SmartThings Hack: Virtual Switch for any IFTTT Device

Here's a cool hack. Even if your smart home tech doesn't work with SmartThings, you can use IFTTT to automate it in the SmartThings app. We show you how to set up a virtual switch to get any IFTTT smart home device working in SmartThings.

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Writer/Editor/Director: Reed Kleinman
Producer: Alysa Kleinman

Disclaimer: Smart Home Solver purchased SmartThings hub and sensors with their own money. As always, our opinions are 100% our own and not influenced.

[MrJono]

I know I have come to this video late, but how useful is it. I couldn't quite figure the right route for connecting wifi devices to smartthings but now with your help I am there. It took me a few minutes to figure that you have to create an on trigger and an off trigger, but once I sussed that out I am away. Cheers for the video.

[nFluxMining]

Can you possibly expand on this video? Never have used IFTTT before. Created the virtual switch but no clue how to link the specific device to it nor how IFTTT really comes into play. Thanks!

[RoyGregorio]

Thanks for this video, but can you please update creating virtual switches on the new SmartThings app?

[MucaroBoricua]

Nice. I added my first simulated device to control a cheap WiFi plug switch. But I added two more IFTTT rules to turn on or off the simulated device when the native device changes states. It goes like this:

1) If simulated device is turned on, switch on native device.
2) If simulated device is turned off, switch off native device.
3) If native device is turned on, switch on simulated device.
4) If native device is turned off, switch off simulated device.

Warning: It might take from 5 to 45 seconds for SmartThings to see the new state of the simulated device.

[JulioRedCosplay]

Thank you, thank you, lots of thanks!!! I followed a lot of tutorials but couldn't get it to work. Only you addressed the issue I was having -- I had to refresh the SmartThing account in IFTTT because, for something that's supposed to work with automation, it doesn't detect new devices automatically. 🤷‍♂

[aabusulaiman]

Greetings from Saudi Arabia, Jeddah by the Red Sea.

Extremely useful, nice way of explaining and simplifying it. Great job. I am using most of your suggestions here.

[AwhhhDP]

You are my hero!!! I don’t know how I missed this vid until now. Thank you a million times over for posting this. Word cannot properly articulate how much this has helped me. Keep up the good work!!

[rafacq]

I found an app called SmartRules which lets you create if then else rules to control SmartThings very easy! I love it! Thanks for the great videos.

[MrVuckFiacom]

Honestly that IFTTT app saved my ass so many times. Very useful and versatile app.

[iaincrowley]

You should create a second set of ifttt rules turning on and off smart things virtual switch when turned on or off in native app. That way you're always in sync, even when switched off physically (e.g. sonoff plug socket)

[samuelmyers]

Man this is great! I was looking for something like this to be able to use affordable light switches, thank you

[sdemills]

My Samsung Note9 also allows me to create a Virtual (Smart Things) Smart Switch. I mostly use this to fire events from IFTTT into Tasker in order to test whether Tasker properly receives the IFTTT message and does what it is supposed to do. Once I know that's working then I can swap the Virtual Switch IFTTT trigger for the real trigger. This means I can keep triggering the test without needing to repeatedly fire a real trigger like a motion detector for example. I can't get the phone to let me create more than one of these things though, and, although I haven't tried it yet, I don't think the web console will let me do it either as I don't actually have a Smart Things hub. :) Thanks for the video and the research behind it. UPDATE: The web console did let me add a second switch! :)

[stuhudson]

Great video - is this possible on the new platform? Thanks

[burleykleve]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. This is the video I have been searching for.

[speed]

I've made a virtual switch and then set up applets to turn it on and off based on the Wyze Motion sensor. Then I used the Virtual switch in a smart app to control a bulb. I got the advice from the "Automate Your Life" channel.

[aabusulaiman]

Extremely useful, nice way of explaining and simplifying it. Great job.

[garethjones]

Great tip thanks for this, it's allowed me to pull back together what had started becoming a fragmented set of smart home devices

[krellblue]

I don't get the same screen in IFTTT when I refresh my SmartThings account, I do not see how to pull in that virtual switch. This video would get me so close to what I am looking for, thank you for sharing!

[jobekirkuk]

Does those controlling methods operates only within the house, or you can control the lights for an instance from anywhere as long as you are connected with the internet?

[Mrshift]

This just solved all my frustrations trying to get Google assistant to lock my Yale assure deadbolt, I had to use a different applet to get exactly what I wanted but now Google assistant can lock my z wave lock with a command!