Voice control for Loxone: running your smart home by voice

In most homes, voice control for Loxone means Amazon Alexa. With MFM Voice you talk to your Loxone Miniserver through Alexa, either via an Echo device or via the Alexa app on your smartphone, including the iPhone. You do not need an extra device on your network, and your Loxone configuration stays as it is.

The MFM Voice skill currently only works with an amazon.de account and Alexa set to German, so voice commands are shown in German with an English gloss in brackets.

What you can control by voice

• Lights: switch on and off, dim in per cent. “Alexa, schalte das Wohnzimmerlicht ein.” (Turn on the living room light.)
• Blinds and roller shutters: up, down or to a position in per cent. “Alexa, fahre die Jalousie herunter.” (Lower the blind.)
• Room temperature: set and query. “Alexa, stelle das Bad auf 22 Grad.” (Set the bathroom to 22 degrees.)
• Lighting moods: activate as a scene. “Alexa, aktiviere Abendessen.” (Activate the “Abendessen” scene – dinner.)
• Energy values: query them, for example the charge level of the battery storage.

You decide in MFM Voice which devices Alexa can see. The full list of Loxone function blocks, including what does not work, is on the Features page. All phrases are listed under Voice commands.

Voice control on the iPhone

An Echo device is handy but not required. The Alexa app is available for iPhone and Android. You sign in with your Amazon account, enable the “MFM Voice” skill once, and can then talk to Alexa in the app. That way you can control lights, blinds and heating in your Loxone home by voice, even when you are out.

Siri and Apple Home

MFM Voice only connects your Miniserver to Amazon Alexa. If you want to use Siri, Apple Home or another voice assistant, MFM Voice is not the right choice. Other routes, such as Matter or a hardware bridge, cover more systems. The comparison of all options gives a sober overview with names and prices.

Setting up voice control

1. Create an MFM Voice account and connect your Miniserver.
2. Choose your devices and give them names you like to say.
3. Enable the “MFM Voice” skill in the Alexa app and say: “Alexa, suche nach neuen Geräten.” (Search for new devices.)

The setup guide describes every step, with help for common problems.

What you need

• a Loxone Miniserver with Loxone remote access enabled
• an Amazon account at amazon.de, with Alexa set to German
• an Echo device or the Alexa app on your smartphone
• internet access at home

Good to know

A voice assistant does not check who is speaking. So only share for voice control what a guest in your house would also be allowed to switch, and leave out gates and door openers. More on this in Security: what to share for voice control. How to choose names that Alexa understands reliably is explained in naming devices the right way.

You can try MFM Voice free for 14 days, with no payment details. What it costs afterwards is on the Pricing page.