Is Your Somfy System Not Compatible with Alexa? Here's How to Connect It.
Controlling your motorised blinds, awnings, and shutters with a simple voice command is a fantastic smart home convenience. Somfy products are renowned for their quality, but making them work with Amazon Alexa isn't always straightforward. If you're being told your devices are "not compatible," don't worry – there's usually a way to make it work.
This guide will explain the compatibility requirements and troubleshooting steps to bridge the gap between your Somfy products and the Alexa voice assistant.
The Key to Compatibility: The Somfy Hub
The most important thing to understand is that Somfy's motorised products (which use RTS or io-homecontrol radio technology) cannot talk directly to Alexa. They don't have Wi-Fi built-in. You need a "bridge" device that can translate Alexa's commands into a signal your blinds can understand.
This bridge is a Somfy smart hub, such as the Somfy TaHoma or the newer Connectivity Kit.
If you do not have one of these hubs, you will not be able to establish a connection with Alexa. You must purchase one and set it up first using the Somfy TaHoma app.
How the Integration Works: Scenes, Not Devices
Here is the second most common point of confusion. Unlike a smart plug or a lightbulb, Alexa does not control your individual Somfy blinds directly. You can't say, "Alexa, open the kitchen blind 50%."
Instead, the integration works through Scenes.
- You create scenes within the Somfy TaHoma app.
- Alexa discovers these scenes as if they were devices.
- You "turn on" a scene with your voice, which then executes the pre-programmed commands.
Example:
- You create a scene in the TaHoma app called "Movie Time".
- In this scene, you program the living room blinds to close completely.
- After linking the skill, you say, "Alexa, discover devices."
- Alexa will find a new "scene" called "Movie Time".
- To run it, you say, "Alexa, turn on Movie Time." Your living room blinds will then close.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
If you have a hub but are still struggling, follow these steps.
1. Enable the Correct Alexa Skill
- Open the Amazon Alexa app.
- Go to More > Skills & Games.
- Search for "Somfy TaHoma".
- Tap 'Enable to Use'.
- You will be prompted to enter the username and password for your Somfy TaHoma account. Use the same credentials you use to log in to the Somfy app.
2. Create Your Scenes in the TaHoma App
- Open the Somfy TaHoma app.
- Go to the 'Scenes' menu and create a new manual scene.
- Give the scene a simple, easy-to-say name (e.g., "Open All Blinds", "Goodnight", "Close Patio Awning").
- Add the desired devices to the scene and set their target positions (e.g., Living Room Blind -> Open).
- Save the scene. Create as many as you need.
3. Discover Scenes in the Alexa App
- Once your scenes are saved in the TaHoma app, ask your Echo device: "Alexa, discover devices."
- Alternatively, go to the 'Devices' tab in the Alexa app, tap the '+' icon, and select 'Add Device' > 'Other' > 'Discover Devices'.
- The process can take up to a minute. When it's finished, your newly created Somfy scenes should appear in your list of devices under the 'Scenes' category.
4. If Scenes Don't Appear or Don't Work
- Unlink and Relink: The most effective troubleshooting step is often to reset the connection. In the Alexa app, go to the Somfy TaHoma skill and choose 'Disable Skill'. Then, re-enable it and sign in again. After linking, run the discovery process once more.
- Check Hub Status: Ensure your Somfy TaHoma hub is online. Check the device itself for a green status light and confirm you can control your blinds using the TaHoma app on your phone. If the hub is offline, Alexa won't be able to reach it.
By understanding the need for a hub and the scene-based control method, you can successfully integrate your Somfy system with Alexa for seamless voice control.