Set input datetime value

Use this action to set the date, the time, or both for one or more input datetimes. An input datetime is a helper you can use in automations and scripts to store a date, a time, or a combination of the two.

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 an input datetime from an automation or a script:

1. Go to Settings > Automations & scenes.
2. Open an existing automation or script, or select Create automation > Create new automation.
3. 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.
4. In the Then do section, select Add action.
5. Select what you want to control. Under By target (see Targets), select the input datetime you want to set.
6. From the actions shown for that target, select Set input datetime value.
7. Enter a Date, a Time, or both, depending on what the helper stores.
8. 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 input_datetime.set_datetime. A basic example looks like this:

action: input_datetime.set_datetime
target:
  entity_id: input_datetime.alarm_clock
data:
  time: "05:30:00"

This sets the time of the input_datetime.alarm_clock helper to 05:30:00.

Options in YAML

You must provide at least one of date, time, datetime, or timestamp.

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 input_datetime entity behind that target.

• Entity: one specific input_datetime entity, such as input_datetime.living_room.
• Device: every input_datetime entity that belongs to a device.
• Area: every input_datetime entity in a room or area.
• Floor: every input_datetime entity on a floor.
• Label: every input_datetime 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

• Use date and time together, or use datetime or timestamp on their own, to set both the date and the time in a single call.
• The value you set must match what the helper stores. A date-only helper accepts a date, a time-only helper accepts a time, and a helper that stores both accepts either both fields or a single datetime or timestamp value.

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.

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.

Related actions

These actions work well alongside this one:

• Reload input datetimes: Reloads the input datetime helpers from the YAML configuration.