Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

IFTTT routines for fall

For those who want more from our smart home gadgets, it can be frustrating when brand-based apps don’t do as much as you need them to or when certain smart home devices don’t talk to other smart home gadgets. IFTTT solves a lot of those issues by creating pathways for communications between disparate brands, ecosystems, and gadgets. If you’re not familiar with IFTTT, or If This Then That, it’s worth getting to know this tech platform, because it can make your life a lot easier, particularly as we start the slow slide to fall and winter.

As days get shorter, and schedules get busier, now is a great time of year to put automation to work for you in a smart, productive way. IFTTT uses Applets which are like tech recipes to create triggers and results for your devices. The good news is IFTTT works with almost every tech brand. Here are a few of our favorite IFTTT Applets for the fall season.

Automate your morning coffee

When your alarm begins to go off before the sun peeks over the horizon, it can be tough to start the day. Imagine what your world would be like if you could have your coffee brewed and ready for you before you get out of bed. Even if you don’t have a smart coffee maker, you can create a smart coffee experience with some gadgetry and IFTTT.

If your coffee maker isn’t smart, plug it into a smart plug, like an Amazon Smart Plug (which is quite inexpensive) so you can get remote or automated control over a coffee maker or kettle. There’s also a gadget called Switchbot that will actively press a button on almost any appliance or machine. Combine one of those devices with this IFTTT Applet  for coffee automation, and it can start the brewing or boiling process when you hit the snooze button on your alarm. Morning magic.

Here are some other cool suggestions from the brains at IFTTT to kick start your morning routines.

Turn lights on at dusk, off at dawn

Wiz smart connected lights review blue close.

It’s always nice to have plenty of lighting when the days get shorter, but leaving lights on all day isn’t efficient. A better solution is to automate the entire process. This IFTTT lighting Applet uses your location to calculate the shifting sunrise and sunset times. Use it to automatically turn your smart lights on and off at sunset and sunrise, no matter the time of year.

Get a frost alert

It’s also at about this time of year when we start to worry about the coming cold. One of the most immediate needs for those who like to garden is to know when frost is coming so they can pick or protect vegetables growing in the garden. This handy plant IFTTT Applet will use your location, combined with weather forecasting to send you a note or message if frost is in the forecast for the following day. No more freeze-burned tomatoes!

Find out when snow is coming

As we advance further into the winter season, snow can come on rather unexpectedly. For those of us who don’t have cable TV and aren’t following the local weather forecaster, there’s the magic of IFTTT to notify you if there’s going to be snow. You can have IFTTT send you an email or push notification if snow is coming or (a personal preference) get IFTTT to turn your smart lights blue ahead of any white stuff.

Drink water every hour

A mint green Hydro Flash water bottle on a gray background.

When the temperature drops and we spend more time indoors, it can be easy to forget about some of the healthier habits we may have developed over the summer, like drinking lots of water.  This Applet will send you a push notification from the IFTTT app every hour on the hour to remind you to hydrate.

Get out of awkward situations

We’ve all been stuck in those too-long meetings, awkward conversations with the neighbor or feeling trapped with a long talker at a gathering. This Applet lets you extricate yourself from nearly any situation with a perfectly timed phone call. There’s versions for getting out of awkward situation for US phone numbers and an IFTTT Applet for international calls, too. This is the Applet you won’t know you need until you need it, so trust us; install it today and thank us later.

Fall is a great time to explore new technology and get yourself organized. Use our suggestions for these handy Applets to set yourself up for the season or check out some of the best IFTTT Applets.

Editors' Recommendations

Erin Lawrence
Erin has over 20 years of experience as a journalist in the media and news industries, with time both on camera and behind…
Smart lock buying guide
Side profile view of August smart lock on a door.

Smart locks are an important part of any smart home. Not only do they give you useful features like the ability to unlock the door with a passcode or remotely with your smartphone, but they’re the first thing visitors see when coming to your home. Because of this, smart locks need to be both functional and appealing to the eye.

That’s a tall order for what’s essentially just a lock -- but there are tons of great products to consider in 2023. But if you need some help with your search, this smart lock buying guide will teach you what a smart lock is, factors you should consider when shopping for a smart lock, and everything else you need to know about these popular gadgets.
What is a smart lock?
A smart lock is not all that different from a traditional lock. What makes it smart is typically a Wi-Fi connection that allows you to link the physical lock to a companion app. The app allows for activities like remote access, geo-location features (to have your door unlock automatically when you pull into the driveway, for example), and even creating digital passkeys for other family members, friends, contractors, or visitors.

Read more
Govee jumps on the Matter bandwagon with new LED Strip Light
The Govee Light Strip installed on a shelf.

Govee is responsible for many of the best smart lights on the market, and today the company revealed its first-ever Matter product -- the LED Strip Light M1. Now available for $60, the LED Strip Light M1 is hoping to bring a bit more versatility to Matter, which continues to gain momentum throughout 2023.

Apple HomeKit users should be particularly excited about the LED Strip Light M1, as its support for Matter also means it’ll play nicely with Apple’s smart home ecosystem (which is another first for Govee). The lights are just as robust as you’d expect for a product from Govee, offering 60 light beads per meter, up to 50 adjustable points per meter, more than 64 Light Modes to customize their performance, and the ability to purchase an extension kit if you need more than the included 6.54 feet.

Read more
The best smart smoke detectors
Nest Protect on wall in bedroom.

Old smoke detectors can still do their jobs, but they belong to a past generation of technology. With infamous battery beeps, false alarms, and clunky designs in the older models, it’s no surprise that today’s smart devices have stepped in with a new kind of smoke detector that’s connected, capable, and much easier to live with. Upgrading is easy with our list of the best smart smoke detectors currently available, beginning with the all-around excellent Nest Protect.

Note: Check your state regulations for smoke detectors before buying and installing. States may have requirements for what kind of smoke detectors need to be in existing dwellings, and even where smoke detectors need to be located. Some devices offer both battery and hardwired versions because of this. You can find out more here.

Read more