Not really sure what the problem could be. Do you have other SmartThings devices that are showing up ok and working within Alexa? In other words is it a problem specific to just these devices, or any SmartThings device with Alexa?
Sometimes disconnecting and reconnecting the SmartThings skill from within the Alexa app can clear things up like this.
You could also try creating another pair of Alexa switch/contact devices and see if they work ok.
Just a note - just set up an Alexa Switch virtual device and separated the contact in settings. It’s still unreliable in syncing. Set up the Alexa Multi Trigger, and that seems to be rock solid so far.
Thanks for reporting. Which way are to syncing?
I have it set up to control an Alexa connected light from ST (and ultimately, Sharptools dashboard) it’s also working from alexa side to sync with ST as long as I have the light, contact, and virtual switch in a group.
I’m sorry you are having these issues. I’ve been testing and so far have not had any problems.
You just need to make sure that you only specify the paired Alexa Switch CONTACT device in the WHEN portion of your Alexa routine and test whether it is open or closed, to trigger your Alexa action.
I haven’t done any testing regarding groups, so not sure what implications that might have. It is most definitely not a requirement to be able to trigger or Alexa or have Alexa trigger SmartThings.
I’ll keep testing at random times over the next few days to verify reliability I’m seeing.
Todd, your Alexa switches have been very reliable.
I just redid the alexa routines. Seems better now than it was.
Would you be able to make a virtual toggle switch? I need the option to toggle between on/off for the state change. Not just to pick on or off as the state… Thank you.
Wouldn’t a virtual momentary button achieve the same thing as a toggle switch?
I use it as such.
Thanks for the response. I’ve checked out the momentary button. That doesn’t quite seem like what I need. Maybe I should state what I’m doing. I have a door sensor on a doggy door. When the dog uses the door I get notified. I would like to know if he is coming or going though. I was hoping to use a virtual switch of some sort to get notified each time it changes states, goes from on/off. But I can’t figure out how create a rule to alternate a switch between on/off each time the rule is triggered. Was hoping there was a switch that simply alternated states. Thanks
Disregard. I used a regular virtual switch and a few if conditions to get to where I was going. Thank you.
Having issues with Virtual switches running Alexa routines… is anyone else having this issue today (11/14/23) also seeing that AWS is having problems… could be the issue?
Yes. My routines that should be triggering from virtual contact switches are not firing consistantly… Noticed over the last couple hours
Me too. Started around 12 hours ago.
Edit. Seems to have started working again.
Yes, happened to me too yesterday. This morning I reboot SM and the Wifi and all seems to be operating properly again.
I’m not experiencing any Alexa virtual device issues using the Alexa virtual device with separate contact.
I have two Alexa virtual devices that are the Alexa Routine triggers to turn on two Alexa connected air purifier devices and they ran normally last night and this morning. And I have one other Alexa virtual device that is the Alexa Routine trigger for a voice announcement which ran this morning as well.
I’ve just noticed that the virtual switches that should be triggering location modes are not doing it. I was checking on my.smartthings.com and running some tests and noticed that virtual switches that are running locally in the hub are not triggering the location mode routines, however cloud based ones are working as expected.
It looks to me as there are some general problems with SmartThings and Alexa integration lately. I have some ‘real’ motion sensor devices that are supposed to be triggering Alexa routines, but they haven’t been 100% consistant.
I’ve been experiencing the same. But yesterday was odd. Routines were triggered in ST, but Alexa didn’t run the routine until 2 min later. All working this morning. Like I mentioned, AWS had issues yesterday too so that could be it. Your VS are rock solid. I use many of them in my automations. Thnx for the reply.