How to Use IFTTT With Alexa

Use IFTTT recipes to create trigger and action combos for smart devices

By
Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss
Tricia Goss
Writer
  • Pima College
Tricia Goss has been a writer and editor for 10+ years. She's written tips and tutorials for Microsoft Office applications and other sites.
lifewire's editorial guidelines
Updated on September 6, 2022

What to Know

  • Sign in or create an IFTTT account and select Connect to link your Alexa to the account.
  • Use one of the existing applets. In IFTTT, choose an applet and select Turn On.
  • After you set up the applet, use the phrase you created during set up to activate it.

This article explains how to acquire an IFTTT account and link it to Alexa. It also explains what applets are and how to use them.

How IFTTT Applets Work

IFTTT recipes, also known as applets, are chains of simple conditional statements that work with many applications, including Amazon Alexa.

IFTTT involves commands that tell the software, “If ‘this’ trigger occurs, then ‘that’ action needs to take place” using the IFTTT service. 

The IFTTT Alexa channel makes using the service even easier, as you can use its existing recipes. If the IFTTT Alexa channel doesn’t have the trigger and action combo you’re looking for, set up your own to perform the functions you want.

To enable the IFTTT Alexa Skill, create or sign-in to your IFTTT account, then select Connect to link your Amazon account and give it the necessary permissions.

How to Use IFTTT Recipes With Amazon Alexa

IFTTT recipes, also known as applets, are chains of simple conditional statements that work with many applications, including Amazon Alexa. IFTTT involves commands that tell the software, “If ‘this’ trigger occurs, then ‘that’ action needs to take place” using the IFTTT service. 

The IFTTT Alexa channel makes using the service even easier, as you can use its existing recipes. If the IFTTT Alexa channel doesn’t have the trigger and action combo you’re looking for, set up your own to perform the functions you want.

The general process for opening an applet is straightforward. Within IFTTT, click the applet to deploy in the list of Alexa options and then click or tap Turn on to enable it.

Follow the directions provided to give IFTTT permission to connect with another smart device. For instance, if you want to enable the applet to brew a cup of coffee with your WeMo coffeemaker if you say, “Alexa, brew me a cup,” you will be prompted to connect using your WeMo app.

After you set up the recipe, invoke it with the phrase you specified in the recipe. Each recipe features different terms and rules depending on the other services you connected. For example, the recipe to connect to a task-management service like Remember the Milk looks different from the recipe for controlling a home-automation device.

Amazon Echo on table near food from completed meal.
Rachel Murray / Getty Images 
Was this page helpful?