How to Set Up and Use IFTTT With Amazon Alexa
While Amazon’s Alexa alone can do plenty of amazing things, its lack of integration with certain apps or smart home devices can be frustrating. That’s where IFFTT (If This Then That) comes in.
With IFTTT Applets, it’s now possible to link almost anything with your Echo device. These Applets can do nearly everything you wish Alexa would already do, from closing your garage door to parking your automated lawnmower.
We’ll cover exactly how you may get set up on IFTTT and start enabling Applets within minutes.
Key IFTTT Terminology
Before you begin unlocking the next level of smart home automation with IFTTT, it’s vital to cover a few terms you’ll need to know to clear up any potential confusion.
IFTTT stands for If This Then That. It uses the same logic as If statements in software development: if a condition is met, then an action is performed.
An Applet simply links two or more apps or devices together that wouldn’t be able to link together on their own. Here’san examplethat will sync your Amazon Alexa to-dos with iOS reminders.
A Service is an app, device, or software compatible with IFTTT, like Alexa, Nest, Roomba, and even SMS. There are currently more 700 services that link with IFTTT.
A Trigger is exactly as its name suggests: an action performed or change made that prompts an Applet to run. In other words, a condition that has been met.
If a Trigger is a precursor to an Applet running, then an Action is the function that an Applet performs when it runs.
A Query is a way for IFTTT to request additional data if a Trigger doesn’t provide it. Every Applet uses at least one Query.
Putting It All Together
Using the terms above, we can now explain how an Applet works. Let’s usethis Applet: Ask Alexa what’s on your shopping list and she’ll text it to you as an example.
The Trigger is you asking Alexa what’s on your shopping list. The Query is IFTTT checking with Alexa what’s on your shopping list; the Action is using the SMS service to text your shopping list to you.
There are other, more advanced terms, but they aren’t essential to learn right now. You can always check out thefull glossary on IFTTT’s websiteif you see something you don’t understand.
Step 1: Install IFTTT On Your Phone
To get started, install the IFTTT app (available oniOSandAndroid). Installing the app will let you manage all of your Applets straight from your phone without needing to use theIFTTT website. It’s also not necessary to install any Alexa skills to use IFTTT.
The app is now ready for syncing with your Amazon account.
Step 2: Link IFTTT With Your Amazon Account
To link IFTTT with your Amazon account, you’ll need to find the Amazon Alexa page. Note that you can search services like Alexa and view a results page, but each service also has a dedicated page with much more detail. That’s what we’re looking for.
Here’s how to find it:
That’s it! Now, you can start enabling Applets and explore the endless possibilities of advancedAlexa automation in your home. You can also replicate these steps for any other services you’d like to link.
Step 3: Enable Applets
The process to enable an Applet is relatively straightforward. Note that with a free IFTTT account, you can only have five Applets under My Applets, even if they’re inactive.
To activate your first Applet, follow these steps:
Now, test that your Applet works by triggering it. If it works, great! Feel free to explore the rest of the IFTTT ecosystem. If it doesn’t, check out the next section for some troubleshooting advice.
If you’ve had a look around the app and found IFTTT interesting, check out our article on otherapps that can help you automate repetitive tasks.
Troubleshooting Applets
One of the downsides of IFTTT’s endless capabilities is that sometimes things won’t work, and it can be tricky to pin down the issue. But, there are a few steps you can try before you delete the Applet.
Reconnect the Service
To do this, tapMy Applets, then youremail addressin the top right. PressMy services, and tap the relevantservice. Select theSettings cogin the top right, thenReconnect. Follow the prompts to log in again.
Remove the Service
PressRemove serviceto the left ofReconnecton the service’s Settings page. You’ll then need to follow the setup process for your Applet again. Be aware that this will also remove any other Applets associated with the service.
View Activity
Try triggering the Applet, then tappingView Activityon the Applet’s page. To find this, tapMy Appletsand then theAppletyou’re trying to troubleshoot. If your Trigger is working correctly, you should see Applet ran, and the time it ran. If you may’t see it after 30 seconds, you can assume there’s an issue with your trigger.
Confirm Trigger and Action Configuration
On the Applet’s page, tap theSettings cogin the top right. Press theIforThen section, thenConfigure. Confirm whether the Applet is set up correctly.
If you’re still having issues, take a look at IFTTT’stroubleshooting page.
What to Do if You Hit Your Applet Limit
If you’ve reached your five Applet limit, you have two options: delete an Applet, or upgrade your IFTTT account. The former is annoying if the Applet’s setup is complex, but it’s worthwhile if you find something you’ll get more value from.
The latter is worth it if you see yourself using IFTTT for a long time. The Pro plan costs $2.50/month and puts the limit up to 20 Applets. If you choose Pro+ for $5/month, you’re able to have unlimited Applets. Both come with other benefits, like faster execution speeds and customer support.
Take Alexa’s Abilities to the Next Level
When using IFTTT, the possibilities of what Alexa can do are endless. If pre-built Applets aren’t cutting it, it’s possible to create your own to suit your needs and share them with the IFTTT community.
Once you get to grips with IFTTT, it becomes incredibly satisfying to implement that feature you wish Alexa had. If you can imagine it, IFTTT can probably do it.
IFTTT connects a ton of services to automate everyday tasks. Here are 10 great IFTTT applets to supercharge your Android or iOS device.
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