How to Fix Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT Not Working
The integration between Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT is a cornerstone of many smart homes, allowing for powerful automations that bridge different ecosystems. You can control your Samsung devices with services that aren't natively supported or create complex rules that go beyond the standard SmartThings routines. So, when your IFTTT applets for SmartThings suddenly stop working, it can disrupt your entire home setup.
This guide offers a professional, step-by-step approach to diagnosing and fixing the most common issues that plague the SmartThings-IFTTT connection. We use British English and a clear, second-person style to help you get your automations running again.
## Step 1: Authorise Devices Within the SmartThings App
This is the most unique—and often overlooked—step for the SmartThings integration. Unlike many other services, you must manually select which of your SmartThings devices are exposed to IFTTT. If a device suddenly stops working with IFTTT, it's often because its authorisation has been lost.
- Open the Samsung SmartThings app on your smartphone.
- Tap the Menu (three horizontal lines) in the top-left corner.
- Tap the gear icon for Settings.
- Select Connected services.
- You should see IFTTT in this list. Tap on it.
- You will now see a list of all your SmartThings devices, organised by category (e.g., switches, sensors).
- Ensure there is a checkmark next to every device you want to use in your IFTTT applets. If a device is unchecked, IFTTT cannot see it or receive updates from it.
- Tap Done to save your changes.
After doing this, test your applet again. This step alone resolves a huge number of "not working" complaints.
## Step 2: Reconnect the Service in IFTTT
If your devices are correctly authorised, the next most likely culprit is an expired connection that needs to be refreshed.
- Log in to your IFTTT account (either on the website or in the app).
- Go to My Services from your profile menu.
- Find and click on SmartThings.
- Click on Settings.
- Choose the Reconnect option.
- You will be redirected to a Samsung login page. Log in with your Samsung account credentials to re-establish the link between the two services.
This process renews the security authorisation and is often required after changing your Samsung password or after long periods of inactivity.
## Step 3: Check the IFTTT Applet Activity Log
If the connection seems fine, the activity log can tell you if IFTTT is even trying to run your automation.
- In IFTTT, go to My Applets.
- Click on the problematic SmartThings applet.
- Review the Activity feed.
- If you see error messages like "Failed to run" or "Connection error," it points to a problem with the service connection (Step 2).
- If you see no new activity at all when you trigger the device (e.g., by turning on a switch), it means the signal from SmartThings is not reaching IFTTT. This often points back to the device authorisation issue (Step 1).
## Step 4: Check for Service Outages
Occasionally, the problem is not on your end but is due to a wider technical issue.
- SmartThings Status: Search for the "Samsung SmartThings Status" page. This official page provides real-time information on the performance of the SmartThings platform. If it's reporting an outage, you must wait for Samsung to fix it.
- IFTTT Status: Likewise, search for the "IFTTT Status" page to check if the IFTTT service itself is down.
## Step 5: Simplify and Rebuild
If one specific applet is causing trouble but others work fine, try rebuilding it.
- Delete the Applet: First, delete the non-working applet from your IFTTT account.
- Create a New One: Create a new applet from scratch. Sometimes, an applet's configuration can become corrupted, and starting fresh is the easiest solution.
- Test with a Simple Trigger: When creating the new applet, use a very simple trigger and action to confirm the connection is working. For example: "IF Samsung SmartThings button is pushed, THEN send a notification from the IFTTT app." If this simple test works, you can then build your more complex automation with confidence.
By methodically working through these authorisation, connection, and diagnostic steps, you can resolve the vast majority of issues between SmartThings and IFTTT.