This article will walk you through the types of automations available, how to create them, how to edit them, and how to remove them.
Before you get started, you must have a Home hub-compatible device set up on the same network as your HomeKit devices before you can set up any automations.
Home hub compatible devices
- Apple TV®
- HomePod®
- HomePod Mini
- iPad®
For more information about Home hub-compatible devices, click here.
Types of Automations
Below are the types of automations available to you in the Apple Home app. Click on the name to know how to create an automation.
For steps on how to configure your automations, click on the links below:
How to edit an automation
How to enable or disable an automation
How to delete an automation
How to create an action-based automation
Step 1: Open the Home app and tap on Automation.

Step 2: Tap on Create New Automation or the plus (+) icon located in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Choose An Accessory is Controlled to turn ON or OFF a device.
- Choose A Sensor Detects Something for a sensor-type device.
NOTE: If a sensor is not present in your Home app, you will not be able to choose the A Sensor Detects Something trigger option.

Step 4: Choose the Accessory that will be the trigger for this automation.

- Turns On – when the trigger device is turned ON
- Turns Off – when the trigger device is turned OFF
- Time – when you want the automation to be available to run


- Test This Automation – Allows you to test what the automation will do to the devices it is set to control.
- Turn Off – Devices or scenes controlled by this automation can be turned OFF after a set amount of time. If Never is chosen, it will remain ON until another automation controls them, or if they are controlled manually.

How to create a location-based automation
Step 1: Open the Home app and tap on Automation.

- Choose People Arrive when people return to a location.
- Choose People Leave when people leave a location.




How to create a time-based automation
Step 1: Open the Home app and tap on Automation.

Step 3: From the list, choose A Time of Day Occurs.

When:
- Sunrise will trigger the automation based on the sunrise time in your location
- Sunset will trigger the automation based on the sunset time in your location.
- Time of Day will trigger at a specific time.
Choose which days you would like this automation to be active on. You can choose as few as one or for the entire week. Tap on the latter for the day to enable or disable that day.
People:
- Off will run the rule regardless of your location.
- When I am home allows the automation to run only when you are in your home location.
- When I am not home allows the automation to run only when you are not in your home location.


How to edit an automation
Step 2: Tap on the automation you wish to edit then tap on any items you wish to change.

How to enable or disable an automation
Disabling an automation does not remove it from your Home app. When you disable an automation, it will still exist in your automations list but will not work until it is enabled again.
Step 2: Tap on the automation you wish to edit.
Step 3: Toggle the Enable This Automation button to enable or disable the automation.
- The goggle button is green when the automation is enabled.
- The goggle button is grey when the automation is disabled.

How to delete an automation
Deleting an automation will remove it from your Home app. When you delete an automation, it will no longer be available, and you will have to create it again.
QUICK TIP: If you want to stop an automation from running but not delete it, you can disable it instead.
Step 2: Tap on the automation you wish to delete.
Step 3: Scroll down and tap on Delete Automation.

