Creating Your First Homey Flow (Phone App)

Bud
2 days ago
2 min read

Automating your smart home with Homey Flows is the key to connected, responsive automation. A Flow is a simple scenario that tells Homey when something happens, under what conditions, and what to do next. With Flows you can automate everyday tasks like turning lights on at sunset, adjusting thermostats, or triggering a welcome scene when you get home.

What Is a Homey Flow?

A Flow is an automation that consists of three parts:

When: The trigger or event that starts the Flow.
And: Optional conditions that must also be true.
Then: The actions Homey performs when the Flow runs.

Flows use a when-and-then principle so you can craft smart automations without coding.

Step-by-Step: Create Your First Flow

1. Open the Flow Editor

Open the Homey app and tap the Flow icon in the navigation bar. This opens the Flow editor where you build and manage automations.

2. Set the Trigger (When)

Tap Add card under the When section. Choose what event should start your Flow. This could be:

A specific time
A button press
A sensor event
A device state change

Once selected, configure the trigger and tap ✔ to save it.

3. Add Conditions (Optional)

Swipe up to reveal the And section. Conditions let you control when the Flow is allowed to run. Examples include:

Only after sunset
Only when someone is home
Only if the temperature is above a certain value

Tap Add card, choose the condition, configure it, and tap ✔. Note that conditions are optional.

4. Define the Actions (Then)

Swipe up to open the Then section. Tap Add card to pick what Homey should do when the Flow runs.

Common actions include:

Turn on/off lights
Change light color
Speak a message
Adjust thermostat
Send a notification

Configure the action and tap ✔ to save it.

5. Test Your Flow

Before saving, test your Flow by tapping Test. This checks that your automation runs as expected. Fix any errors and retest if needed.

6. Save Your Flow

When everything works, tap Save to store your Flow permanently. Homey will now run it whenever your trigger and conditions are met.

Tips for Better Flows

Name Your Flow Clearly

Use a descriptive name so you recognize what it does in your list of automations.

Use Conditions Wisely

Conditions help avoid unwanted triggers. For example, only run lighting automations after sunset or when someone is home.

Explore Advanced Features

Once you’re comfortable, you can expand Flows using other features like Or/Else, Logic and Variables, webhooks, and integrations with voice assistants like Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant.

Conclusion

Creating Flows in Homey turns your connected devices into a smart, responsive home system. With just a few taps you can build powerful automations that make everyday tasks effortless. Start with simple triggers, add conditions as needed, and expand your automations over time.