It was super convenient to connect Amazon Alexa to IFTTT to create routines that you could trigger with your voice or by performing a specific Alexa action, but that fun is almost over now.
Don't be surprised: are there monthly fees lurking with Amazon Alexa?
In a blog update, the team behind IFTTT (If This, Then That) announced that the integration between IFTTT and Amazon Alexa is ending. This means that if you've been using the IFTTT service to create routines for Alexa, they will no longer work unless you implement some workarounds that allow you to retain a routine.
The most obvious loss here is if you have routines set up that trigger when you say a specific phrase or ask a specific question. For example, if you used IFTTT to set up a voice trigger to trigger a routine when you ask Alexa, “What’s on my grocery list?”, that type of routine would need to be updated to a button action in the app. In that case, you would tap a button on your phone or watch to trigger the same routine.
It appears that iPhone users can use Siri voice integrations to perform the same routines, but they will still need to make some changes to the routine. According to the IFTTT blog, “If you’re an iPhone user, the IFTTT Shortcuts service is a great way to trigger your Applets using voice via Siri.” In this case, you’ll need to remove the Alexa trigger and add an iOS shortcut.
