iPhone Automation triggers

[adrianlondon]

I'll log a Feedback suggestion for these, but in case I've missed something ..

I can’t find the option to trigger an automation when leaving a WiFi network or when quitting an app. Do they exist? There are triggers for joining a network and opening an app, but I also want the opposite.

Use cases:

1) I want to automate turning bluetooth on and turning the volume to 50% when I connect to my home network. And I want bluetooth off and the volume to turn to 100% when I leave that network.

2) I want to turn WiFi off and DND on when I run Cyclemeter, an app I use to track my bike rides. I want to turn WiFi back on and DND back off when I exit the app.

I thought the whole point of automations was to automate things, so I hope Apple start to provide more triggers. And allow automations to run without confirmation in all cases.

 

[smartmiller]

I'll log a Feedback suggestion for these, but in case I've missed something ..

I can’t find the option to trigger an automation when leaving a WiFi network or when quitting an app. Do they exist? There are triggers for joining a network and opening an app, but I also want the opposite.

Use cases:

1) I want to automate turning bluetooth on and turning the volume to 50% when I connect to my home network. And I want bluetooth off and the volume to turn to 100% when I leave that network.

2) I want to turn WiFi off and DND on when I run Cyclemeter, an app I use to track my bike rides. I want to turn WiFi back on and DND back off when I exit the app.

I thought the whole point of automations was to automate things, so I hope Apple start to provide more triggers. And allow automations to run without confirmation in all cases.

In the Shortcuts App you can set those WiFi Automations.

 

[Puonti]

In the Shortcuts App you can set those WiFi Automations.

Wi-Fi automations don't support disconnection event, only connection.

 

[NoBoMac]

Use case #1, can set it up as a "when I arrive" automation and a "when I leave". But even then, you will need to tap the "Run" button on the notification from Shortcuts for it to happen.

#2, only automatic-ish ones are for Apple Watch Workouts: there you can start a workout, start another app, and do the wifi and DnD. And when you end the AW Workout, turn back on DnD/wifi, but can't stop an app.

At this point, Automations are not much of a step up from doing this type of stuff via a Shortcut, imo.

 

[Puonti]

I wouldn't say no to truly automatic automations, though I do find even the current implementation useful.

When I arrive at the office I get a prompt on my Apple Watch to run my "at the office" automation, and my phone does its thing without the need to authenticate separately (since the Watch is considered "authenticated").

 

[adrianlondon]

Use case #1, can set it up as a "when I arrive" automation and a "when I leave". But even then, you will need to tap the "Run" button on the notification from Shortcuts for it to happen.

I tried that and they rarely triggered. Occasionally they would, but most of the time they didn't. Also, yeah, having to wait for the notification, then click "run", isn't what I'd call an automation but that's a general issue with Apple's implementation. I doubt they're going to change that, unfortunately.

 

[NoBoMac]

Yeah, been hit and miss for me as well.

 

[TonyC28]

Do automations even work yet? I’ve tried setting up one to check local forecast around the time I wake up but all it does is pop up a link to run the automation. In that case it’s just a glorified reminder and not very automatic.

 

[Puonti]

That's how many of the Automations work right now. Only some run without authentication (which interacting with the phone accomplishes / requires). I imagine this is at least partially for security reasons, so that your phone doesn't become unlocked without you actually being present.