# Device replacement feature **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Tags:** devices\ **Created:** [January 2, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/device-replacement-feature/23613 "2020-01-02T12:57:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mackelito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/mackelito/32/8243_2.png) [@Mackelito](https://community.homey.app/u/Mackelito)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/device-replacement-feature/23613/1 "2020-01-02T12:57:08Z")
Perhaps this exists already but I did not find it… I have 5-6 wifi plus that I want to replace with innr zigbee plugs… but it’s kind of time consuming to manually add and replace the device in all flows and so on… It would be great if I could just swap out a device for another one… (and still keep the old device in homey) ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/device-replacement-feature/23613/2 "2020-01-02T13:23:00Z")
The way Homey works internally would make this pretty difficult. However, with a bit of careful flow planning, you could make swapping out devices a bit easier. For instance, instead of having lots of different flows that turn on/off a particular device directly, you can create two separate flows for the particular device (ON and OFF) and start that flow from the other flows. So instead of this: - Flow “Turn off A when something happens”: - IF something happens - THEN turn off device A To this: - Flow “Turn off device A”: - IF this flow is started - THEN turn off device A - Flow “Turn off A when something happens”: - IF something happens - THEN start flow “Turn off device A” That way, when you make changes to your devices, you only have to change the flows that _directly_ modify the device state. ---
**Author:** ![rindler](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rindler/32/5501_2.png) [@rindler](https://community.homey.app/u/rindler)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:38pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/device-replacement-feature/23613/3 "2020-01-02T13:38:27Z")
Also, trigger from the Devices-cards (eg lamps or sensors in a specific zone, all smoke alarms and so on), use the group-app, use the different Date/time cards to trigger at specific times or like every 15 mins for temperature sensors, and use the Logic app to control which zones. When doing like that I can just move a wall plug to the ‘christmas lights’ zone and then it’s included in those Flows, add one extra temperature sensor, include another contact sensor and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Mackelito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/mackelito/32/8243_2.png) [@Mackelito](https://community.homey.app/u/Mackelito)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:39pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/device-replacement-feature/23613/4 "2020-01-02T13:39:29Z")
I already have that structure where I trigger flows using flows… but still… in a year or so… there will be more devices and more flows… and in time I will most likely forget the setup 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bol](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/bol/32/20190_2.png) [@Bol](https://community.homey.app/u/Bol)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2020, 9:11pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/device-replacement-feature/23613/5 "2020-02-24T21:11:42Z")
Hi Robert, thanks for your advice to make it easier to swap devices. I’ve implemented it for all my devices now, but not yet for the Fibaro smoke sensors. Do you have an idea for the smoke sensors too? “Start a flow” doesn’t work for sensors. ---
**Author:** ![Osorkon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/osorkon/32/43026_2.png) [@Osorkon](https://community.homey.app/u/Osorkon)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2020, 10:11pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/device-replacement-feature/23613/6 "2020-02-24T22:11:54Z")
> [@Bol](#): > > Do you have an idea for the smoke sensors too? “Start a flow” doesn’t work for sensors. For Sensors you can uses VD. And using the VD in flows instead of the real device. In case of device replacement you only need adjust 2 flows. ---
**Author:** ![Dezider\_Buch](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dezider_buch/32/34928_2.png) [@Dezider\_Buch](https://community.homey.app/u/Dezider_Buch)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2021, 6:15am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/device-replacement-feature/23613/7 "2021-10-15T06:15:12Z")
hallo, I need to replace 10 pieces shelly 1PM to shelly 1. exist some feature to help with this? It is lot of work. thank you ---
**Author:** ![Dijker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dijker](https://community.homey.app/u/Dijker)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2024, 8:28am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/device-replacement-feature/23613/8 "2024-08-01T08:28:07Z")
There also is a feature request but more for exchange/ replace defect devices for a similar device > [@\[FeatureRequest\] Replace a device](https://community.homey.app/t/featurerequest-replace-a-device/110185): > > In the (almost) 6 years I own a Homey, one of the most tedious activities is replacing a device with a new device of the same type. This happens rather frequently, especially for some brands (Quibino, I’m looking at you!). It would be awesome if there was a feature to replace a device, or replace all flows and variables from one device (which may not longer be responding, and perhaps is not even present anymore in the device list), with another device that is either to be added, or is already a… Maybe vote that one up to get attention from Athom.