Tend IFTTT Not Working? A Guide to Reconnecting Your Services
Using IFTTT (If This Then That) with your Tend camera unlocks a world of smart home automation. You can create powerful connections, called applets, to make your camera trigger actions on other devices, like turning on lights when motion is detected. However, when this link breaks, your automations fail, which can be frustrating.
This guide is designed to help you diagnose and fix issues between your Tend camera and the IFTTT service.
## Core Troubleshooting: Checking the IFTTT Connection
Most IFTTT issues stem from a problem with the connection, or 'service,' that links your Tend account to the IFTTT platform.
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Check the Tend Service Status:
- Log in to your account on the IFTTT website or open the IFTTT app.
- Click on your profile picture in the top right and select "My Services".
- Find "Tend" in the list of your services.
- If there is an issue, you will often see a message like "Reconnect service."
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Re-authorise the Service:
- Click on the Tend service.
- Select "Settings" or "Edit Connection".
- You will be prompted to log in with your Tend account credentials again. This process re-authorises IFTTT to access your camera's triggers and is the most effective way to fix a broken connection.
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Review IFTTT Activity Logs:
- The Activity feed in IFTTT is your best tool for diagnostics. It shows a history of every time your applets have run or attempted to run.
- Look for any entries related to your Tend applets. If you see errors like "Applet failed" or "Service connection error," it confirms the problem lies within IFTTT. Clicking on the error may provide more details.
## Examining Your IFTTT Applets
If the service connection seems fine, the problem might be with the specific applet you have created.
### Applet Configuration
- Is the Applet Turned On? It sounds simple, but it's a common oversight. Go to "My Applets" and ensure the applet in question is switched on.
- Check the Trigger: Open the applet and review its configuration.
- Ensure you have selected the correct Tend camera as the trigger source.
- Verify that the trigger event (e.g., "Motion Detected") is the one you actually want to use.
- Recreate the Applet: Sometimes, an applet can become corrupted. A reliable fix is to delete the problematic applet and create it again from scratch. This ensures all settings are fresh and correctly configured.
### Testing the Trigger
You need to determine if the problem is with the Tend camera not sending the trigger or IFTTT not receiving it.
- Check Tend App Notifications: First, ensure your Tend camera is correctly detecting motion and sending standard push notifications to your phone through the Tend app. If you are not receiving these basic notifications, the issue is with the camera's motion detection settings, not IFTTT. Adjust the sensitivity and activity zones in the Tend app.
- Use a Simple Test Applet: Create a new, very simple applet to test the connection. For example:
- If Motion is detected on "Your Tend Camera", Then That send a notification from the IFTTT app.
- Trigger motion on your camera and see if you receive the IFTTT notification. If you do, the link between Tend and IFTTT is working, and the problem likely lies with the 'action' part of your original, more complex applet (e.g., the command sent to your lights or smart plug).
By systematically checking the service connection, reviewing your applets, and testing the trigger, you can isolate the point of failure and get your Tend camera and IFTTT automations working in harmony once again.