Change bad devices -- deleting old device deleted the new one!

Devices & Integrations
1

I have always changed out old devices for new with the following procedure.

  1. I add the new device and name it “-New” (e.g. Master Motion New)
  2. I go to every Automation for the old device and add the new device & delete the old device
  3. repeat this until all the Automations are on the new device and the old device has none.
  4. Then I delete the Old device.
    ** This time I changed the procedure slightly –
  5. I renamed the old Device to -Old. (e.g. Master Motion Old)
  6. I added the new Device and named it (e.g. Master Motion)
  7. At this point, the Automations were related to the old one and none to the new one
  8. I went to each Automation, added the new device and removed the old one
  9. At this point, the Automations were only associated with the new device. None with the old one
  10. I deleted the old device
  11. Smartthings deleted BOTH
    So, I had to remove the Motion Detector because it was still ‘linked’ even though Smarthings lost it’s metadata. Adding it back was normal.
    ** BUT, THE DELETE BY SMARTTHINGS WAS A FAILURE OF SOME KIND…
    I hope they catch what made that happen. Maybe a delay in metadata storing the name?
2

Possible follow-on: Because I had to delete the App while trying to get the Widget back with my 63 Scenes SORTED, I had to set the presence by “Get Your Location from this Phone.” No matter how I do it, I end up with two Devices for my Pixel 6, both with the same name, but with different Device IDs. It seems that Smartthings Developers are using the Device Name to Delete All instead of the Device Id? Would today’s developers do that?

Not sure why it adds two (id did not add Two for my wife’s phone) -
Could this be why my Presence sensing is wonky? Is it a mistake to check the Location toggle for my Home?

3

yes… that is normal when viewing in the Advanced Web app. One will show the Location and the other is blank. It is not related to anything you did. you would have seen 2 before removing/reinstalling the app for yourself but not other users. Your wife should see two listings for herseff when she logins in but only one for you.

3 Likes
4

I just add a new device with a trailing “2” in its name, remove the old device and look for warning signs in the routines tab.

When I replace the missing device in a routine with the new one, everything else (commands) stays the same.

I forgot to mention that I have to check the home monitor when it’s a motion/contact/water leak sensor or smoke detector.

And the most important: share the new device with the other location members. Sometimes I forget to do that and then their routines are messed up.

5

i use your new approach from #5 down, also manually checking the “scenes” as they do not show up under routines. No issues as long as I recall to check the scenes.

6

So, we all do something similar —
But, on this day, Smartthings deleted both Devices
Two separate devices, different names, different Ids, different routines (1 with all, 1 with none)