Media Player custom play media not working with Alexa

Configuration
1

I have a routine that is triggered by a voice message as follows:

SmartSelect_20241208_150718_Amazon Alexa
SmartSelect_20241208_150718_Amazon Alexa1019×1868 130 KB

It is working when simply speaking to Alex (including Alexa saying “all done”):

SmartSelect_20241208_151743_Amazon Alexa
SmartSelect_20241208_151743_Amazon Alexa1006×487 57.9 KB

However, it is not working when called from Home Assistant:

service: media_player.play_media
target:
  entity_id: media_player.front_bedroom_echo
data:
  media_content_type: custom
  media_content_id: change to energetic

Running in Developer tools results in a call to Alexa but nothing happens as it does not trigger the routine:

SmartSelect_20241208_152431_Amazon Alexa
SmartSelect_20241208_152431_Amazon Alexa1048×892 83.8 KB

I did also try from an automation and that prompted responses from Alexa such as " I didn’t find that channel" or “I can’t help you with that”.

alias: Govee - call Alexa scene routine
description: ""
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id:
      - input_select.select_govee_scene
conditions: []
actions:
  - action: input_text.set_value
    target:
      entity_id: input_text.alexa_govee_routine_name
    data:
      value: >-
        {% set routine_name = "change to " +  trigger.to_state.state %} 
        {{ routine_name }}
  - action: media_player.play_media
    metadata: {}
    data:
      media_content_id: "{{ states('input_text.alexa_govee_routine_name') }}"
      media_content_type: custom
    target:
      entity_id: media_player.front_bedroom_echo
mode: single

Trace is:

Executed: 8 December 2024 at 15:34:53
Result:
params:
  domain: media_player
  service: play_media
  service_data:
    media_content_id: change to energetic
    media_content_type: custom
    entity_id:
      - media_player.front_bedroom_echo
  target:
    entity_id:
      - media_player.front_bedroom_echo
running_script: false

I have tried inserting Alexa or Turn On in the text but to no avails. Any ideas?

2

The Custom command function, which emulates voice commands, will not trigger Alexa routines. To trigger routines you have to use routine as the media_content_type and the exact name of the routine as the media_content_id.

service: media_player.play_media
target:
  entity_id: media_player.front_bedroom_echo
data:
  media_content_type: routine
  media_content_id: |
    Govee - Scene - Energetic opens
3

Ok. Even the github repository describes sending voice commands to trigger routines using custom.

So i thought that would work.

However, if i need to use routine as the method, i am unsure as to what would be the WHEN action in the routine. I am assuming that this will be ignored if the play_media call is used?

4

Correct, the trigger inside Alexa is bypassed when you call the routine from HA. You can leave the voice trigger phrase as-is if you use it in person.

5

Ok thanks. I’ll give that a go