I’m revisiting this automation guide because my original method has now been superseded by the new Automation 2.0 system in the Aqara app.
Unfortunately, one issue still remains: there’s still no built-in way to toggle a group of lights or relays with a single action. If Aqara ever adds this feature—and exposes the group via HomeKit or Matter—I’ll be in automation heaven.
In the meantime, here’s how I currently handle grouped light toggling. It still requires two automations, but the setup is simpler and more reliable than before.
Step 1: Create Your Light Group
Start by creating a light group and giving it a descriptive name.
For example, I have six T2 GU10 downlights in my office, so my group is named Office Ceiling Lights.
Step 2: Set Up Your Automations
There are two main ways to automate your group toggling:
- Direct Control: Call the group On or Off directly in the automation.
- Scene-Based Control (Recommended): Create two scenes—one that turns the group On, and another that turns it Off.
I prefer the scene-based approach, as it allows me to add more devices or actions later without changing the automation logic.
Automation 1: Turn On the Lights
Trigger: Press any of your designated light switch buttons.
Condition: The automation checks whether all lights in the group are currently Off.
Action: If true, it activates the “Turn On Group” scene.
Automation 2: Turn Off the Lights
Trigger: Press any of the same light switch buttons.
Condition: The automation checks whether all lights in the group are currently On.
Action: If true, it activates the “Turn Off Group” scene.
Why This Works Better
Unlike my original version, this setup doesn’t require the automations to toggle each other or run only once. This makes it more stable and ensures your lights stay in sync—even if you control them through third-party systems like Home Assistant.
