Zone enter is firing even though from_state and to_state show I never left the zone

Configuration
,
1

Hi guys -

I have an automation that fires when I come home while connected to carplay.

The trigger is configured to fire when I enter the zone (home_entering – the name is silly but I kept it - it’s just the equivalent of home).

The last few times I’ve gone to the garage to leave, the automation has fired as I leave. I thought maybe this was due to GPS accuracy and the system thinking I was leaving the zone and coming back while I’m on the cusp, but the Changed Variables info in the Trace shows that the from_state and to_state both show me at home.

So, I can’t figure out why the automation is firing.

The Changed Variables trace info (anonymized) is below. Any ideas?
Thanks!

this:
  entity_id: automation.zzzz_enters_home_connected_to_car
  state: 'on'
  attributes:
    id: '1737212895837'
    last_triggered: '2025-05-08T20:52:28.079796+00:00'
    mode: single
    current: 0
    friendly_name: zzzz_enters_home_on_carplay
  last_changed: '2025-04-18T13:12:45.463227+00:00'
  last_reported: '2025-05-08T20:52:28.083395+00:00'
  last_updated: '2025-05-08T20:52:28.083395+00:00'
  context:
    id: 01JTRTQJSFGQZ6QZ63K75AEAWV
    parent_id: 01JTRTQJSC5W229GBYBF5TKZN5
    user_id: null
trigger:
  id: '0'
  idx: '0'
  alias: null
  platform: zone
  entity_id: person.zzzz
  from_state:
    entity_id: person.zzzz
    state: home
    attributes:
      editable: true
      id: zzzz
      device_trackers:
        - device_tracker.ha_app_iphone
        - device_tracker.iphone
      latitude: xxxxx
      longitude: xxxx
      gps_accuracy: 18
      source: device_tracker.ha_app_iphone
      user_id: 3266b21bdc2745f1a82d6e42a5c3fa51
      friendly_name: zzzzz
    last_changed: '2025-05-08T20:52:17.553654+00:00'
    last_reported: '2025-05-08T21:08:43.049516+00:00'
    last_updated: '2025-05-08T21:08:43.049516+00:00'
    context:
      id: 01JTRVNAX9J50XE4R2N05NHMVA
      parent_id: null
      user_id: null
  to_state:
    entity_id: person.zzzz
    state: home
    attributes:
      editable: true
      id: zzzz
      device_trackers:
        - device_tracker.ha_app_iphone
        - device_tracker.iphone
      latitude: xxxxx
      longitude: xxxxx
      gps_accuracy: 5
      source: device_tracker.ha_app_iphone
      user_id: 3266b21bdc2745f1a82d6e42a5c3fa51
      friendly_name: zzzzzzz
    last_changed: '2025-05-08T20:52:17.553654+00:00'
    last_reported: '2025-05-08T22:37:34.374311+00:00'
    last_updated: '2025-05-08T22:37:34.374311+00:00'
    context:
      id: 01JTS0R196QWYHXBNZYQFRFKJC
      parent_id: null
      user_id: null
  zone:
    entity_id: zone.home_entering
    state: '0'
    attributes:
      latitude: xxxxx
      longitude: xxxxx
      radius: 19
      passive: true
      persons: []
      editable: true
      icon: mdi:map-marker
      friendly_name: home_entering
    last_changed: '2025-04-18T13:12:31.833914+00:00'
    last_reported: '2025-04-18T13:12:31.833914+00:00'
    last_updated: '2025-04-18T13:12:31.833914+00:00'
    context:
      id: 01JS4GF1ASHR2ZG1FX4DQET4XY
      parent_id: null
      user_id: null
  event: enter
  description: person.zzzz entering home_entering
2

People probably need to see the automation too in order to help you.

3

I don’t know what the cause is, though it does seem likely that it’s GPS related. As a precaution you could add a template condition to block executing the actions if the to and from states are the same:

condition: template
value_template: "{{ trigger.to_state.state != trigger.from_state.state }}"
1 Like
4

Add a map card to your dashboard and set hours to show to [something].
Then the map will show what happened to your device tracker at that time when the automation triggered.

Most likely your home zone is too small.

5

This is so useful for debugging! Thanks!

6

Good call on the template condition – I like that better than making the zone bigger because I sometimes drive by on the street and don’t want it to fire.

@WallyR – thanks. I didn’t include it because the animation itself didn’t have anything interesting – I’m only interested in why it triggered. And the entirety of the trigger is zone enter:

triggers:

  • trigger: zone
    entity_id: person.zzzzz
    zone: zone.home_entering
    event: enter

That’s it.

Thanks to all. Open to other info - seems odd to have an enter trigger fire when from and to_states are the same.

7

We need it to understand the traces.