Play on SpeakerHub

The Play on SpeakerHub action converts a text message to speech and plays it on a YoLink SpeakerHub. You can optionally play a tone first, set the volume for this message, and repeat the message.

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 play a message 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.
  4. In the Then do section, select Add action.
  5. From the search box, search for and select YoLink: Play on SpeakerHub.
  6. Select the SpeakerHub device to play the message on.
  7. Enter the Text message to play.
  8. Optionally, set a Tone, Volume, and Repeat count.
  9. Select Save.

This action does not support targets. In the UI, you are not prompted to choose an area, device, entity, or label. You select the SpeakerHub through the SpeakerHub device option instead.

Options in the UI

SpeakerHub device (Required)

The SpeakerHub device to play the message on.

Text message (Required)

The text message to play.

Tone (Optional)

The tone to play before the message.

Volume (Optional)

The volume for this message only, between 0 and 15.

Repeat (Optional)

The number of times to repeat the message, between 0 and 10.

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 yolink.play_on_speaker_hub:

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: yolink.play_on_speaker_hub
data:
  target_device: 12a34b56c7d8ef9ghijklm0n1op2345q
  message: "The front door is open"
  tone: "alert"
  repeat: 1

This plays an alert tone followed by the message on the selected SpeakerHub.

Options in YAML

target_device string Required

The device ID of the SpeakerHub to play the message on.

message string Required

The text message to play.

tone string

The tone to play before the message. One of emergency, alert, warn, or tip.

volume integer

The volume for this message only, between 0 and 15.

repeat integer

The number of times to repeat the message, between 0 and 10.

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: Announce when a door is left open

This automation plays a spoken alert on your YoLink SpeakerHub when the front door stays open for more than two minutes.

  • Trigger: the front door sensor stays open for 2 minutes
  • Action: play a message on the SpeakerHub
    • SpeakerHub device: your SpeakerHub
    • Text message: “The front door is open”
    • Tone: alert
YAML example for announcing an open door
AutomationAutomations in Home Assistant allow you to automatically respond to things that happen in and around your home. [Learn more]
alias: "Announce front door left open"
triggers:
  - trigger: state
    entity_id: binary_sensor.front_door
    to: "on"
    for:
      minutes: 2
actions:
  - action: yolink.play_on_speaker_hub
    data:
      target_device: 12a34b56c7d8ef9ghijklm0n1op2345q
      message: "The front door is open"
      tone: "alert"

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.