Can someone tell me why this geolocation automation did not work at all?

zBernie · October 22, 2025, 1:59pm

When I returned home today it was the first test of this simple geolocation automation. It didn’t work at all for some reason. My home zone is defined so not sure why this did not trigger. I’m trying to turn off the doorbell motion detection when I return home, for 5 minutes. Incidentally, I did not perform any configuration, HA was already configured for this variety of geolocation. The trigger options are either “Enter” or “Leave” and the zone is “Home”.

-Thanks


alias: Geolocation - Pause Doorbell Motion Detection
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: geo_location
    source: ""
    zone: zone.home
    event: enter
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: input_boolean.turn_off
    metadata: {}
    data: {}
    target:
      entity_id: input_boolean.doorbell
  - action: input_datetime.set_datetime
    metadata: {}
    data: {}
    target:
      entity_id: input_datetime.doorbell_timer
    enabled: false
  - action: notify.mobile_app_pixel_8
    metadata: {}
    data:
      message: Got here in Geolocation - Before 5 minute delay
  - delay:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 5
      seconds: 0
      milliseconds: 0
  - action: input_boolean.turn_on
    metadata: {}
    data: {}
    target:
      entity_id: input_boolean.doorbell
  - action: notify.mobile_app_pixel_8
    metadata: {}
    data:
      message: Got here in Geolocation - After 5 minute delay
mode: single

Didgeridrew · October 22, 2025, 2:51pm

That’s not how the Geolocation trigger works and that’s not how one is properly configured… you cannot leave source blank. The Geolocation trigger is a specialized trigger that works with a small set of services, it is not related to device_tracker or person entities.

As the docs state, you want a Zone trigger.

zBernie · October 23, 2025, 11:53am

Thanks. Part of the zone trigger docs say to configure GPSLogger which I did. But I noticed the URL I optained from the integration for use on the phone is a local network address http://10.99.1… I don’t understand how this would work if you are some distance away from your local network.

Also when I try to add a zone trigger I get the following error. No matching entities. Any help would be appreciated.

Didgeridrew · October 23, 2025, 3:02pm

The docs say you need to have a device tracker platform that supports reporting GPS coordinates. It doesn’t have to be GPSLogger. Most users use the HA Companion app since it adds a lot of functionality including location tracking.

All GPS-based device location tracking is going to require that you set up remote access of some kind. I have no experience with that particular integration, and based on the analytics it is not widely used so you may have trouble finding up-to-date information about it.

Zone triggers require either a person entity or a device_tracker entity. If you setup GPSLogger it should have created a device_tracker entity. If it did not, then you need to check the integration.

Hellis81 · October 23, 2025, 3:06pm

You can use the Google integration.
But it will not work well.
It usually has a rather long delay.

But it does not require remote access, it polls (I guess) Google for your position.

To use the companion apps location you need remote access, and it will perform much better

zBernie · October 23, 2025, 4:30pm

Thanks, I ultimately discovered HA Companion App is a better solution. I configured HA Companion App per directions, but it still doesn’t work. I would assume that you need HA Cloud in order for this to work? Or else configure your router, VPN access, etc., to access HA on your home network.

alias: Geo 4
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: zone
    entity_id: device_tracker.pixel_8
    zone: zone.home
    event: enter
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_pixel_8
    metadata: {}
    data:
      message: Here in Geo 4
mode: single

Didgeridrew · October 23, 2025, 5:11pm

You will need to clarify how you are testing. If you don’t have remote access, the GPS coordinates that HA has when you leave the house won’t change after your phone falls off your WiFi which is probably within the home zone. So, there won’t be a zone entering event because, as far as it is concerned, you never left.

You don’t need HA Cloud, but it is an easy way to get secure remote access.

When I started using HA the most common route (though not necessarily the most secure) was to use the DuckDNS add-on and integration. These days it seems like more users who aren’t using HA Cloud are using tools like Cloudflare, Wireguard, Zerotier, or Tailscale. If you have a HAOS install, there are Addons available for those tools in the Addon Store.

If you are relying on your phone for presence detection, you will need a way for your phone to reach your HA instance from outside your local network. However, for home zone presence there are options for “stationary” device trackers based on your phone connecting to your network or Bluetooth-based options. Many users find they get more reliable presence detection by using a combination of GPS and stationary trackers.

Note that these non-GPS device trackers don’t work with Zone triggers, but they do work with other triggers.

# Specific person comes home

    trigger: state
    entity_id: device_tracker.pixel_8
    to: home

# Home zone becomes occupied from being empty

    trigger: numeric_state
    entity_id: zone.home
    above: 0

zBernie · October 23, 2025, 5:31pm

Thank you for all of the information! So many options! I’m familiar with configuring firewalls, VPN’s, SSH, etc. I’ll have to research some of the options you mentioned and decide if I want to punch a hole in my firewall to HA.

zBernie · October 23, 2025, 6:35pm

I just tried you Pixel State example. I took my phone for about a 2 mile drive, then returned, but nothing triggered. It seems so straight forward, not sure what I’m missing.

-Thanks

Didgeridrew · October 23, 2025, 6:37pm

What mechanism (i.e. remote access and/or stationary tracker) have you put in place to set the device’s location when you are not on the local network? Without one of those things the state will never change so the trigger will never fire.

If you are using a stationary tracker, how long is its consider_home value set to? A 2 mile drive may not be long enough if it is set to 10 minutes (which IIRC is often the default).

Check the History of the device_tracker.pixel_8 entity. How long was it’s state not home? If that time was less than the consider_home value, that’s why it didn’t work.

You can find the order of precedence for device trackers in the Person integration docs.

zBernie · October 23, 2025, 6:41pm

Not familiar with the device trackers, I’ll have to research it.

-Thanks

k8gg · October 23, 2025, 7:13pm

2 things:

Could you share the attributes of the device trackers you plan to use for trigger?? Please block or change if there is GPS info in those attributes.
When you are out, you will want to make sure the companion app on your phone being able to talk back to your HA server from the outside… so that your HA server would know any GPS changes from your companion app (and know when to trigger any automation.)

zBernie · October 23, 2025, 8:54pm

I actually just subscribed to HA Cloud. I think I now need to configure the Android Companion App with the Webhooks URL provided? I’m trying to achieve a presence sensor for my phone.

-Thanks

Didgeridrew · October 24, 2025, 12:09am

You can find the address for remote access in the Home Assistant Cloud settings page, use that in Settings > Companion app > Your Server.

zBernie · October 24, 2025, 12:54am

Thank you! In the Companion App → Servers & devices, I entered the remote access into the “Home Assistant URL” field. So not it look something like:

http://xycmbrgrf…ui.nabu.casa

The I took my phone for a little ride, returned home, and nothing. At least at first. Then suddenly after several minutes being at home, I received notification from 5 of my test presence apps:

Here are a few of them. I thought that Geo 4 using the zone trigger would certainly work.

Thanks again for your help.

alias: Geo 4
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: zone
    entity_id: device_tracker.pixel_8
    zone: zone.home
    event: enter
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_pixel_8
    metadata: {}
    data:
      message: Here in Geo 4
mode: single


alias: GPS - Pixel State
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: device_tracker.pixel_8
    to: home
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_pixel_8
    metadata: {}
    data:
      message: Here in Pixel State
mode: single

Hellis81 · October 24, 2025, 2:54am

The reason for the delay could be the update frequency of your position, or that you did not set the importance flag/ high priority on the message.
Without it, the message will be delivered when the phone wakes up, with the flags it will wake the phone up

Introduction | Home Assistant Companion Docs

k8gg · October 24, 2025, 4:03am

So this worked. That’s good!

Previously it wouldn’t work most likely is because when your phone / companion app is outside of your home network, the app did not have a way to connect back and tell your HA server that the GPS info is changing / that you are actually out…

zBernie · October 24, 2025, 2:53pm

That did it! I set the message priority to High and received it before entering my house.

Rookie mistake. I have 3 weeks experience with HA!

Thanks!