MyQ Garage with Siri (2024 Edition)

Fixing what MyQ, SimpleCommands et. al have broken

As most of us are aware, Chamberlain and MyQ has screwed most who have the MyQ garage opener. And, sadly, the easiest workaround which used the SimpleCommands app, is now dead. There’s been little to help in this area over the last couple of years. I decided in May of 2024 to have a look to see if anyone had come up with something, and sure enough, AlexInDC on Reddit came up with a unique workaround. A big thanks to Alex.

There’s a couple choices you’ll make here. The first, is just to follow the modified instructions from Reddit and use that on it’s own. For a more automated solution, you’ll need to have a Homebridge server setup, and link that to an automation in the Apple Home app. You’ll also create a couple of Siri Shortcuts. Unlike the SimpleCommands solution, which required no user interaction, the Reddit solution requires voice interaction and if you add the Homebridge part you’ll still need voice interaction, too. The big difference is with the Homebridge part, you can use geolocation to trigger the start of the solution. In the long run, you may find it simpler and easier just to use a physical remote with the MyQ. But, for those who find technology fun, this one will never break unless Apple does something to make it so. There’s no third party app like SimpleCommands and there’s no need for the MyQ API. It’s all part of Apple’s iOS and, it works! If you’re an Android person, sorry, but I don’t have anything for you, stop here. Otherwise, proceed.

Open or Close the Garage with Just Voice Control and MyQ App

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone. In the upper right hand corner, click the + to add a new Shortcut. One of the choices in iOS 17 will be Open App. In older iOS, you may have to search for that and then choose it.
   

   Open App in New Shortcut

   2. Click on the App variable

   

   Select the App variable

   3. Select myQ from the list of apps

   

   Select myQ

   4. Shortcut now shows myQ as selected app

   

   myQ selected

   5. Click Done in upper right corner of previous image. You might also click the down arrow by “Open App” then rename this shortcut to something that makes more sense. I name it MyQ.

Setting Up Voice Control

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Select Accessibility. Turn the Voice Control slider on.

2. Leave Accessibility running in the background and open the MyQ app. Since Voice Control should now be on (indicated by a small waveform icon in the upper left of your phone’s Home screen, say “Show Grid.” Take note of the grid numbers within the circle of the garage. With a single garage, the grid numbers to take note of are typically 18 and 19.

3. Once you’ve noted the grid numbers, say “Hide Grid.” The numbered squares will disappear.

4. Return to the Accessibility app and Voice Control. Select the Commands option, then Create New Command

5. With the New Command screen open you will need two of the three options as shown (a Phrase, I use the name of my car; an Action, in this case recording commands. You can leave the Application set to Any.

6. From the Action screen, you want Playback Recorded Commands, but you cannot select that. Instead, follow the directions beneath that choice that begins “To use Recorded Commands…”

7. You’ll be making a recording. I suggest practicing what you’ll say, first. It will help you set the pace of your speech. The recording should contain, “Show Grid, Tap xx (probably 18 or 19 from 2. above.) When you’ve made your recording, tap Save. I had to do this a couple of times, hence the suggestion to practice your speech first.

Now, when you approach or leave your garage, you can say “Siri (or Hey Siri) name you used for the Phrase in 5. above. In my case, I say “Hey Siri, MyQ” a brief pause and “Prius” (the phrase I used.) Your MyQ should now either open or close depending on what state (open or closed) it’s in.

Open the Garage with GeoLocation, Voice Control and MyQ App (I always use the remote to close mine.)

This section assumes you’ve setup Homebridge and installed the dummy switch.

1. In the Home app on your iPhone, create a new Add Automation by selecting that from the + in the upper right hand corner.
   

   Adding a new Automation in the Home app

   2. On the Events screen of the New Automation you can choose either People Arrive or When The First Person Arrives Home on the screen. I use the former.

   

   The Event Choice of the New Automation

   3. When Anyone Arrives Home, I have the Dummy Switch change to On. You have to do this for GeoLocation because Apple restricts what can happen automatically via Shortcuts without the user having to OK a Location action. Apple does allow an accessory to be manipulated without user interaction. This is the entire reason for setting up Homebridge and the Dummy Switch. I leave the switch on for one minute.

   

   Set the Dummy Switch On.

   Enhancing and Adding Shortcuts for GeoLocation

   4. With the Dummy Switch on this will trigger a Shortcut to run. In this case the Shortcut is about what to do first.

   

   Actions triggered by Dummy Switch on.

   5. The enhanced MyQ action utilizes the Voice Control from the first section, Open or Close the Garage with Just Voice Control and MyQ App.

   

   Enhanced MyQ Shortcut

   6. Siri will prompt you for the name of the Voice Control you created. Again, for me, that’s the single word “Prius.” Once you provide that, with the Shortcut having turned Voice Control On, your Garage Door will open when you speak and arrive home.

That’s it folks. This works really well and again, unless Apple breaks something it will continue to work without third party apps such as SimpleCommands, IFTTT or anything.

If this helped you, Buy Me a Coffee, please.