Set light sleep timer

Use this action to set a sleep timer on a Modern Forms fan light. When the timer expires, the light turns off.

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 a light sleep timer 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 your Modern Forms fan light.
  6. From the actions shown for that target, select Modern Forms: Set light sleep timer.
  7. Enter the Sleep time in minutes.
  8. Select Save.

Options in the UI

Sleep time (Required)

The number of minutes to set the timer for, from 1 to 1440 (one day).

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 modern_forms.set_light_sleep_timer. A basic example looks like this:

ActionActions are used in several places in Home Assistant. As part of a script or automation, actions define what is going to happen once a trigger is activated. In scripts, an action is called *sequence*. [Learn more]
action: modern_forms.set_light_sleep_timer
target:
  entity_id: light.bedroom
data:
  sleep_time: 30

This turns the light off after 30 minutes.

Options in YAML

sleep_time integer Required

The number of minutes to set the timer for, from 1 to 1440 (one day).

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 light entity behind that target.

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

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.

Tip

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: dim-then-off reading light at bedtime

This automation sets a 30-minute sleep timer on the bedroom fan light every night, so you can read for a while before it turns itself off.

  • Trigger: A scheduled time
  • Action: Modern Forms: Set light sleep timer
YAML example for a nightly light sleep timer
AutomationAutomations in Home Assistant allow you to automatically respond to things that happen in and around your home. [Learn more]
alias: "Bedroom reading light sleep timer"
triggers:
  - trigger: time
    at: "22:30:00"
actions:
  - action: modern_forms.set_light_sleep_timer
    target:
      entity_id: light.bedroom
    data:
      sleep_time: 30

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.

Tip

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: