Life360 Connect (post Groovy)?

[DaveB (Dave)]

I noticed I still have this in the IDE dh’s & smartapps. Do they need to be replaced with something post-Groovy?

[JDRoberts]

They would, but so far forum members have reported that Life360 support said they are not planning to create an integration for the new platform. So you would need to talk to them. I haven’t seen a community-created one.

There is some discussion of alternatives in the following thread:

SharpTools/Tasker for presence detection (2022)

New to Life360. Is there a way to integrate it into SmartThings now when Groovy is going away? How do I link Life360 to SmartThings? Or is there a better way for presence detection using Android phones (and Xplora watches)?

And here’s another discussion of alternatives:

Phone as Presence Sensor w/o Access to SmartThings App

I poked around for this, and I think I know the answer, but want to confirm. Now that Life360 integration will likely end with the end of Groovy, I’m looking at using my phone and my wife’s phone as presence sensors. She has the SmartThings app, so it probably shouldn’t be an issue. However, I have a stepson for which we track presence when he’s home from college. Is there some way to track his presence in SmartThings without giving him access to the SmartThings app? I don’t want him messing with my setup or turning things on when I don’t want them on (e.g., his AC upstairs). Can this be done? Thanks.

[Neil_Shaw]

Last week Life360 has stopped working with my SmartThings. I was using it as a presence sensor to run an automation to unlock my Yale smart lock when i arrive home.

Is there another method I could use instead. I have tried Samsung presence sensor but it’s not that reliable, I would prefer a gps based presence sensor if possible

[Andrew_Bartlett]

iOS or Android?
Here’s a thread about iOS Alternative iOS presence?

[Bry (Bryan)]

I use the native presence built into SmartThings and it’s running fine on Android.

[JDRoberts]

I combined your question with an existing topic on the same issue. Please start at the top of this thread to see more possibilities.

Also, here’s the community FAQ on why it stopped working:

Why Did My Integration/SmartApp Stop Working in January 2023?

[blehmbot1 (Brian)]

It took me awhile to figure it out, but I’ve been using Node Red to replace my Life 360 app. It has a node that gets info from Life360 API and connects to SmartThings API. You have to write the in between code but it JS which I’ve found out is fairly simple. And it’s not a lot of code. I’ve also been able to interact with LIFX to get back the options I had in Group of Groups. And tomorrow I’ll be working on reconnecting MyQ integration. I would suggest if you have time to look into Node Red. I have no prior knowledge of coding anything and I don’t know if this is the best solution, but it’s what I’ve been using and it’s worked so far.

[mjbshark]

Look here as others having same issues with the “built-in” presence system that is not very built in and quite unreliable.

Smartthings / Life360 Connect stopped working (11 Jan 2023)

Is anyone having an issue with Smartthings with the Life360 app, it isnt updating, and when going to linked services to re-link it, i get the error message of “Something went wrong, please try to install the smartapp again”

It is so very frustrating that the smartthings app is not only poor but the presence system has no icon or place to verify it thinks your location.

I replied in that thread that it’s like having a motion or tilt sensor with no icon or status anywhere… u just never know.

And yea, my kids do not need to be having access to all of our house settings and config on their phone when I just want their location.

Life360, we miss you and btw the main reason I pay for life360 was because it supported Smartthings.

My smart home is getting dumber and dumber each time smartthings makes a business decision.

How many of you all think twice about buying Samsung appliances these days?

[jamesonrw (Jameson)]

@mjbshark

My smart home is getting dumber and dumber each time smartthings makes a business decision.

I think this is just as much on Life360. They too made a business decision to not update their connector. I get Samsung forced their hand, but they had every opportunity to continue supporting their customers.

[StuartB (Stuart Berman)]

I agree 100%. I regret going down the Smartthings route. So many things have stopped working, I need to be sorting out problems every day at the moment and the “replacement” architecture is less flexible, has very little diagnostic information and is currently extremely buggy (for me). Smartthings is currently not ready for prime time use. Only techie people who are willing to spend hours every week fixing problems should even consider it. For me it feels like a pre-beta system that should not have been allowed to go live.

[Eric_Seckinger]

Create a routine with virtual presence sensor with either Google home or Alexa. Leave Life360 running on your phone with drive detection enabled. With this in place mine is working the same as it did before. Not ideal, but at least it’s accurate and on time

[wenglish (Mike Thomas)]

Is there a tutorial somewhere on how to create a routine with virtual presence sensor with Google home?

I’ve seen mention of virtual presence sensors, but can’t see how to create them in the Android app.

Thanks.

[Paul_Oliver (PCO)]

If you have a ST hub install the vEdge Creator and you can make all the virtual devices you need.

[ST Edge] vEdge Creator: a virtual device generator for end users

Here is an Edge driver that will enable end-users to create virtual devices that run locally on-hub. UPDATED JULY 2023… Features: Supports the following virtual device types: A/C, air quality, alarm, Alexa switch, battery, CO2 level, contact, door, energy, fan, garage door, illuminance, Level/dimmer-only, lock, light (including RGBW), momentary button/doorbell, motion, panic, presence, refrigerator, smoke detector, sound pressure, sound sensor, switch, switch level/dimmer, temp/humidity, TV, thermostat, video camera, water sensor, window shade Create any number of virtual devices Easy and fast to use: No coding or CLI required Enables you to create 100% local automations with virtual devices See how many devices you’ve created of a given type (inventory) Devices include additional …

[Eric_Seckinger]

Use the new edge virtual utility to create a virtual presence sensor. Toggle with Google home routine. The key piece is life 360 drive detection which forces faster location updates.

[wenglish (Mike Thomas)]

Thank you @Paul_Oliver and @Eric_Seckinger I will check that out.

[RJGill84 (Bob)]

@blehmbot1

I’ve also been able to interact with LIFX to get back the options I had in Group of Groups.

I don’t want to hijack this thread, but I desperately need the LIFX Group of Groups functionality back. Can you explain more, possibly in a PM to keep this thread clean.