alexa
One of the first companies to integrate their products into the IFTTT service was Amazon. You can connect IFTTT with your Alexa, and you’ll be able to create your own commands using your Amazon Echo and get your smart devices responding to them at twice the speed.
Connecting IFTTT with your Alexa doesn’t require some unique skill; you only need to perform a few tasks, and you’ll be good to go.
First, install the IFTTT app and search for Alexa on its Applets. After doing so, tap connect on Alexa. After connecting Alexa with IFTTT, you’ll be required to sign in to your account or create a new one.
During the signing in, you’ll be prompted to use the Amazon account to link the two platforms together. For this task, ensure that you’re using the same Amazon account linked to your Echo. Amazon will verify your account via a text message or an email.
After linking IFTTT with your Amazon account, the last part is to permit IFTTT to connect with Alexa.
IFTTT Google Home and Google Assistant
Using IFTTT, you can create your own commands tailored for your Google Assistant. Using IFTTT with Google Assistant will enable you to give commands to your automated smart devices and have them respond accordingly.
To get started, visit the IFTTT website or app and sign in or create an account if you don’t already have one. Search for Google Assistant and then connect.
It’s important to choose the Google account you’ve already set up for your Google Home or Google Assistant to give IFTTT access. If you’re doing it from your mobile phone, you can touch and hold the home button, and the Google account will be displayed.
Smart Life IFTTT
Smart Life provides users with great experience from smart plugs, smart lights, smart humidifiers, and air conditioners.
When you connect Smart Life with IFTTT, the next thing you’ll require is a digital voice assistant, and you’ll be able to control your lights, plugs, humidifiers, and other smart devices you have by giving verbal commands.
To connect Smart Life with IFTTT, you’ll need to create an account with Smart Life and navigate through the IFTTT website to connect the two. However, you’ll need to change your smart devices into more recognizable names, such as Bedroom Light, to ensure that the commands are easily configured.
IFTTT Hue
Philips Hue also works better with IFTTT. You’ll need to set up a trigger with IFTTT and then pick Philips Hue from the list.
After you’ve connected the two, the next step you choose from a wide range of options such as turn on the lights, dim the lights, turn off the lights, change the colors, and blink your lights, among other options.
These actions can also be specified to the lights you want them to apply for. However, it’s important to note that you can’t include multiple lights in your IFTTT recipe. The remedy to this is performing identical IFTTT recipes for different lights in your home.
IFTTT Nest
Even with the recent separation between Google and Nest, there is still hope for the users who had integrated the platform.
If you had a Nest account and still want to continue enjoying the IFTTT services, you can start by refraining from moving your Nest account to a Google account. This is because such a migration will make you disconnect your Nest integrations with IFTTT.
IFTTT SmartThings
With the integration between SmartThings and IFTTT, you can control almost anything with a plug on it. This connection will help you control hundreds of services from the comfort of your phone or by using a digital voice assistant of your choice.
By integrating IFTTT with Samsung SmartThings, you can control your smart locks, smart lights, electronic devices, and other smart devices in your home from anywhere you are.
All that is needed is to create recipes on your IFTTT account, and you can trigger any IFTTT response you need from the Samsung SmartThings motion detectors.
IFTTT Siri
With digital voice commands becoming very common among many automated smart homes, integrating Siri with IFTTT might be one of the best decisions you make for your home.
Since Siri is a digital voice assistant from Apple, you can use it on your Apple Watch, iOS, iPadOS devices, HomePod to trigger any IFTTT applet of your choice.
After you’ve connected Siri with IFTTT, you’ll be able to run any applet of your choice, such as turning on the lights by simply saying that to Siri. However, the best way to make this work is to ensure that your Siri-enabled devices are logged on with the same Apple ID you used for your IFTTT shortcut.
IFTTT Sonos
Do you want your Sonos speakers to get commands from you on the type of music you want to be played? Integration with IFTTT is the best answer to this. IFTTT will enable users to control how their music plays.
They can stop the music from playing whenever you leave your home, pause the music when they answer phone calls, and manage to integrate other smart home devices to their systems.
When you integrate IFTTT with Sonos, your speaker will start a radio station or song of your choice if your smart door locks open or whenever there is a delivery.
IFTTT also ensures that you can create specific recipes to automate your music even further. You can control your music’s volume, basic playback, repeat a song, album, or playlist.
IFTTT Motion Sensor
With IFTTT, you can control whatever type of motion sensor you have in your home even more conveniently.
Whether it’s the Wyze Sense motion sensor, PIR Smart Wi-Fi motion sensor, or the Hive Motion Sensor, you can control how they respond to detected motions around your home.
This means that if there is motion detected around your premises, your motion sensors can turn on a particular light indoors or outdoors. You can also use the IFTTT and motion sensor Applet to make the lights either flash or change colors.
IFTTT Smart Home
Integrating your smart home devices with IFTTT might be the best decision you make for your automated home. You can control any digital voice assistant you own, from Google Assistant, Siri to Alexa, your smart lights, smart plugs, smart thermostats, any connected appliances, and even your smart garage doors.
All you require is to develop different recipes based on recognizable commands for your different devices, and you can control them from your Smartphone or via digital voice assistants.
With IFTTT for your smart home, you can even tell these digital voice assistants to turn on your motion detectors or even your coffee maker.
IFTTT Homekit
Apple Homekit is one of the best ways to automate your smart home. Apple Homekit is very easy to set up and comes with one of the most efficient digital voice assistants in Siri, which makes a perfect fit for any smart home.
Even with all these great features incorporated into your Apple Homekit, you always find some cool smart device that you’d like to use at your home. However, sometimes this might end up failing if the smart device isn’t compatible with Apple Homekit.
This shouldn’t worry you if you integrate Apple Homekit with IFTTT. This is because IFTTT has hundreds of already existing applets that you can use to perform any kind of task for any smart device of your choice.
Conclusion
There is no denying that IFTTT is the best way for people to connect their smart devices with any apps, services, or brands of their choice. IFTTT uses simple protocols and is also relatively cheaper to integrate into any smart device.
This gives any homeowner the freedom to purchase smart devices based on their features and functionality rather than the brand that might be compatible with the smart hubs.
If you are still feeling a little muddled up and looking for some help, then check out my Smart Home in 8 Weeks course designed to take you from zero to a fully integrated smart home!