How to Control Your Full Cassette Awning with Alexa and Google Home

What You Need Before You Start
I get this question constantly: "Can I open my awning with my voice?" The short answer is yes, but you need the right gear. After setting up voice control on 60 awnings, here's the stack I recommend:

A Somfy motorized full cassette awning (covers 80% of the market anyway)
The Somfy TaHoma bridge — 150to200, the translator between your awning motor and WiFi
A reliable 2.4 GHz WiFi signal at the awning's location (5 GHz won't work with TaHoma — no idea why Somfy hasn't added it)

No TaHoma, no voice control. That's the one piece you can't skip. Think of it as the brain between your motor and smart home platform.

Setting Up Alexa Control
I'll walk you through this like I walk my clients through it.

Step 1: Plug in your TaHoma bridge and complete setup through the Somfy app. It walks you through WiFi and pairs your motor. About 10 minutes.

Step 2: Open the Alexa app, go to Skills and Games, search "Somfy," and enable the skill.

Step 3: Log in with your Somfy credentials. Alexa will ask permission to access your devices — approve.

Step 4: Say "Alexa, discover devices." Within 20-30 seconds, your awning appears.

Step 5: Rename it something natural. "Patio awning" or "backyard shade" both work. Avoid long names.

That's it. Say "Alexa, turn on patio awning" and watch it extend.

Setting Up Google Home Control
Google's setup is nearly identical, just routed differently:

Step 1: Open the Google Home app and tap the plus icon to add a device.

Step 2: Select "Works with Google" and search for Somfy.

Step 3: Link your Somfy account. Same credentials as the app.

Step 4: Assign your awning to a room — most people pick "Patio" or "Backyard."

Step 5: Test with "Hey Google, turn on patio awning."

Pro tip: if Google Home won't find Somfy, check your TaHoma firmware is current. I had three clients stuck on this until we forced a firmware update through the Somfy app.

Voice Commands That Actually Work
Here's what I've found works reliably:

"Alexa, turn on patio awning" → extends fully
"Alexa, turn off patio awning" → retracts fully
"Hey Google, extend the patio shade" → extends fully
"Hey Google, close the patio shade" → retracts fully

The Limitations Nobody Tells You About
Here's where I have to be honest, because the marketing doesn't cover this:

No partial extension via voice. You can't say "extend halfway." Voice control is binary — fully open or closed. For partial extension, use the Somfy app or physical remote.

 
3-5 second latency. There's a delay between your command and the motor engaging. The command travels voice to cloud to Somfy servers to TaHoma to motor — not instant.

 
Cloud dependency. If your internet drops, voice control stops working. Your physical RTS remote still works fine.
Creating Routines That Actually Make Life Easier

 
This is where voice control gets fun. I set up a routine last summer I now use daily:

I say "Alexa, patio time" and three things happen simultaneously:

The awning extends
Outdoor string lights turn on
My outdoor speakers start playing my dinner playlist
In the Alexa app, create a new Routine, add your trigger phrase, then stack actions. Each smart device shows up as an option. Setup takes about 5 minutes once connected.

Troubleshooting the Common Headaches
I field these calls weekly, so I'll save you the phone time:

Device not found: Restart the TaHoma bridge (unplug 30 seconds, plug back in). Then rediscover devices. Fixes it 80% of the time.

Slow response (10+ seconds): Your WiFi at the TaHoma is probably weak. Move your router closer or add an extender. Signal below -70 dBm causes lag.

Skill keeps disconnecting: Unlink and relink the Somfy skill. If it keeps happening, change your Somfy password — expired tokens cause recurring disconnections.

Privacy and Your Offline Fallback
I'd be dishonest if I didn't mention this. Voice control means your awning commands pass through Amazon or Google servers. If that bothers you, here's the good news: your physical RTS remote works on radio frequency, completely independent of WiFi and the cloud. Voice control is a convenience layer, not a replacement.

FAQ
Q: Can I use Apple HomeKit instead of Alexa or Google?

Yes, but Somfy's HomeKit integration is clunkier in my experience. Setup works through the TaHoma, but response times run 5-8 seconds. Alexa feels snappier.

Q: Do I need a separate TaHoma bridge for each awning?

No. One TaHoma handles multiple Somfy devices. I've run up to 12 motors through a single bridge without issues.

Q: Will voice commands override my wind sensor's auto-retract?

No. Safety sensors always win. If the Eolis triggers retraction, your voice command to extend won't work until wind drops below threshold. This is by design, and honestly, it should be.