Add or Change Rules in the Xfinity Home App

Learn how to use the Xfinity Home app to add or change rules in your Xfinity Home system.

Not Sure How Rules Can Work for You? Learn more about rules: what they can do for you, examples and more!

What You'll Need

• Xfinity Internet or Xfinity Home
• Access to the Xfinity Home app

Difficulty
Easy

A few things to know before you start adding rules:

• Xfinity Home:
  • Rules can only be created in the Xfinity Home app.
  • For rules that involve being notified when something happens, you'll need to select a mobile phone number or email address where the notification can be sent. Only the numbers and addresses defined in your automation contacts can be used in a rule. Make sure that your automation contacts are up-to-date.
• Xfinity Internet: Rules are only available for some Works with Xfinity devices.

Select a Rule Template

In the Xfinity Home app, adding a rule starts with selecting a rule template. A rule template is a rule that has already been set up with basic information to get you started. All you need to do is customize it to suit your needs. Think of it as a shortcut that makes adding a rule fast and easy.

There are two ways to select a rule template:

• Browse the recommended rules and scenes and choose a rule to customize.
• Browse a complete list of rule templates and choose one to customize.

Selecting a Rule Template from Recommended Rules

1. Sign in to the Xfinity Home app.
2. On the Overview screen, tap the Automation icon (arrow over two dots).
3. On the Automation screen, the first recommended rule or scene is shown in the area at the top. Swipe left to see the next recommended rule. Swipe right to go back to the previous recommended rule. The dots underneath the rule text show you how many recommended rules there are and where the current rule is in the set (the blue dot).
   
4. When you see a rule you want to add, tap it. The Customize screen displays. Continue with Customize the Rule.

If you don't see a rule you want to add, take a look at the complete list of rule templates (below).

Selecting a Rule Template from the Templates List

1. Sign in to the Xfinity Home app.
2. On the Overview screen, tap the Automation icon (arrow over two dots).
3. On the Automation screen, tap the plus sign (+) at the upper right.
   
4. You'll see a list of the rule templates that relate to your system. For instance, you won't see a template for a garage door opener if you don't have one in your system. Under Rules are templates for controlling devices. Under Notifications, are templates for receiving notifications from your devices.
   
5. Tap a tab, then swipe up and down to scroll through the list.
6. When you find the rule template closest to the rule you want to add, tap the plus sign (+) in the upper-right corner of the template box. The Customize screen displays. Continue with Customize the Rule.

Customize the Rule

When you select a rule template, you'll see the Customize screen. This is where you can change the template's default settings to meet your specific needs. The settings available for the rule depend on the template you selected - different rules have different settings.

1. You can change the underlined settings at the top and the conditions at the bottom for when the rule is active. You can also learn more about the parts of a rule. The example below shows settings for a rule to notify you when someone forgets to close a door.
   
2. Tap each setting or condition to change it to suit your needs. For details, see the section below for the setting you want to change. Examples correspond to the Customize screen shown above.
   • Selecting a Device ("any Door")
   • Selecting a Trigger ("remains open for 5 minutes")
   • Selecting an Action ("SMS")
   • Selecting Days ("Every Day")
   • Selecting Times ("Any Time")
   • Selecting Arm Modes ("Disarmed")
     
     Remember! The rule settings and the order in which they appear aren't the same for all rules. They change depending on what the rule is designed to do.
3. When you're done configuring the rule, tap Add this Rule. The Automation screen displays with the new rule added to your rules list.
   

Selecting a Device

1. On the Customize screen, tap the underlined device that you want to change.
2. On the Which [device type]? screen, select Any if you want the rule to be triggered by any of the displayed devices, or select one or more devices that will trigger this rule.
   • When adding a supported 24/7 Video Recording-enabled Camera, the maximum number of Cameras recording must be less than or equal to the number of your 24/7 Video Recording subscriptions. If all Cameras are recording when your rule is due to trigger, one Camera will need to stop recording before another Camera can start or the rule may fail. Learn how to troubleshoot 24/7 Video Recording rules.
   • If a rule includes disarming your security system, you will need to enter your four-digit Master Keypad Code.
   • If a light can be dimmed, you'll be able to set the light level when selecting turn on. Learn more about dimmable lights.
     
3. Tap Done.

Selecting a Trigger

1. On the Customize screen, tap the underlined trigger that you want to change.
2. On the Select Trigger screen, select the trigger that will cause the rule to perform the action defined in the rule. Depending on the rule, you may also need to define more settings for the trigger, as shown in the example below for a rule involving a door.
   
3. Tap Done.

Selecting an Action

1. On the Customize screen, tap the underlined action that you want to change.
2. On the action screen, the actions available will depend on what the rule is designed to do. For example, if the rule controls a light, the available actions will be to turn the light on or off. Many popular rules involve notifying you when a certain system event occurs. For a notification rule, you'll see the screen below. Select each type of notification that you want to receive.
   • Xfinity Home customers can select all of them, only one, or any combination of notifications.
   • Xfinity Internet customers can select Push and X1 notifications.
     
     
     You can learn more about X1 and push notifications.
3. When you select Text Message or Email, the option expands to show you the phone numbers or email addresses defined in your automation contacts. Select the numbers or addresses you want the notification to be sent to.
   
4. Tap Done.

Selecting Days

1. On the Customize screen, tap the arrow (>) to the right of the Days condition.
2. On the This Rule is Active screen, select the days on which you want the rule to be active. The rule won't be triggered on other days.
   
3. Tap Done.

Selecting Times

1. On the Customize screen, tap the arrow (>) to the right of the Time condition. If you don't see a Time condition, the time period is part of the rule trigger and is shown in the rule text at the top of the screen. If the time isn't underlined in the rule text, you can't change it. If it's underlined, tap it to change it.
2. On the This Rule Is Active screen, select the time period when you want the rule to be active.
   
3. If you select Between Times, tap the Start and End times to define when you want the time period to begin and end. The rule won't be triggered outside of this time period.
4. Tap Done.

Selecting Arm Modes

1. On the Customize screen, tap the arrow (>) to the right of the Modes condition.
   
   If you don't see a Modes condition, the Arm mode is part of the rule trigger and is shown in the rule text at the top of the screen. If the mode isn't underlined in the rule text, you can't change it. If it's underlined, tap it to change it.
2. On the This Rule Is Active screen, select the modes for which you want the rule to be active. The rule won't be triggered when the system is not in one of the selected modes.
   
3. Tap Done.

Changing a Rule

A couple things to know before you start changing a rule:

• Xfinity Home: Rules can only be changed in the Xfinity Home app. If you created a rule in your Subscriber Portal previously, you will have to re-create it using the app.
  
• If you want to change the mobile phone number or email address to which a notification is sent, make sure that your automation contacts are up-to-date. Only the numbers and addresses defined in your automation contacts can be used in a rule.

To change a rule created in the app:

1. Sign in to the Xfinity Home app.
2. On the Overview screen, tap the Automation icon (arrow over two dots).
3. On the Automation page, tap the rule you want to change. The Automation icon (a curved line above two dots) next to a rule means that the rule can only be turned on and off or deleted because it was created using an older rule template that doesn’t support modifications to the rule. If you recreate this rule in the app, adjusting for any changes the new template offers, you’ll be able to turn on, turn off, delete, and make changes to the new rule.
4. On the Customize screen, tap each rule setting that you want to change. For detailed instructions on each setting, see Customize the Rule.
   
5. After you change a setting, Cancel and Save options appear at the top of the screen. When you're done, tap Save.