Introduction
Not every Applet on IFTTT needs the mobile app to work. This article breaks down when the IFTTT app is required and when it isn’t—so you can better understand how your Applets run and whether having the app installed is necessary for your setup.
Services that require the IFTTT app
Some Applets rely on data or actions that come directly from your phone. For those to work, the IFTTT app must be installed and granted the necessary permissions. These are typically mobile-specific services like:
These Applets depend on your phone to provide key information through permissions granted to the IFTTT app, like your current location or whether your battery is low. Without the IFTTT app, these triggers or actions can’t function.
If you're unsure if a service requires the IFTTT app to work, the best place to check is the description in the service page. If the IFTTT app is required, it'll be noted there. For example, here is the description on the Location service page:
The IFTTT app must remain installed and signed in for these Applets to keep working. If you uninstall the app or sign out, the Applets that depend on it will stop running.
Services that do not require the IFTTT app
Many Applets work entirely through cloud-based services that are connected to your IFTTT account. These Applets do not rely on the IFTTT app and will run whether or not it’s installed on your device.
For example, an Applet like “If WyzeCam detects motion, then turn on my Hue lights” uses APIs from both services. IFTTT listens for events from WyzeCam and sends a command to Hue—all without needing anything from your mobile device.
If you’ve created Applets like these and later delete the IFTTT app, they’ll continue to run. To stop them, you’ll need to sign in to the IFTTT app or ifttt.com and turn them off.
How to tell if an Applet needs the IFTTT app to run
Applets that include services like location, phone calls, or battery level need the IFTTT app installed on your phone with the proper permissions enabled. These Applets rely on data from your mobile device to know when to run. The full list of services that require the IFTTT app to function is provided below.
On the other hand, Applets that use services connected to your IFTTT account—like smart lights, email, or calendars—run through the cloud and don’t require the app to be installed on your phone.