A Guide to Fixing Cove and IFTTT Integration Problems
Integrating your Cove security system with IFTTT (If This Then That) unlocks a world of powerful smart home automations. You can automatically turn off your smart lights when you arm the system or have your thermostat adjust when you leave. But when these applets stop working, it can be a real headache.
This troubleshooting guide will walk you through the most common reasons for Cove and IFTTT integration failures and how to resolve them.
## The First and Most Important Step: Reconnect Your Cove Service
Nine times out of ten, issues with IFTTT stem from a broken connection between the two services. This can happen if you change your Cove password or simply due to a security token expiring. Re-authorising the connection is a quick and easy fix.
- Log in to your account on the IFTTT website or app.
- Go to your account settings and select My Services.
- Find Cove in the list of your connected services.
- Select Settings (the gear icon).
- Click the Reconnect button.
- You will be redirected to a Cove login page. Enter your Cove credentials to re-authorise the connection.
- Once done, test your applet again. This resolves the majority of issues.
## Using the IFTTT Activity Log to Diagnose Problems
If reconnecting didn't work, your next step is to investigate the IFTTT Activity Log. This provides a detailed history of your applets' attempts to run and any errors they encountered.
- In the IFTTT app or website, navigate to the Activity section.
- Find an instance where the problematic applet tried to run.
- Look for an error message. It might say "Applet failed" or "Could not run."
- Click on the entry for more details. The error message will often tell you where the failure occurred:
- If it mentions an issue with the trigger from Cove, the problem is with the Cove connection.
- If it mentions an issue with the action (e.g., "Could not control Philips Hue light"), the problem lies with that service, not Cove.
## Common Scenarios and Their Solutions
Let's break down some specific problems you might be facing.
### Scenario 1: The Cove Trigger Never Fires
You arm your Cove system, but the IFTTT applet doesn't even try to run. There's no entry in the activity log.
- Cause: This is almost certainly an authorisation problem. The connection between Cove and IFTTT is broken, so IFTTT never receives the notification that your system was armed.
- Solution: Follow the steps in the first section to reconnect your Cove service.
### Scenario 2: The Applet Runs but the Action Fails
The activity log shows the applet ran successfully after your Cove system triggered it, but the final action didn't happen (e.g., your lights didn't turn on).
- Cause: The problem is not with Cove, but with the service you are trying to control.
- Solution: In IFTTT's "My Services" section, find the service that is failing (e.g., Philips Hue, Google Sheets, etc.) and use the "Reconnect" option for that service.
### Checking for Platform Outages
While rare, it's possible that one of the services is experiencing a system-wide outage.
- IFTTT Status: You can check the official IFTTT status page at status.ifttt.com for any ongoing incidents.
- Cove Status: Check the official Cove support website or social media channels for any announcements about service interruptions.
By systematically checking the service connection, reviewing the activity log, and identifying where the failure is occurring, you can efficiently resolve any issues with your Cove and IFTTT integration.