How to Create IFTTT Applet to Simplify Online Activities

Posted on February 28th, 2025 by Quertime Team in Tutorials

In today’s digital world, automation plays a crucial role in increasing productivity and reducing repetitive tasks. IFTTT (If This Then That) is a powerful automation tool that enables users to connect different online services and devices to create customized workflows called “Applets.” These Applets help automate tasks such as posting on social media, saving emails to cloud storage, and receiving smart home alerts.

This guide will walk you through the process of creating an IFTTT Applet to simplify your online activities and enhance productivity.

Understanding IFTTT and Applets

IFTTT is a free platform that connects different apps, services, and devices using simple conditional statements. Each automation workflow in IFTTT is called an Applet, which consists of two primary components:

Trigger (“If This”) – The event that initiates the Applet.
Action (“Then That”) – The response or task executed when the trigger occurs.

For example, you can create an Applet where “If you receive an email with an attachment in Gmail, then save it to Google Drive.”

How to Create an IFTTT Applet

Step 1: Sign Up and Log Into IFTTT

1. Visit IFTTT’s official website.
2. Sign up for a free account or log in if you already have one.
3. Download the IFTTT mobile app (optional) for iOS or Android to manage Applets on the go.

Step 2: Access the Create Section

1. Once logged in, click on your profile icon in the top right corner.
2. Select “Create” from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Select a Trigger (If This)

1. Click on “Add” under the “If This” section.
2. Search for the service you want to use as a trigger (e.g., Gmail, Twitter, Weather, etc.).
3. Choose a specific trigger event. For example:

Twitter: “New tweet by a specific user.”
Weather: “If the temperature drops below 40°F.”
Gmail: “New email with an attachment.”

4. Follow the on-screen instructions to connect your chosen service.

Step 4: Choose an Action (Then That)

1. Click on “Add” under the “Then That” section.
2. Select the service you want to perform an action.
3. Choose the specific action. For example:

Google Drive: “Save email attachment.”
Philips Hue: “Turn on smart lights.”
Slack: “Send a notification message.”

4. Customize the action settings as needed.

Step 5: Configure and Activate the Applet

1. After selecting the trigger and action, review the Applet settings.
2. Click “Continue” and give your Applet a meaningful name.
3. Turn on “Receive notifications” (optional) to get updates when the Applet runs.
4. Click “Finish” to activate your Applet.

Practical Examples of IFTTT Applets for Online Activities

1. Social Media Automation

Automatically Post Instagram Photos to Twitter: If you post a new photo on Instagram, then share it on Twitter.
Auto-Tweet Your Blog Posts: If a new post is published on your WordPress blog, then share it on Twitter and Facebook.

2. Cloud Storage Management

Backup Photos to Google Drive: If you upload a new photo to Instagram, then save it to Google Drive.
Save Email Attachments to Dropbox: If you receive an email with an attachment in Gmail, then save it to Dropbox.

3. Smart Home Control

Turn on Smart Lights When You Arrive Home: If your phone connects to your home Wi-Fi, then turn on Philips Hue lights.
Get Weather Alerts on Smart Speakers: If the forecast predicts rain, then send an announcement to your Google Home.

4. Productivity Enhancement

Save Important Emails to Evernote: If you label an email as “Important” in Gmail, then save it to Evernote.
Get Daily Weather Reports: If it’s 7 AM, then send today’s weather forecast to your phone.

Advanced IFTTT Features

1. Using Filters and Queries

Filters allow adding conditional logic to Applets, making them more dynamic. For example, you can set an Applet to trigger only if the email subject contains specific keywords.

2. Multi-Step Applets

Although IFTTT primarily supports single-trigger Applets, integrating it with services like Zapier or Make (Integromat) allows multi-step automation workflows.

3. Webhooks Integration

For developers, Webhooks provide a way to trigger Applets using custom HTTP requests, enabling deeper integrations with apps and services.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Applet Not Running: Check if both services are correctly connected and authorized.
2. Delayed Execution: Some Applets may have a slight delay due to service limitations.
3. Invalid Credentials: Reconnect the service if you receive an authentication error.

Conclusion

Creating an IFTTT Applet is a simple yet powerful way to automate online tasks and improve efficiency. By leveraging IFTTT’s wide range of integrations, you can streamline social media posting, cloud backups, smart home controls, and more. With advanced features like filters and webhooks, you can build even more sophisticated automation tailored to your needs.

Start experimenting with IFTTT today and take your online productivity to the next level!