Symptoms
- Scheduled or triggered automation doesn't run
- Manual control of devices still works fine
- Automation ran fine until recently
Likely causes
- CommonA device used in the automation is offlineIf any device in the automation's trigger or action chain is unreachable, the whole automation can silently fail.
- CommonAutomation condition no longer matches realityA time, location, or sensor-based trigger can stop firing if the condition it depends on has changed.
- PossibleApp or platform update changed automation behaviorUpdates occasionally change how automations are structured or triggered.
- PossibleDevice removed, renamed, or re-addedAutomations often reference a specific device ID that breaks if the device is reset or replaced.
- PossibleAutomation was accidentally disabledIt's easy to toggle an automation off without noticing.
What to do
- Open the automation in the app and confirm it's still enabled, not accidentally turned off.
- Check that every device referenced in the automation is currently online.
- Review the trigger conditions, like time, location, or a sensor value, to confirm they still make sense.
- If a device was recently reset, removed, or renamed, remove and re-add it to the automation.
- Try running the automation manually if the app allows it, to see if it works when triggered directly versus automatically.
- If it still won't trigger, delete and recreate the automation from scratch.
Tools and parts
- Smartphone with the smart home app
When to call a pro
Contact the platform's support (like the hub or app manufacturer) if automations fail to trigger consistently across multiple attempts.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.