Set input select options
Use this action to replace the full list of options for one or more input selects. An input select is a helper you can use in automations and scripts to pick from a list of predefined options.
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 options 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 input select you want to change.
- From the actions shown for that target, select Set input select options.
- Enter the Options you want to set.
- 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_select.set_options. A basic example looks like this:
action: input_select.set_options
target:
entity_id: input_select.who_cooks
data:
options:
- "Alice"
- "Bob"
- "Paulus"
This replaces the options of the input_select.who_cooks helper with the three listed values.
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 input_select entity behind that target.
-
Entity: one specific input_select entity, such as
input_select.living_room. - Device: every input_select entity that belongs to a device.
- Area: every input_select entity in a room or area.
- Floor: every input_select entity on a floor.
- Label: every input_select 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 replaces the entire list of options. The currently selected option is kept only if it is still part of the new list.
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.
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:
-
Select input select option: Selects an option of an input select.
-
Reload input selects: Reloads the input select helpers from the YAML configuration.