Create amazing Alexa automations at the touch of a button
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
If you’re looking to make your smart home even smarter, then using Flic buttons is an easy way to take automations to the next level.
Whether you’re using the original Flic smart home buttons, Flic 2 or even the multi-talented Flic Twist, adding some smart touch points to your house can streamline numerous processes with minimal effort.
And the good news is you’re not limited to just the functionality that the Flic app and the offical integrations allow for.
You can also add Flic buttons as smart home devices within the Alexa app, and build automations based off of the back of a click (or double click or hold.)
In the video example (below) Flic has used, it uses a simple time-telling Routine from a connected Alexa smart speaker, but the Routine can be as complex as you want.
You can add multiple actions to a single Alexa Routine so, for example, you could create a morning routine that, after a click on Flic button, reads the news from a bedside Echo Show, tells you what’s in your calendar, turns the smart security system off and switches on a smart plug in the kitchen to get the coffee machine fired into action.
Guide: Building great Alexa smart home Routines
Here’s how to set up Flic within Alexa and customize them to suit your automation desires…
What you’ll need
- Flic button(s)
- Flic Hub (if using multiple buttons or integrating with non-Bluetooth devices)
- Alexa-enabled device (Echo, Echo Show, etc.)
- Alexa app
- Flic app
The short version
- Add the Flic skill to your Alexa setup and sync accounts
- Create Flic steps that include Alexa
- Discover Flic triggers as ‘devices’ in Alexa
- Create Routines with Flic buttons as the trigger
How to add Flic buttons to Alexa for Routines
Time needed: 5 minutes
- Step 1
Open the Alexa app on your smartphone. Go to More > Skills & Games and search for the Flic skill. Enable the skill and log in with your Flic account credentials. Once connected, Alexa will be able to recognize Flic actions.
- Step 2
Head back to the Flic app and select the button you want to trigger an Alexa Routine. Then choose whether you want it to be the action for a single, double or long tap. For your selection, choose ‘Amazon Alexa’ as the action.
- Step 3
Once configured via Flic, you then need to run discovery on Alexa so as it sees the registers command. Once detected, you’ll see your Flic command presented, somewhat confusingly, as a device in the list of your smart home devices.
- Step 4
You can now create an Alexa Routine, using the Flic button as the trigger. Go to More > Routines and tap the + in the top right corner to configure it.
Once you’ve set up the trigger, you can always add actions to the Routine at any time. This can include things like controlling lights or plugs, adjusting your thermostat, playing a song or playlist from, setting a timer or an alarm…. and a whole lot more.
There’s no restriction on how complex a Flic-triggered Alexa Routine can be.
Customization ideas for Flic and Alexa Routines
- Use a Flic button to control multiple devices at once; like dimming the lights, turning on your smart TV, and playing a movie through your Fire TV, all with one button press.
- Place Flic buttons in key areas of your home (e.g., entryways, next to your bed) for easy access to specific Routines, such as turning off all lights before bedtime or playing your favorite morning playlist.
- Use different types of presses for different tasks, like single press for turning on lights, double press for activating a security system, and hold for playing a relaxation routine.
FAQs
Yes, you can assign different Routines to each Flic button, or even customize a single button to trigger different actions based on a single press, double press, or hold.
The Flic button connects via Bluetooth to your smartphone or Flic Hub, so the range will depend on your Bluetooth connection (typically around 50-100 feet). If using the newer Flic Hubs, you’ll have more flexibility.
All Flic buttons are compatible with Alexa.