Apple Home doesn’t currently offer a simple way to list which sensors are open, and while automations with “Wait” actions sound tempting, they’re unreliable in real use.

Instead, I’ve built a clean, reliable iOS Shortcut that checks each door and window sensor, builds a list of anything that’s open, and then speaks the result.

No delays. No guessing. It just works.

VERDICT

Best for: Homes with multiple door and window sensors

What it does: Speaks which sensors are currently open

Platform: iPhone and iPad (iOS/iPadOS)

Why it works: Avoids the unreliable “Wait” action entirely

WHAT YOU’LL GET

• A spoken list of open doors and windows

• A Shortcut you can run via Siri, widgets, or automations

• A setup that scales easily as you add more sensors

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

• An iPhone or iPad

• The Shortcuts app

• One or more HomeKit door or window sensors already added to Apple Home

WHAT THIS POST COVERS

• Creating a reusable list of open sensors

• Checking each sensor safely on iOS

• Building spoken feedback that sounds natural

• Handling multiple sensors cleanly

• A small note on iOS vs macOS differences

–––––

BEFORE YOU START (SMALL BUT IMPORTANT)

On iOS, HomeKit contact sensors return their state as:

• Open

• Closed

On macOS, the same sensors may return 0 or 1.

This guide is written specifically for iOS, and all checks are based on Text = Open.

(There’s a short note later if you want to adapt this for Mac.)

STEP 1 — CREATE AN EMPTY LIST FOR OPEN SENSORS

This list will hold the names of any sensors that are currently open.

1. Open Shortcuts

2. Tap + to create a new Shortcut

3. Add the List action

4. Leave it completely empty. (You'll need to delete the two default items in the list)

5. Add Set Variable

6. Name the variable: OpenList

7. Set it to the empty List

This list will be populated only if something is open.

STEP 2 — CHECK A SENSOR (CORE PATTERN)

This is the pattern you’ll repeat for each door or window sensor.

1. Add Get Home State

   • Choose your sensor (e.g. Office Window Sensor)

   • State: Contact Sensor State

   
   

2. Add a Text action

   • Insert the variable Contact Sensor State

   (This converts the Home state into plain text, which makes comparisons reliable on iOS.)

   
   

3. Add an If action

   • If Text is Open

   
   

4. Inside the If block, add a Text action

   • Example:

   Office window is showing as open.

   
   

5. Add Add to Variable

   • Variable: OpenList

   • Add: the Text you just created

   
   

6. Leave “Otherwise” empty

7. End the If

At this point, if the sensor is open, a friendly message is added to OpenList.

STEP 3 — REPEAT FOR EACH SENSOR

For every additional door or window sensor:

1. Copy the entire block from Get Home State to End If

2. Paste it underneath

3. Change:

   • The sensor selected

   • The message text

Example messages:

• Front door is open.

• Bedroom window is open.

• Kitchen door is open.

Short sentences sound much better when spoken.

STEP 4 — COUNT THE RESULTS

Now we check whether anything was added to the list.

1. Add Count

   • Input: OpenList

   
   

2. Add an If action

   • If Count is greater than 0

   
   

STEP 5 — SPEAK THE RESULT

Inside the If block (something is open):

1. Add Text**

   • The following sensors are open:

   
   

2. Add another Speak Text

   • Speak: OpenList

   
   

Inside the Otherwise block (nothing open):

1. Add Speak Text

   • All sensors are closed.

End the If.

That’s it — your Shortcut is complete.

HOW TO USE IT

• Run it from the Shortcuts app

• Run connecting iPhone to power at nigh time

• Add it to your Home Screen

• Add it as a widget

• Say:

“Hey Siri, run Check Door Window Sensors”

It’s especially good as a bedtime check.

TROUBLESHOOTING

If it always says “All sensors are closed”:

• Make sure the sensor is actually open in the Home app

• Confirm the If condition checks Text is Open

• Ensure the Count action is counting OpenList, not “Input”

If the spoken output sounds awkward:

• Add a Combine Text action

• Combine OpenList with New Lines

• Speak the combined text instead

A NOTE ON MACOS

On macOS, HomeKit contact sensors may return 0 (closed) or 1 (open).

If you recreate this Shortcut on a Mac, you’ll need to adjust the If condition accordingly.

For iOS, Text = Open is the most reliable approach.

WHY THIS WORKS BETTER THAN “WAIT”

• No long-running automations

• No timeouts

• No Home hub inconsistencies

• Works instantly, every time

This pattern scales cleanly and stays reliable as your Home grows.

If you want, I can provide this as a downloadable Shortcut for readers.

Just say the word.

FEEDBACK:

If this guide helped please let me know by completing the How useful did you find this? poll below.