topic Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits in Home Automation

Can’t save new automation routines or edits

NaoMari — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 15:35:27 GMT

I started a new job with a different hybrid schedule and merely wanted to change the days of the week on my WFH and office day routines and found I could not.

I searched for some solutions and found this thread here https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Home-Automation/Good-morning-routine-won-t-save/m-p/368544#M14963

Based on the recommendation there, I thought maybe it was a memory thing for the app deleting older disabled routines. I deleted the items inside the default routines I no longer used and those changes saved and I deleted some custom routines I no longer used.

So then I tried to save the changes in my routines again, but no luck. I then thought to delete the two routines in hopes of building them new from scratch. Those won’t save either.

Then I tried to save items inside the default routines which were empty. Also no luck.

So now I have lost all my automations and have absolutely no way to create new or edit default ones.

And yes, I have restarted the app, restarted my phone, restarted my displays. I’m using the Public Preview version of Google Home running iOS 16.6 on an iPhone 14 Pro.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

NaoMari — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 17:09:53 GMT

An update: I can save things to a Default automation, as long as I don’t save a time.

Time starters are what seem to kill my ability to save…except I really need actions tied to a time, not a key phrase.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

Captain_Salty — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 01:38:08 GMT

I’m having the same issue. All automations with time starters aren’t able to be saved. Hoping for a fix 🙏

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

blaford — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 06:32:01 GMT

Same issue. Can't save a new routine based on time with a "Try your own"command anymore.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

Zakarias — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 10:58:39 GMT

I have the same problem

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

dimbrit — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 12:29:14 GMT

Im having the same problem, extremely frustrating

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

Captain_Salty — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 12:34:10 GMT

I have been onto Google support and logged the issue. There isn’t a current bug fix however I was shown how to log into my automations and create a new script automation on my PC. Very technical and takes a long time to get your head around. I’ve created a few automations with the tech support to get me by but hoping the app is fixed asap.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

NaoMari — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:49:06 GMT

Was that scripting route only something that could be done on a PC or is it browser based meaning I could do it on my Mac?

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

Captain_Salty — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:30:47 GMT

I went through support and this is in 'public preview', not full release so not sure if it's available to everyone. It's browser based and I was logged into chrome as the same user as my home account.

https://home.google.com/home/automations

This should take you to an screen to see your current automations, you can't edit existing only add new automations. I highly recommend calling support and getting one script done to get you started, once you have a script done I have setup more through copy and paste, then editing devices etc.

This is the resource to help you start setting up automation scripts;

https://developers.home.google.com/automations/schema/automations

Hope that helps.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

NaoMari — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 15:53:28 GMT

Okay, I'll give this a shot sometime this week and report back on success or failure hahah. I use the public preview on the app so maybe that's why I can see it in browser. Thanks for sharing!

I was looking at a third party thing on Git using into the Google Home API that I think is more or less the DIY version of what you shared.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

Docjosh — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 01:11:22 GMT

Me too! Though I can save simple stuff tied to a time, but not once I add any sort of media command (ie. Play music, or change volume)

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

blaford — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 05:25:04 GMT

So the script editor did the trick for the simple automation I was trying to save. Not the easiest process though.

Kind of annoying really that you can't edit from the website in the same way you do from the app on the phone. Personally I think it would be very nice to create complex automations while using keyboard and mouse to speed up the process.

The most annoying part is that you can't edit existing automations that were created with the app from within the site, using either the script editor or an app like interface. Should be interchangeable. Maybe in future iterations. It's a step in the right direction though.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

ollinovaj — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 17:03:58 GMT

Experiencing a similar issue; I can only save automations with a Starter OR an Action, but not if I add both.

I have also rebooted all devices, reinstalled the Home app, etc. to no avail.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

Slooffmaster — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 06:50:54 GMT

Same issue here; my radio alarm is no longer working and I can no longer create new time-based automations. The only purpose of most of our Hubs is now no longer available. Might as well bin them…

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

eliaseje — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 01:09:58 GMT

Still having issues....anyone get it fixed?? I can't even save an automation in the script editor. I use the validate button and the script is executable but then when I hit save I get a message that says cannot save routine....come on google!!! Automations were working just fine a month ago...

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

physicscafe — Wed, 27 Dec 2023 17:09:35 GMT

They don't care as long as their devices still work for their primary objective, which is watching and listening to you. Playing your media at a time or action of your choosing is very low priority for these folks, hence I'm here with the same issue in December after pulling these things out of the sell on eBay box. They're going right back in that box.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

samcrorie — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 15:29:16 GMT

I'm having a similar problem. I get a 403 error anytime I attempt to edit or create an automation and it's changed the automation I had set up. Hopefully they fix this.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

NaoMari — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 23:46:33 GMT

Sorry I forgot to update.

I tried the script editor in browser and that didn't work because when I tried doing it there were conflicting depreciated vs current descriptors in documentation, so I gave up on creating something that could be validated.

Instead now the only option is to schedule new routines that include time delays, but that's a really garbage way to set up a routine, having to calculate the number of minutes apart for every little thing.

This has essentially rendered the Nest Hub Max completely useless to me aside from asking for the time, weather, or to set a timer/alarm. And Spotify doesn't work on these anymore. Unsure if that's a Spotify or a Nest problem. But I definitely have no intention to buy the new tablet version because it's just not worth it.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

AnthemV — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 03:36:57 GMT

I know this is an old topic, but for anyone else stumbling across it, you need to add an address to your Google Home for time-based automations to work. That's what fixed it for me. I assume it has something to do with checking the timezone.

Why isn't this mentioned anywhere else? Who knows! It's pretty dumb that it doesn't tell you what the issue is, but hey—that's Google for you.

Re: Can’t save new automation routines or edits

Eeer — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:19:05 GMT

Old topic but same issue now starting with the new automations having conditions this has affected me. Several new automations created. Time based, media and lighting related. All continue to run when I want them to stop but I cannot delete, deactivate, edit or even see them. Just get the message "Something went wrong. Try again later, or delete the automation and create a new one.Are you sure you want to delete this automation? This action can't be undone. Delete" my app has my address. My location is shared. Wifi shared and presence sensing on for all Google devices. Still not working. Flurry frustrating. How is this still an issue Several years later but yet google doesn't have any guidance or fixes. Help please I am tired of being woken up earlier that I would like to be everyday. I cannot stop the lights from turning on or music from playing automatically from these undeletable automations. I have too many devices, automations and half a decade long of effort to have to restart everything. Delete my account or leave Google entirely. I want to go back to the prior versions of the app. Gemini Ai is messing everything up.