# \[Feature Request\] Use zone active/inactive duration in flows (in seconds) **URL:** \ **Category:** Ideas & Suggestions\ **Tags:** featurerequest\ **Created:** [October 23, 2026, 7:07am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/feature-request-use-zone-active-inactive-duration-in-flows-in-seconds/161210 "2026-10-23T07:07:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rinse\_Veldman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/rinse_veldman/32/3522_2.png) [@Rinse\_Veldman](https://community.homey.app/u/Rinse_Veldman)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 7:07am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/feature-request-use-zone-active-inactive-duration-in-flows-in-seconds/161210/1 "2026-10-23T07:07:45Z")
**In short** Homey already shows how long a zone has been active or inactive in the Devices overview (“Active 18 minutes ago”), but we cannot use that information in flows. I’d like Homey to record the moment a zone changes state and make the duration available as a flow condition and tag, in seconds. _[_ ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/d/2/d2c5241ac3e8701d96b2232bb143d297383d2cc0.png) _schermafbeelding invoegen]_ **What we have today** Flows only offer “zone becomes active”, “zone becomes inactive”, “zone has been inactive for x minutes” and the condition “zone is active/inactive”. There is no way to check how long a zone has been active, and the inactive trigger only works in whole minutes. **What I’m asking for** A condition “zone has been active/inactive for more/less than x seconds”, a duration tag (in seconds) on the zone triggers, and active/inactive duration triggers that accept seconds. The basis is simple: Homey storing the timestamp of each zone state change. **Why it matters** Presence-based lighting needs to tell a deliberate action from a habit. If someone switches the light off a few seconds after entering a room, they don’t want light and the automation should back off. If they switch it off after being in the room for a while, they’re probably leaving, and the automation should simply work for the next person. That distinction is only possible if you know how long the zone has been occupied. The same goes for telling walking through from staying, delaying switch-off in rooms people leave briefly, and matching ventilation or heating to actual occupancy time. **Why workarounds aren’t enough** The community app Zone Activity adds a similar condition, but its developer notes that Homey doesn’t store a timestamp of the zone state change, so the duration has to be estimated from the sensors in the zone. HomeyScript runs into the same limitation and hides logic outside the flow editor. Tracking time yourself with variables or Chronograph adds extra state that has to stay in sync with the zone, which creates new points of failure. Homey already has the right information; it just isn’t exposed. **This keeps coming back** Similar questions have been asked since 2022, so far only solved with workarounds: [Zone in active for x time straight](https://community.homey.app/t/zone-in-active-for-x-time-straight/74117) [Check if zone has been inactive for more than X minutes](https://community.homey.app/t/check-if-zone-has-been-inactive-for-more-than-x-minutes/113728) **How you can help** Ideas on the forum don’t automatically reach the Homey team, but support tickets do. If you’d like this too, please like this post, share your own use case below, and send a short feature request to Homey Support with a link to this topic. More requests make it more likely to land on the roadmap. I have submitted a detailed request myself. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 10:53am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/feature-request-use-zone-active-inactive-duration-in-flows-in-seconds/161210/3 "2026-10-23T10:53:34Z")
> [@Rinse\_Veldman](#): > > There is no way to check how long a zone has been active Maybe I’m misunderstanding you, but a Flow card that says “The Zone has been **active** for (minutes)” already exists: ![IMG_2534](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/c/f/cf4cd8f301b5743fb1f54f2cab6dd82c28c40929.jpeg) However, what I’d also like to see is the ability to set the time in seconds. ---
**Author:** ![SunBeech](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/sunbeech/32/111391_2.png) [@SunBeech](https://community.homey.app/u/SunBeech)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 11:04am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/feature-request-use-zone-active-inactive-duration-in-flows-in-seconds/161210/4 "2026-10-23T11:04:17Z")
> [@DirkG](#): > > However, what I’d also like to see is the ability to set the time in seconds. Not sure if it works and not exactly precise to the second, but you can also add fractions of minutes, e.g. 0.5 minutes for 30 seconds ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2026, 7:35pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/feature-request-use-zone-active-inactive-duration-in-flows-in-seconds/161210/5 "2026-10-23T19:35:30Z")
Okay, will try. Thx! ---
**Author:** ![FKey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/fkey/32/14793_2.png) [@FKey](https://community.homey.app/u/FKey)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/feature-request-use-zone-active-inactive-duration-in-flows-in-seconds/161210/6 "2026-10-24T19:20:12Z")
Also check this app > [@\[APP\]\[Pro\] Zone Activity - Enhance your Homey flows by adding conditions based on zone (in)activity](https://community.homey.app/t/app-pro-zone-activity-enhance-your-homey-flows-by-adding-conditions-based-on-zone-in-activity/115838): > > [Zone Activity | Homey](https://homey.app/a/nl.erikvl87.zoneactivity/) Hi everyone, I’ve recently developed the Zone Activity app for Homey Pro, and I wanted to share it with the community as I think it could be useful for others as well. What is Zone Activity? The app is designed to simplify zone-related flows by adding features that Homey doesn’t offer out of the box. Whether you’re dealing with zones without physical sensors or seeking greater control over zone activity, this app aims to provide the necessary coverage. Key Features: V… ![IMG_3130](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/0/e/0ece60206042a379e2a934bb801bc397c40f5d18.jpeg)