# Alert if Door (contact) is open X minutes? **URL:** \ **Category:** SmartApps & Automations\ **Created:** [April 18, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547 "2016-04-18T01:48:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brianlees](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/brianlees/32/267_2.png) [@brianlees](https://community.smartthings.com/u/brianlees)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 1:48am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547/1 "2016-04-18T01:48:17Z")
So I’m trying to remove some old entries from my dashboard since they don’t work reliably. One that I can’t find via native apps (like Notify When) is the notify me when a door is left open for X minutes. I’m guessing I have to use a community app for this one? ---
**Author:** ![ogiewon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/ogiewon/32/13743_2.png) [@ogiewon](https://community.smartthings.com/u/ogiewon)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 1:52am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547/2 "2016-04-18T01:52:21Z")
You can do it in Smart Home Monitor as a Custom Alert. ---
**Author:** ![dshokouhi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@dshokouhi](https://community.smartthings.com/u/dshokouhi)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547/3 "2016-04-18T01:53:02Z")
try the app “something left open” ---
**Author:** ![brianlees](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/brianlees/32/267_2.png) [@brianlees](https://community.smartthings.com/u/brianlees)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 2:01am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547/4 "2016-04-18T02:01:30Z")
Ah, didn’t even think to look in SHM. Of course, I’m trying to do it now but ST seems to be down at the moment since I can’t connect with my app. Anyone else having issues? ---
**Author:** ![brianlees](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/brianlees/32/267_2.png) [@brianlees](https://community.smartthings.com/u/brianlees)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 2:02am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547/5 "2016-04-18T02:02:35Z")
Back up now. Was down for about 3 or 4 minutes there. Internet was fine here - took phone on and off wifi to test. ---
**Author:** ![brianlees](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/brianlees/32/267_2.png) [@brianlees](https://community.smartthings.com/u/brianlees)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547/6 "2016-04-18T23:39:25Z")
Hmm… The problem I see is that if I select notify me when open and closed and also set the For How Long, it notifies me when the door has been closed for X minutes. not open. The old way in the Dashboard would be to notify if open for X minutes. Seems like there is less intelligence in SHM at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![ogiewon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/ogiewon/32/13743_2.png) [@ogiewon](https://community.smartthings.com/u/ogiewon)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547/7 "2016-04-19T00:35:15Z")
In SHM-\>Custom Alert -\> Open/Close Sensor -\>Select your sensor(s) -\>Turn on “Sensor Opens” -\>Turn Off “Sensor Closes” -\>For How Long: set to X minutes -\>Turn Off “Only Once per Day” -\>Leave Blank “Once within this number of minutes” Optionally set the mode, time of day, days of the week (I leave these all defaulted) Works great for me. Dan ---
**Author:** ![epweston12](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/epweston12/32/27684_2.png) [@epweston12](https://community.smartthings.com/u/epweston12)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 2:18pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547/8 "2016-04-19T14:18:27Z")
Does the feature tell you which door is open? I tried this and all it sends is the message I entered in the setup. ---
**Author:** ![RLDreams](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/rldreams/32/18109_2.png) [@RLDreams](https://community.smartthings.com/u/RLDreams)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 3:27pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/alert-if-door-contact-is-open-x-minutes/45547/9 "2016-04-19T15:27:19Z")
I use something left open for freezer and cellar doors to outside, it works fine. I get SMS and push notifications of what is open as well as turning on and setting color of Hue Blooms. The wife loves nothing more than a call/text from me when I am on the road telling her she left the freezer open again.