Fixing Homebridge Alexa Window Covering Percentage

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Fixing Homebridge Alexa Window Covering Percentage

Hey everyone! 👋 If you're using Homebridge with the homebridge-alexa plugin and have run into a snag with your window coverings, this article is for you. Specifically, we'll dive into a common issue where the Alexa app consistently displays 0% for your window covering percentage, even when it's correctly shown in the Home app. This is a frustrating problem, but don't worry, we'll explore the details and potential solutions, drawing from a real-world user's experience and troubleshooting steps. Let's get started and see if we can get those shutters behaving as expected! 🚀

The Problem: Alexa App vs. Reality 😫

So, the scenario is this: You're happily using Homebridge to control your smart home devices, including roller shutters. You give a voice command to Alexa, something like, "Alexa, open the shutter to 50%." The shutter dutifully moves to the requested position. Awesome, right? 👍

The plot thickens, however, when you check the Alexa app. Instead of showing the correct 50%, it stubbornly displays 0%. Meanwhile, if you glance at your Home app on your Mac or iPhone, it's showing the accurate percentage. This discrepancy is the core issue that many users face. It's a classic case of the right information being available, but not correctly displayed in the Alexa ecosystem. 😩

This isn't just a cosmetic problem, guys; it impacts usability and trust in your smart home setup. If the Alexa app isn't showing the right information, it's harder to manage your window coverings effectively. You might not know at a glance if your shutters are open, closed, or somewhere in between. This is where we need to delve into the potential causes and look for fixes. We'll examine the logs, configurations, and environment details provided to pinpoint the culprit and suggest ways to resolve this annoyance. We'll explore the Homebridge configuration, the plugins involved, and the underlying communication between your devices and the Alexa service. The aim is to get that percentage showing up correctly in the Alexa app, making your smart home experience smooth and reliable. Let's get those shutters working perfectly! 🙌

Diving into the Details: The Setup

This issue often arises with a particular setup, so understanding the specifics is key. The user in question is employing a Shelly 2PM Plus to control the shutters, along with the "Homebridge Shelly DS9" plugin. This plugin is designed to integrate Shelly devices into your HomeKit setup via Homebridge. The Homebridge-Alexa plugin is then used to expose these devices to Amazon Alexa. So, the data flow looks like this: Alexa -> Homebridge-Alexa -> Homebridge Shelly DS9 -> Shelly 2PM Plus. The user’s setup is based on Debian 12.7, with Homebridge v1.11.1, Node v22.17.0, and npm. The whole process is supervised by hb-service. The user has been using this configuration for a while. The issue is in the percentage displayed, not the movement itself. The shutter does move, but the percentage displayed is always 0% in the Alexa app, regardless of the actual position. We have the logs and configurations to analyze.

Unpacking the Logs: What the Data Says 🧐

Logs are the digital detectives of our smart home adventures. They capture every command, every response, and every error message, providing clues about what’s happening behind the scenes. In this case, the provided logs offer valuable insights into the communication between Homebridge, Alexa, and the Shelly devices. Let's take a closer look.

Here’s a snippet from the log:

2025-11-08T18:32:54.011Z alexaLocal Emitting Alexa.RangeController SetRangeValue SUdTVEs6AAE6AAg6eyJpZCI6ImM5NDJiN2E3LTU2NTUtNGE5Ni1hMzE3LWRjZGViNmU3Mjg0OCIsInVyaSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vZC1hY3JzLWV1LXAtN2ItODFiYTQyMGIuZXUtd2VzdC0xLmFtYXpvbi5jb206OTQ0NCIsInNlc3Npb25JZCI6IjE3NjQyZTMyLTZmNGEtNDRmZC1hMDFjLTZjYWQ1ODgwM2M4MCJ9 MEU6QkI6RDc6N0U6QjE6RTYtaG9tZWJyaWRnZS1BbGx0ZXJjby1XaW5kb3cgQ292ZXJpbmcgMS0wMDAwMDA4Qy0wMDAwLTEwMDAtODAwMC0wMDI2QkI3NjUyOTE=
[11/8/2025, 7:32:54 PM] [Shelly NGDS9] [Tapparella Lorenzo] Device connected
[11/8/2025, 7:32:54 PM] [Alexa] Alexa.RangeController SetRangeValue 0E:BB:D7:7E:B1:E6 MEU6QkI6RDc6N0U6QkI6RTYtaG9tZWJyaWRnZS1BbGx0ZXJjby1XaW5kb3cgQ292ZXJpbmcgMS0wMDAwMDA4Qy0wMDAwLTEwMDAtODAwMC0wMDI2QkI3NjUyOTE=

In this log, we can see the Alexa.RangeController. This indicates that Alexa is attempting to set a range value, which is exactly what we expect when controlling a window covering. The log also shows the command being sent to the Homebridge-Alexa plugin, and the plugin passing the command to the Shelly device via the Shelly NGDS9 plugin. The crucial piece is the "SetRangeValue" command. We should be seeing the actual percentage value here, but we don't. The data suggests that Alexa is receiving the command, and the Shelly device is being controlled, but the percentage isn't updating correctly in the Alexa app. We need to identify where the percentage information is getting lost or misinterpreted. Is the Homebridge-Alexa plugin correctly receiving the percentage from the Shelly NGDS9 plugin? Or is the data being lost somewhere between the two plugins? The investigation must focus on the data exchange between these plugins. This is where we need to examine the configuration and plugin behavior in more detail.

Peering into the Configuration 🔍

Configuration files are the blueprints of our smart home setups. They define how devices are set up, how they communicate, and how they interact with each other. Understanding the configuration is vital for troubleshooting issues like the one we're dealing with. Let's dig into the provided configuration and see what we can find.

The user's configuration is provided in JSON format, which is standard for Homebridge plugins. The most relevant parts are the devices section and the specific configuration for the window covering. Here’s a snippet:

{
    "name": "Shelly NGDS9",
    "mdns": {
        "enable": true
    },
    "websocket": {
        "requestTimeout": 10,
        "pingInterval": 30,
        "reconnectInterval": "5,10,30,60,120,300,600"
    },
    "devices": [
        {
            "id": "shellyplus2pm-xxxxxxxxx",
            "name": "Tapparella Lorenzo",
            "exclude": false,
            "hostname": "x.x.x.x",
            "password": "********",
            "switch:0": {
                "exclude": false,
                "type": "switch"
            },
            "switch:1": {
                "exclude": false,
                "type": "switch"
            },
            "switch:2": {
                "exclude": false,
                "type": "switch"
            },
            "switch:3": {
                "exclude": false,
                "type": "switch"
            },
            "cover:0": {
                "exclude": false,
                "type": "windowCovering"
            }
        },

In this configuration, we can see that the "Tapparella Lorenzo" (the window covering) is correctly set up as a windowCovering type. There are no obvious configuration errors. The crucial aspect here is how the Homebridge Shelly DS9 plugin handles reporting the window covering's position to Homebridge. The Homebridge-Alexa plugin then relies on this data. A potential area to investigate is whether the Shelly DS9 plugin correctly reports the percentage value to Homebridge. We need to ensure that the plugin is correctly reading the position data from the Shelly 2PM Plus and sending it to Homebridge in a format that the Homebridge-Alexa plugin understands. This involves verifying that the plugin is set up correctly to monitor the cover's position and correctly publishes this state to Homebridge. Also, we can check for any potential conflicts or misconfigurations in the Homebridge-Alexa plugin that might be causing the issue. The configuration appears sound, the next step involves troubleshooting the plugins directly.

Troubleshooting Steps: Time to Get Our Hands Dirty 🛠️

Now, let's roll up our sleeves and dive into some practical troubleshooting steps. These steps are aimed at pinpointing the cause of the percentage display issue and offering potential solutions.

1. Plugin Updates:

Make sure both the homebridge-alexa and homebridge-shelly-ds9 plugins are updated to the latest versions. Outdated plugins often contain bugs and might not be compatible with the latest Homebridge or Alexa updates. To update the plugins, open your terminal and run the following commands:

sudo npm update -g homebridge-alexa
sudo npm update -g homebridge-shelly-ds9

Restart Homebridge after updating.

2. Plugin Debugging Mode:

Enable debug logging in both plugins. This will provide more detailed information about the communication between the plugins and the devices. In your Homebridge config.json, add "debug": true to the configuration for each plugin. For example:

{
    "platform": "Alexa",
    "name": "Alexa",
    "debug": true,
    ...
}

and

{
    "platform": "Shelly NGDS9",
    "name": "Shelly NGDS9",
    "debug": true,
    ...
}

Restart Homebridge and observe the logs. Look for error messages or any clues about the percentage value being incorrectly reported. The increased verbosity of the debug logs might reveal exactly where the problem lies.

3. Verify Device State in HomeKit:

Check the Home app (or any other HomeKit app) to confirm the correct percentage is displayed. If the Home app shows the correct percentage, the issue is likely with the Homebridge-Alexa plugin or the communication between Homebridge and Alexa. If the Home app also shows incorrect data, the issue is likely with the Shelly DS9 plugin's interaction with the Shelly device. This helps isolate the problem.

4. Review the Plugin Documentation:

Carefully review the documentation for both the homebridge-alexa and homebridge-shelly-ds9 plugins. Look for any specific instructions or known issues related to window coverings or percentage reporting. The documentation might offer troubleshooting tips or configuration recommendations. The issue is likely to be known by now since the plugins are used by many users.

5. Homebridge-Alexa Plugin Configuration:

Check the configuration for the Homebridge-Alexa plugin. Ensure that the window covering is correctly exposed to Alexa. Double-check that there are no settings that might be interfering with the percentage reporting. You can try removing and re-adding the window covering device from the Alexa app to ensure that it is properly recognized. Sometimes a fresh start can fix the issue.

6. Check for Firmware Updates:

Make sure your Shelly 2PM Plus has the latest firmware. Firmware updates often include bug fixes and performance improvements that could resolve the issue. Use the Shelly app or web interface to check for and install any available firmware updates. Outdated firmware can sometimes cause compatibility issues.

7. Restart All the Things:

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix the problem. Restart Homebridge, your router, and your Shelly devices. This can clear up any temporary glitches or communication errors that might be causing the issue. Make sure to restart the devices in the right order (router, Homebridge, Shelly devices).

8. Homebridge Restart with Cache Wipe:

Sometimes, Homebridge can hold onto incorrect data in its cache. Try restarting Homebridge with the cache cleared. You can do this by stopping Homebridge, deleting the persist folder in your Homebridge directory (usually .homebridge), and then restarting Homebridge. This will force Homebridge to rebuild its cache.

Potential Causes and Solutions 🤔

Let's brainstorm the potential culprits and possible solutions to this percentage display problem.

  • Plugin Compatibility: The homebridge-alexa plugin might not fully support the way the homebridge-shelly-ds9 plugin reports the percentage value for Shelly devices. Solution: Check for plugin updates, or explore alternative plugins, or report the issue to the developers of each plugin to find a fix.
  • Data Translation Issues: There could be an issue with how the percentage value is translated between HomeKit, Homebridge, and Alexa. Solution: Examine the debug logs for any errors or incorrect data conversions. Test with different Homebridge configurations and plugin settings.
  • Alexa's Interpretation: Alexa might be misinterpreting the data it receives from Homebridge. Solution: Try unlinking and relinking the Homebridge skill in the Alexa app. Check the Alexa device settings to see if there are any relevant options. Also, try different Alexa devices to verify if the issue persists across all Alexa devices.
  • Network Issues: Communication issues between Homebridge, the Shelly device, and the Alexa cloud service could be causing the problem. Solution: Ensure stable network connections for all devices. Restart your router and devices. Check for any firewall or network restrictions.
  • Shelly DS9 Plugin Issues: The homebridge-shelly-ds9 might be sending the wrong information, or the plugin might not be correctly receiving the position data from the Shelly device. Solution: Check the plugin settings and documentation. Enable debug logging in the plugin to look for specific errors related to reporting the cover's position. Verify that the plugin is configured correctly and that the Shelly device is responding correctly to the plugin's requests.

Community Help: Don't Go It Alone! 🤝

If you've tried all these steps and the issue persists, don't despair! The Homebridge community is vast and helpful. Here's how you can get more assistance:

  • Homebridge Forums/GitHub: Post your issue on the Homebridge forums or the GitHub repository for the homebridge-alexa or homebridge-shelly-ds9 plugins. Provide detailed information about your setup, logs, and troubleshooting steps you've already taken. Be specific! The more detail, the better.
  • Home Assistant Community: Although the user is using Homebridge, the Home Assistant community has extensive experience with smart home integrations and might offer valuable insights. The basic principles often overlap.
  • Reddit: Check out the r/homebridge subreddit. You may find someone with a similar problem, or get help from the community.

By engaging with the community, you can tap into the collective knowledge of experienced users and developers. They may provide insights and solutions you haven't considered. Don't be afraid to ask for help; it's a great way to learn and solve complex problems. Most smart home enthusiasts are happy to help others. 👍

Wrapping Up and Future Outlook 🚀

Fixing the "0% in Alexa" issue requires a methodical approach. By systematically investigating the logs, configuration, and plugins, you can pinpoint the source of the problem. Remember to update your plugins, enable debug logging, and check the community resources. With persistence and a little bit of detective work, you can get those window coverings reporting the correct percentage in the Alexa app. This should make the automation experience more enjoyable.

As smart home technology evolves, we can expect improvements in compatibility and integration. The developers of Homebridge, the Homebridge-Alexa plugin, and the Homebridge Shelly DS9 plugin are constantly working to improve these integrations. Keep an eye out for updates and new features that might address this issue in the future. In the meantime, the troubleshooting steps outlined in this article should help you to overcome the challenge.

Happy automating! 🎉