5 basic first steps I take when setting up a new smart home device

While smart home devices are often plug-and-play, there are a few basic setup steps you should take to get the most out of them. So this is what I do every time I get a new smart home gadget.

1 Reading the manual

I always read the manual for the smart home device. This is usually the most overlooked part by many consumers, but it is also the most important part. This is because the manual will often contain important information for setting up the device you have.

The paper manual that comes with the package will at least show you the basics of turning on and using your gadget, and may even include a link that has instructions for more advanced features.

In addition, the guide also points out the dos and don’ts to extend the life of your smart home devices. I also go to the URL in the tutorial (or scan the QR code) because sometimes it leads to YouTube guides to help you set up a recently purchased item.

If I ever run into problems, the manual will generally include some basic troubleshooting steps. This way I can save myself the headache and get things up and running without having to scour the web for easy answers.

After familiarizing myself with the basics of my smart home device, I fire it up to see if its basic functions are working as intended. After making sure to download it, I download the related app and start syncing it with my smart home system.

Note that this isn’t just the usual Google Home or Amazon Alexa app unless you’re using Google and Amazon devices. Rather, it is an application that the device manufacturer has created specifically for the gadget that you have purchased. For example, I have several Lasco Smart Eco Plugs that I need to connect to a Tuya-compatible app to control on my phone, such as the Smart Life app.

Once I add a smart gadget to my account in the app, I can control its advanced features. This includes turning it on and off remotely, adding a timer, turning on child locks, and even creating automations.

3 Customize gadget details

While customizing gadget details can be a hassle, especially if you only have one or two smart devices, it’s essential if you have a lot of smart things in your home. So to know what I’m controlling on my phone, I always rename my smart device to location + function (if it doesn’t have a unique role, I can call it function).

So if I have a smart plug that controls my office UV bug zapper, I’d call it that Office bug zapper. So I can tell him apart from the one in my room that I call Insect zapper in the bedroom. On the other hand, since I only have one rice cooker at home, I name a smart plug that controls it rice cooker.

In addition to naming things correctly, I also make sure my smart home gadgets are organized by room in the app. This way I can easily find the controls for the smart device in the app without having to scroll through the 20 smart gadgets listed in the app.

4 Sync with my Google Home account

I also sync the device’s proprietary app with my Google Home account for more universal control. This way, I can control it by voice through the various Google Nest speakers located throughout my house.

I also have a Google Nest Hub in my bedroom, which allows me to control each of my smart gadgets through its screen – one of the useful things you can do with a Google Smart Display. To do this, I open the Google Home app on my phone and tap Device > Addand then select Works with Google Home. From there, I search for and select the app I used to set up my smart home device and follow the on-screen instructions.

Once it’s synced with my Google Home account, I’ll organize all the smart gadgets by name, room, and home. With this setup, I can then create advanced commands that respond to various actions.

This includes controlling multiple devices with a single voice command, making sure lights turn on and off after a set amount of time, and even triggering a set of commands when it detects I’m leaving my house. You can also set up Google Home routines for useful automation tasks.

5 Testing

Of course, the last thing I do after setting everything up is to test that the devices, commands, and automations I’ve created work as they’re supposed to. I’m so confident that I didn’t miss anything when programming the smart device and I won’t end up with unwanted surprises. You can do this by simply running the automation you set up and checking if you get what you expected.

If you’ve made any commands that rely on a specific time, such as wanting all of your perimeter lights to turn on 15 minutes before sunset, you can first set the trigger to set the time to five minutes from your current time. This means you don’t have to wait long to see if all the lights you want to turn on will do so.

Once you confirm that everything is working as intended, you can set the trigger command to the correct time.

These are the things I do to ensure that the smart gadgets I have work as they should and to get the most out of them. I also recommend keeping a copy or screenshot of your smart gadget receipt in your files – if you ever run into a problem during the warranty period, you’ll have no problem finding the documents you need to repair or replace the device. free from the manufacturer.