Set humidifier mode
Use this action to set the operating mode of a humidifier, for example to switch it to an eco or away mode. This action only works if your humidifier supports several modes. The available modes and what each one does depend on the device.
Using this action from the user interface
If you prefer building automations and scripts visually, Home Assistant walks you through this action step by step. You pick what to target, tweak a few options, and save. No YAML knowledge required.
To set the mode from an automation or a script:
- Go to Settings > Automations & scenes.
- Open an existing automation or script, or select Create automation > Create new automation.
- If you’re setting up a new automation, add a trigger in the When section. Scripts don’t need a trigger. They run when something else calls them.
- In the Then do section, select Add action.
- Select what you want to control. Under By target (see Targets), select the humidifier you want to set.
- From the actions shown for that target, select Set humidifier mode.
- Set the Mode you want to apply.
- Select Save.
Options in the UI
Using this action in YAML
If you work directly in YAML, or you want to know exactly what Home Assistant does under the hood, this section has the technical reference. It lists the field names you use in YAML, their types, and which ones are required.
In YAML, refer to this action as humidifier.set_mode. A basic example looks like this:
action: humidifier.set_mode
target:
entity_id: humidifier.bedroom
data:
mode: "eco"
This sets humidifier.bedroom to the eco mode.
Options in YAML
Targets of the action
This action requires a target. The target is the object of the action. You can point the action at a single entityAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more], a device, an area, a floor, or a label, and Home Assistant will run the action on every matching humidifier entity behind that target.
-
Entity: one specific humidifier entity, such as
humidifier.living_room. - Device: every humidifier entity that belongs to a device.
- Area: every humidifier entity in a room or area.
- Floor: every humidifier entity on a floor.
- Label: every humidifier entity that shares a label.
You can also select different target types in one action. For example, you can add a specific entity and an area as targets in the same action to run the action on both of them at once.
Good to know
- This action only works with humidifier entities that support modes.
- The action fails if the mode you provide is not one your humidifier supports. Check the documentation of the integration that provides the humidifier for its available modes.
Try it yourself
Ready to test this? Open Developer tools > Actions, search for this action, fill in the fields, and select Perform action. You see what happens on your actual entitiesAn entity represents a sensor, actor, or function in Home Assistant. Entities are used to monitor physical properties or to control other entities. An entity is usually part of a device or a service. [Learn more] without writing a line of YAML.
More examples
Real scenarios where this action shows up in automations and scripts. Copy any example and adapt it to your setup.
You don’t need to edit YAML to use these examples. Copy a YAML snippet from this page, open the automation editor in Home Assistant, and press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V on Mac). Home Assistant automatically converts the pasted YAML into the visual editor format, whether it’s a full automation, a single trigger, a condition, or an action.
Automation: switch a humidifier to eco mode in the morning
Set a humidifier to a specific mode at a set time, for example to run it more quietly during the day.
- Trigger: Time: 07:15
-
Action: Set humidifier mode
- Target: Bedroom humidifier
- Mode: eco
Show example YAML
- alias: "Switch the bedroom humidifier to eco mode"
triggers:
- trigger: time
at: "07:15:00"
actions:
- action: humidifier.set_mode
target:
entity_id: humidifier.bedroom
data:
mode: "eco"
Still stuck?
The Home Assistant community is quick to help: join Discord for real-time chat, post on the community forum with the action you’re calling and what you expected to happen, or share on our subreddit /r/homeassistant.
AI assistants like ChatGPT or Claude can also explain actions or suggest the right one when you describe what you want in plain language.
Related actions
These actions work well alongside this one:
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Set humidifier target humidity: Sets the target humidity of a humidifier.
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Turn on humidifier: Turns on a humidifier.
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Turn off humidifier: Turns off a humidifier.
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Toggle humidifier: Toggles a humidifier on or off.