Cannot get "Unknown" state change to trigger an automation

Configuration
1

I want to use the location of my Apple Watch to trigger an automation. I created a test automation to figure out how to get the trigger to work. I am using bluetooth proxies and the Bermuda Trilateration integration to determine the location of the watch. It correctly reflects where I am in my home, and shows the location as unknown when I am away from my home out of range or if my watch is shut down.

The problem is that I cannot get any type of trigger to fire when the location changes from unknown to a known location. It works fine if I leave the “from:” blank but then it fires whenever my location changes between proxies (when I go from one room into the workshop). I’d like to figure out why this doesn’t work.

alias: Apple Watch Test
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id:
      - sensor.applewatch_area
    from:
      - Unknown
      - unknown
    to:
      - Workshop
    attribute: area_name
  - trigger: state
    entity_id:
      - sensor.applewatch_area
    attribute: area_id
    from:
      - unknown
      - Unknown
    to:
      - workshop
  - trigger: state
    entity_id:
      - device_tracker.applewatch_bermuda_tracker
    attribute: area
    from:
      - Unknown
      - unknown
    to:
      - Kitchen
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: notify.mobile_app_dieters_iphone
    metadata: {}
    data:
      title: Watch is in Workshop
      message: "This works - Apple Watch Test "
  - data:
      volume_level: 0.2
    action: media_player.volume_set
    target:
      device_id:
        - 6a9660e6ca47ec86be0fb33d48c5040a
    metadata: {}
    enabled: true
  - data:
      media_id: LikedShareablePlaylist
      media_type: playlist
      radio_mode: true
    action: music_assistant.play_media
    target:
      device_id:
        - 6a9660e6ca47ec86be0fb33d48c5040a
    metadata: {}
    enabled: true
  - delay:
      hours: 0
      minutes: 0
      seconds: 30
      milliseconds: 0
    enabled: true
  - data: {}
    action: media_player.media_stop
    target:
      device_id:
        - 6a9660e6ca47ec86be0fb33d48c5040a
    metadata: {}
    enabled: true
mode: restart

OK, I fiddled around with the automation and it seems to have worked (once so far) updated as follows:

triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id:
      - device_tracker.applewatch_bermuda_tracker
      - sensor.applewatch_area
    from:
      - unknown
  - trigger: state
    entity_id:
      - device_tracker.10063b1e9a3e020d_bermuda_tracker
      - sensor.10063b1e9a3e020d_area
    from:
      - unknown

The trace shows that the automation was:

Triggered by the state of sensor.10063b1e9a3e020d_area at March 24, 2026 at 5:07:53 PM

The step details show:

trigger: state
entity_id:
  - device_tracker.10063b1e9a3e020d_bermuda_tracker
  - sensor.10063b1e9a3e020d_area
from:
  - unknown

So the phone triggered the automation. I still need to test it without the phone to see if either of the Apple Watch entities will trigger correctly.

2

If you remove all the from: and to: it fires in that case? Have you looked at the automation trace when that happens and see what the from_state and to_state states are?

BTW, personally, I’d replace the media player device ids with entity ids.

3

It fires if I remove the unknown and leave it as is, including leaving the “to:” statements in. It doesn’t fire at all as is. I’ll do that and post a trace momentarily…

I just left one trigger in place and disabled the others. It fired as expected. If I put unknown or Unknown back in as a “from:” statement, it doesn’t fire at all.

Apple Watch Test triggered by state of AppleWatch Area
12:54:39 PM - 4 minutes ago

Sonos Speakers Workshop changed to Playing triggered by automation Apple Watch Test triggered by state of AppleWatch Area
12:54:41 PM - 4 minutes ago

Sonos Speakers Workshop changed to Idle triggered by automation Apple Watch Test triggered by state of AppleWatch Area
12:55:13 PM - 3 minutes ago

4

All set - it works!