SimpleCommands Reviews

I first downloaded SimpleCommands in order to control a MyQ garage door (I’ve since added some other devices). I’ve read many reviews stating SimpleCommands did not work with MyQ which simply is not true. However, it does take a bit of setup and background research. Note that you cannot simply add the myq device and then sync with Alexa app. You must create routines (one to open and another to close) inside the this app app. You will then add those to the Alexa app as scenes and you can then run those within an Alexa routine. I admit it is a bit cumbersome but the this app app is providing a workaround that otherwise doesn’t exist so I appreciate the developer for creating a solution. By the way, I learned of the need to create a routine from SimpleCommands developers support page.

The developer has lots of support articles so take a few minutes to read them and give it a try before leaving a negative review. Again, SimpleCommands allows me to control something with Alexa that wouldn’t be possible otherwise so thumbs up!

I found SimpleCommands via Reddit, because myQ makes it impossible to set up your own Siri commands to open/close their garages. They also don’t provide any widget access whatsoever. Instead they want you to buy yet another expensive “Siri” device that is barely ever in stock and a pain to set up. This type of stuff should obviously come with your original purchase, like every other company does. Just poor business practice.

Long story short, I had my myQ open/close Siri commands running in about 10 minutes with SimpleCommands. Thank you to the developer(s) for that. I will say that SimpleCommands isn’t exactly for the novice user, but the developer(s) attempt to do so via EXCELLENT instructions.

I did hit one hurdle in the setup process, though. Note that when they say to click “see more”, just click on the right arrow in the “get contents of” section. Good luck!

Why did you remove Apple Watch functionality? My main use case (and maybe many other people) was to have quick access and easy viewing of the status and availability of my smart outlets. Now, I may as well use the native app for my outlets, since I have to use my phone app anyway. Very disappointed and confused here. Please bring the Apple Watch client back? Also, possible for iOS 14 widget support?

[old edit #1: After two full un- and reinstalls, it works great again on both my Apple Watch and iPhone. Maybe something gummed up. Awesome app and I’m glad we’re back together again!]

(Original) SimpleCommands used to work very well under iOS 12.4, upon upgrade to 13 I am not able to use my Apple Watch s3 as a controller, it only says “Waiting for phone” even though SimpleCommands says successfully connected (and I can’t un- and re-pair the Apple Watch skill in the iPhone app). Tried uninstalling all, reinstalling all, rebooting both devices etc. Is there a fix? If not, SC may be dead under iOS 13 😐

When I first got SimpleCommands I tried to connect it to my wink hub 2.
It wouldn’t work. After some back and forth with their support it would connect and get the list of devices but selecting any device gives me a “Retrieving state...” and nothing ever happens past that. They’ve been very supportive up to now. Haven’t heard from them for a couple of weeks. I do have hope that they will find a solution but until they do I have to give one star.

UPDATE:
They have now fixed it. Works great with my Wink Hub 2. I may find some problems as time goes forward but they deserve 5 stars for a customer service that won’t quit!

I was using SimpleCommands for about a month before it stopped working. Like others here, I started using it for MyQ garage door opener‘s. The link is now broken and it looks like this is a constant battle every few months. Go to simple commands website on the Internet and look at their help section where you’ll find several people commenting under the topic of MyQ. If you’re good at following technical instructions you’ll find a solution that will eliminate the need for SimpleCommands. There are instructions for creating a skill for Alexa that will allow you to verbally open and close the garage doors along with setting a geo fence to automatically open and close the doors as you arrive and leave. Big thanks to those that participate in these forums!

Though SimpleCommands has great potential and can be used on a limited basis with Voice Over, you will find the UI quite cumbersome and confusing. The main drawback is that with Voice Over running you cannot access the “Main” tab and therefore cannot utilize it’s full capabilities. Hopefully the Developer will address this problem since blind people such as myself could make good use of its functionality if we were given the consideration.

Ok for simplicity it’s 5 stars!
I have used this to allow Alexa to control our Chamberlain garage door with flawless success... awesome. Have used it to setup some routines on my 89 year old fathers Alexa at home making him happy and feel very safe.

The ONLY thing that they must do is add more connections. We have the Honeywell Total Connect Comfort thermostats upstairs and downstairs in our home as well as my fathers apartment. Would be awesome to be able to get control via SC. The IFTTT app has it, I really hope these folks get it.

I have a LiftMaster garage opener that only worked with the proprietary MyQ app. Using this app, I was able to connect Siri and Alexa to my garage opener so I can open AND close with my voice. This is a life changer as I always come home with more stuff than I can carry so closing it with my voice is a major convenience. Customer support is very responsive and helpful when I stumbled with the initial setup.

Now, it’s traveled back in time. The last update “fixed” the watch issue. What it didn’t fix was the login issue. I have to login every day. Also, geofencing is what I predominantly use SimpleCommands for. When I get close to home, the garage door opens, alarm disarms, back door unlocks, and the lights turn on where I enter the house. Or, at least it used to! Now that location is broken, it’s useless. I have to open the phone, go into SimpleCommands , go to routines, click the routine, then execute. That is IF I’m not logged out! Most software development goes forward. This is going completely in the wrong direction!

SimpleCommands is very confusing and don’t click on help you’ll never get back to the menu without having to shut your phone off. Then the automation part is useless like others have said.

Although the use of SimpleCommands requires a bit of knowledge and creativity, it enables certain automation impossible with other one-purpose apps. Program now integrated with Shortcuts to make it even more flexible. For example one can not control MyQ garage door with both Alexa and Siri. SimpleCommands is worth the time to develop your own automations. Customer Support is excellent too.

You know it’s a bad app when they haven’t updated it in 9 months. 🙄 App is garbage from the start. Only want this stupid app so I can use MyQ Garage Door opener. At first it wouldn’t send me a confirmation email to create an account. Once I fixed that (after never receiving a reply to customer support) I can’t even log into the MQ interface from the Simple Commands app. I’ve checked my user/password combination on the MyQ App and they’re correct. Simple Commands won’t confirm it, likely, due to the privacy issue they’re having from Apple. Lame app with no support.

I am an early adaptor so expect bugs up front. With that said login from watch was a tiresome fiasco. Once in and going found that while setting up my favorites and syncing it adds a new instance of everything in that favorite even if i didn't mess it. I now have 4 copies of each garage door (myQ) 4 fireplaces and 3 HVAC’s. No way to delete copies unless you start over and rename the favorite. BUT you have to on ALL favorites or they just increment instances each time. Good idea and can see this being worthwhile but buggy in its current release.

I have finally found an app that shows off LTE on my watch. SimpleCommands lets me roam without my phone and still use 100% of its feature functionality. If I do get logged off then I can log back in on the watch directly with my mobile number and a security pin. Wish more apps were ready for a phone free world.

I have to commend the customer service and developer on working out the bugs in the Apple Watch for both MyQ and Wink locks. This is SimpleCommands and the ONLY app for Apple Watch access to your Wink-controlled Schlage Connect Locks as well as now MyQ garage doors.

John with the developer communicated promptly and worked out the bugs. Highly recommend SimpleCommands.

Everything was working fine until the most recent update. It took multiple reinstalls of SimpleCommands to even get basic user interface functionality to update appropriately. After 5 attempts the update finally installed properly. Come to find out that now you can’t even set a location, it just spins and spins. Any routines with geo triggers do not work. Multiple reviews state the same thing especially for those who use SimpleCommands to integrate with myQ.

SimpleCommands has single-handedly used up hours and hours of my life which I will never get back… I really wanted it to work, However the communication with Alexa is a joke and additionally the continuous request to sign in is maddening… It doesn’t work. All I wanted to do was to be able to ask her to open the garage door. It does not work with my q
This is really a shame and whoever developed SimpleCommands Needs to fix it ASAP or delete it and stop wasting everybody’s time

The concept is good and it works when you’re logged in. However, SimpleCommands doesn’t stay logged in so it doesn’t activate MyQ to open the garage. I’d have to open simple commands and log in EVERY TIME I’m approaching my house in order for it to trigger simple commands —> MyQ. That’s the dumbest method. It be easier just to open the MyQ app, or go real old school and click the remote above my head in the car.

I have so many smart devices, I was able to control 95% of them with Alexa, now with SimpleCommands I can control 100% with both Alexa and the watch app and with Siri shortcuts. Amazing!

It worked great for three weeks and then just stopped working. Deleting the connection to myQ and then trying to reestablish it doesn’t work. Using the same credentials - on myQ it logged me into the myQ app - works fine. But when trying to connect simple commands with myQ using the same credentials doesn’t work anymore MyQ or chamberlain must’ve not liked this and are blocking this app servers I would imagine.