I have been using Alexa for a long time without issue. After having a connectivity issue with 1 light switch and deleting/readding in Smartthings, Alexa will not turn it off/on. I have the following in that room (in daughters room):
“name” Bedroom Fan
"name" Bedroom Light
"name" Night Light
Now when I tell it to turn off “name” Bedroom Light, it keeps telling me multiple devices share that name and to specify which one…
In the Alexa App, see if there is one that is named the same that is now disabled. If so, then delete it.
If not, then delete it anyway and rerun discovery.
Also, go to the Alexa SmartApp and assure that your device is selected. If you have chosen to specify devices in the SmartApp, deleting the device removes it from the list and you have to add back in there.
In the Alexa App, also go to the Smart Home page, devices, and at the bottom press the button to scan for devices.
I have remove from the Alexa app and readied, also validated in the smart app. Still does the same, “a few things share that name, which did you want?”
Thank You.
Please excuse any typos.
Got it to work… had to rename the light in the Alexa app, then change it back… Now working
Welcome to the wonderful world of home automation… Remember: To err is human, to really foul things up takes a computer.
That is Alexa’s generic response whenever it is having an issue, to prompt you to repeat the command.
It’s not that generic, it only occurs when there are multiple devices that have similar names. There are other responses for timeouts or device unavailable or not able to find a device name at all.
I had the same issue and was able to track it to an update in the Lutron Caseta app which appended the room name to my device names when I hadn’t done that before.
I had a switch that had previously just been called “ceiling.” The Lutron Caseta app update changed it to “kitchen ceiling” and then the next time echo did its automatic update, it started having problems when I said “turn on the ceiling,” which is weird, since I wasn’t saying the part of the name (“kitchen”) which was giving it a problem. But that’s what happened.
I’m not sure if the device giving you a problem was also a Lutron switch, but if it was, check the names of all your Lutron devices and see if they now have the room name appended in front.
This was a GE Jasco light switch. Thanks for everyone’s help.
Thank You.
Please excuse any typos.
Same thing here. Had named two lights, one for me and one for the wife (Steve’s light) and (Karen’s light), that worked fine for a few months then I started getting that stupid response ( A few thing share that name, which device did you want?). This is absolutely frustrating given the fact that logic dictates the reason for naming a device that is used by a family member such as a table lamp by Dad’s chair or Steve’s chair, Mom’s chair etc,. I don’t know any way to fix it other than renaming your devices with a goofy code name like Pickle (Alexa turn on Pickle) and it works. Even Dingle-berry works, or Aardvark. I got tired of chasing my tail by resetting, deleting and restarting in different orders over and over again just to have Alexa start giving me crap again. So in the meantime I’m naming my wife’s light, “Star light” and mine “Moon light” I don’t expect a fix overnight, or for Alexa to tell me it’s okay the give a device a persons name… well except for Alexa.
I just added a new topic on this. Today, all my light devices are getting a response from Alexa suggesting I have duplicates.
Although this is an old post. NEVER put “light” when naming a device. When you do that, you always have to say the exact name for it to work. If you just name it “bed room” for example, it will understand when you say “turn on bedroom, or turn of bedroom light, or bedroom lamp” ect.
2021 now but had to comment…lol….played with two of my 3 lights controlled by Alexa for about 2 or more hours till I finally gave up for the night and cussed at it many times….walked away, read all these comments, determined to fix it tomorrow. Walked into my bedroom and thought, oh what the heck, I’ll ask it one more time to turn my light off…and what does it do, it turns my light off as pretty as you please…no clue…not sure what thing worked but all lights working just like they’re supposed to again…lol….Merry Christmas to all that read this and good luck to you1
I know this is an old post but renaming my problem devices fixed the Alexa not recognizing certain devices!! Thank you!