What Are Smart Home Routines?
A routine is a set of actions that your smart home performs automatically — triggered by a time, a voice command, a sensor event, or your location. Instead of controlling each device individually, routines let you trigger multiple actions with one command or event.
For example, saying "Alexa, good morning" could turn on your lights, read your calendar, start your coffee maker via a smart plug, and give you a weather update — all at once. This guide shows you how to set that up on both Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
Setting Up Routines in Amazon Alexa
Step 1: Open the Alexa App
Open the Amazon Alexa app on your phone and tap the More icon in the bottom-right corner, then select Routines.
Step 2: Create a New Routine
Tap the + button in the top right. Give your routine a name (e.g., "Morning Routine").
Step 3: Set a Trigger
Choose what starts the routine. Options include:
- Voice command – Triggered when you say a specific phrase
- Schedule – Runs at a specific time or sunrise/sunset
- Smart Home device – Triggered by a sensor or device state (e.g., motion detected)
- Arrival/Departure – Uses your phone's location
Step 4: Add Actions
Tap Add Action to choose what happens. You can stack multiple actions:
- Control smart lights (turn on, set brightness/color)
- Adjust your smart thermostat
- Play music or a news briefing
- Send an announcement to other Alexa devices
- Control smart plugs
Step 5: Save and Test
Tap Save, then trigger the routine to confirm everything works as expected.
Setting Up Routines in Google Home
Step 1: Open Google Home App
Open the Google Home app and tap Automations at the bottom (or find it under the settings menu depending on your app version).
Step 2: Tap "New Automation"
Select + New to create a routine from scratch, or browse the suggested routines Google provides as templates.
Step 3: Choose a Starter (Trigger)
Google Home calls triggers "Starters." Options include:
- Time of day or sunrise/sunset offset
- A voice command phrase
- A device state (e.g., a sensor detects motion)
- Someone arriving or leaving home
Step 4: Add Actions
Select devices and what you want them to do. Google Home also lets you add media playback and Google Assistant responses as part of the routine.
Step 5: Save and Test
Name the routine, save it, and test it by triggering the starter condition.
Practical Routine Ideas to Get You Started
| Routine Name | Trigger | Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Good Morning | 6:30 AM / Voice | Lights on, thermostat adjust, news briefing |
| Leaving Home | Location departure | Lights off, lock doors, thermostat to eco mode |
| Movie Time | Voice command | Dim lights, turn on TV, enable Do Not Disturb |
| Bedtime | 10:30 PM / Voice | Lights off, thermostat to sleep temp, lock check |
| Arriving Home | Location arrival | Unlock door, turn on lights, set comfortable temp |
Tips for Better Routines
- Start simple — one trigger, two or three actions. Add complexity as you get comfortable.
- Use time delays — Actions can be staggered so your coffee doesn't start before your alarm goes off.
- Test every routine after saving it to catch missed actions or unintended behavior.
- Review and prune — Delete routines you no longer use to keep things manageable.
Routines are where smart home devices go from being convenient toys to genuinely time-saving tools. Invest 15 minutes setting them up, and you'll wonder how you lived without them.