With Amazon Alexa, you can use your voice to manage your smart home devices. Garage doors, on the other hand, are an obvious exception. Alexa does not have native Smart Home Skills to control this class of smart goods, most likely owing to security concerns (yet).
Do I have to use MyQ with Alexa?
Yes, Alexa and MyQ are compatible. You may still utilize MyQ with Alexa by utilizing SimpleCommands to develop a workaround for the fact that Alexa does not presently recognize garage doors as a native device type. Connect your MyQ smart garage using Alexa by downloading the SimpleCommands software and linking it to both your MyQ and your Amazon accounts.
SimpleCommands with MyQ and Alexa
However, I assure you that the process is simple and only requires you to click a few buttons. Allow yourself 10 to 15 minutes of uninterrupted concentration time, and you’ll be fine.
However, before we begin, you’ll need the following to get MyQ to operate with Alexa:
Smartphones and tablets are also options.
- Automatic garage door opener with MyQ technology from Chamberlain
- Avatar: Alexa of Avatars
- App of Alexa
- SimpleCommands app
- access to the internet
- About fifteen to twenty minutes.
Let’s get started now.
1) SimplyCommands is a free application that can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play.
2) The second step is to sign up for an account. When you’re done, the app will indicate “Registration Complete.” The email address you provide will be used to verify your identity, so be sure it’s correct. The spam folder is a good place to start.) It seems that my email has been filtered out of my inbox. In the updated version of the app, you may not even be required to register.)
3) Step 3: Click “Confirm Email” in the verification email to complete the process.
4) Login to your new account via the SimpleCommands app!
5) The app’s home screen will be shown. Pick “Add/Remove Items” at the bottom of the page and select “myQ – openers” from the drop-down menu. To connect SimpleCommands to your MyQ account, you’ll need to provide your email address and password.
6) Once you’ve done that, go over to the Alexa app and choose MORE, then SKILLS and GAMES.
7) Enter “kloee for SC” and then “Enable to Use”. In order to use Alexa with your SimpleCommands account, Alexa will ask you to provide your email and password.
8) Return to the SimpleCommands app and choose Routines from the menu in the upper left corner (three bars).
9) Enter a name for your Routine and then click the Create Routine button.
10) Add an item from a drop-down list of all connected devices, and you’ll be done. Click on Add to add your MyQ garage door to the list.
11) Just press Add Command (Don’t tamper with any other options!) and choose the garage door command you wish to manage.
12) Finally, you’ll be sent to the Routines page, where you’ll be able to check out your new command.
13) To make changes to your newly-created Routine, just click on its name.
14) Select “Enable Voice Companion Alexa and/or Google Assistant” at the bottom of the Routine edit page.
15) Add a sentence to your voice command by enabling Voice Trigger!
16) Go return to the Alexa app and start using it again. At the bottom of the screen, click on “Devices.” The plus (+) sign is located at the upper right.
In step 16, click “Add Device”
17) Select “Other” from the drop-down menu.
18) Tap “Discover Devices.”
19) At the very least, you should see “1 scene detected.” “Done” is the last button to press.
20) Go back to the Alexa App’s Home Screen and pick “Routines” from the menu.
21) To add a new routine, click the addition (+) icon at the upper right of the screen.
22) Click on the addition (+) symbol to add an action to the current selection.
23) Take the “Smart Home” option.
24) Click on “Control Scene” in the drop-down list.
25) Take a look at the scenario you just put together.
26) Then, press “Add.”
27) Enter the name of the routine you want to do. “When this occurs” is the option. Select voice. Enter your voice command here. Preserve Your Habit.
28) It’s done! Your hard work has paid off. It’s time to give it a whirl.
SimpleCommands is an alternative.
IFTTT is an excellent alternative to SimpleCommands if you’re wanting to utilize MyQ with Alexa instead of SimpleCommands (IFTTT).
All of your applications and gadgets may communicate with each other free of charge using IFTTT. For the producers of smart home items, it’s a terrific way to link their gadgets with other gadgets.
You’ll be prompted to connect your MyQ account with IFTTT while configuring MyQ with Alexa. Simply clicking “Connect” on the next screen will activate it.
IFTTT now only enables you to shut your MyQ garage door with Alexa, which is a potential drawback. There are certain advantages to this, as you’ll see in a moment.
IFTTT may also be used for tasks that don’t need Alexa, such as closing your MyQ garage door when you leave the house.
The program utilizes your phone’s location to put up a geofence around your property and determine when you are and are not there.
Check out all the automation configurations on IFTTT to get inspiration for your own smart home. This led me to a slew of handy automations.
Concerns about MyQ and Alexa security
A few security threats and ways in which you might prevent them are crucial to discuss now that you have this authority.
As a starting point, refrain from using an obvious Alexa command, such as “Alexa, open garage door.”. Screaming “open the door” at your MyQ garage door might allow anybody to get entrance to your house. You’d be shocked how many folks fail to notice this simple fact.
If you’d rather say something like, “Alexa, open the garage door for Michael, please and thank you,” you may say something like that. Improvements have been made but it is still not the most safe command.
Don’t use this to open your garage door while we’re at it. Just use it to shut the garage door down.
When you’re inside your house, it’s rare that you’ll need to use your voice to unlock your garage door. Using the garage door button is a convenient method to get out of the house most of the time.
This is America, and you may do what you choose.
Conclusion
If you want to open and shut your MyQ garage door using Alexa voice commands, there is a perfect solution in the form of SimpleCommands.
Even though there are several processes involved, the whole process shouldn’t take more than ten minutes.
IFTTT is a great way to use Alexa to close your MyQ garage door. It’s a simple process to set up the integration.
It’s important to think about security at all times! You may significantly lower your chances of becoming a victim of a break-in by limiting the use of your voice command to closing your garage door.
How well did MyQ work with Alexa?