Last Updated: 2023 Nov 9
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SwitchBot App Version: 7.8 or newer
1. Create a scene with the SwitchBot App.
- Launch SwitchBot App
- Tap "+" on the top right of the home screen
- Tap "Add scene"
- Enter scene name
- Add action
- Save
2. Please link with Google Home.
- Tap the Google Home App
- Tap "+" on the top left
- Select “Device Setup”
- Select "Link with Google"
- Search for SwitchBot and select SwitchBot Smart
- Enter the account and password for SwitchBot app registration
- Link completed
3. Trigger scenes with prescribed voice commands.
Voice example: “OK, Google, turn on [scene name].”
4. If you have already linked with Google Home, the created scene will be automatically added to Google Home with the skill. Google Assistant can only support voice commands to turn it on. Let me explain with an example.
Scene 1
Scene name: Air conditioner on
Speak when operating with Google Assistant: "OK, Google, turn on ‘Air conditioner on’"
Scene 2
Scene name: Air conditioner off
Speak when operating with Google Assistant: "OK, Google, turn on 'Air conditioner off'".
Comments
1 comment
Hello,
Controlling the blinds from the SwitchBot app has been 100% reliable, but in my installation, Google Assistant works only about 75% of the time – probably through no fault of SwitchBot.
I found a workaround for this problem. The basic idea is to create an Automation in the Google Home app that gives the Switchbot instruction three times, 30 seconds apart. If the blinds have already moved in response to the first command, then the second and third commands have no effect – the blinds are already where they should be. But, if the first command fails to get through, then the second and third commands virtually guarantee that at least one of the commands will get through and move the blinds.
Details:
First, in the SwitchBot app, create a “Quick Scene” for your desired action. In my case, the Quick Scene called “Open the Blinds” causes my left, center and right blind to fully open. This Quick Scene will be called by name by a Google Home Automation.
The Google Home automation looks like this:
Title:
“Open the Blinds”
Starter:
When I say to my Assistant “Open the blinds” or “Open blinds” or “Let there be light”
Actions:
Custom command: “Turn on Open the Blinds”
Announce: “Here comes the sun”
Delay start: 30 seconds
Custom command: “Turn on Open the Blinds”
Delay start: 30 seconds
Custom command: “Turn on Open the Blinds”
Since I started using this method, there have been zero failures to open. Before, when the command was only given once, at least one of the blinds failed to open about one-third of the time.
Note: Google Home Automations come in two flavors: “Household” and “Personal.” The “Delay start” feature is only available in “Personal” routines, for some reason.
Hope this helps.
John Cutter
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