# Problems: self-repeating flow **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Created:** [October 3, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315 "2026-10-03T14:09:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kupfer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kupfer/32/147787_2.png) [@Peter\_Kupfer](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kupfer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/1 "2026-10-03T14:09:40Z")
I’m honestly at my wit’s end here. My 9-year-old wants a “Flow.” When saying “Alexa, start party,” a Flow should trigger that—effectively—starts a playlist but also (and this is the key part) cycles the ceiling light through various colors. It’s an IKEA bulb. Since controlling Spotify on Alexa via Homey isn’t possible, I have to use a two-pronged approach. I’m getting Spotify running via an Alexa Routine—that part works fine. Now I need the Homey Flow for the bulb. I’m setting up a Flow, but I can’t get the desired result. I set the start button, then “change color randomly,” followed by a one-second timer. But how do I make it run in a continuous loop? It’s not working, even after installing the “Loop” app. You’re supposed to just create a “Party” Flow, use the start button, and set “Party” to run 10 times… Screenshots attached! I just don’t get it! Seriously! Can anyone help? Thanks. ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-10-03 um 12.49.05](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/c/e/ce30bf73275374806721af92072235f4393d6ed5.png) ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-10-03 um 12.58.20](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/5/1/51013b4396fab7aa8d3399165e7c09ca0246e1c0.png) ---
**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 3, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/2 "2026-10-03T14:32:36Z")
Maybe good if you check the example in the first post of the Loops app topic: [[APP][Pro] Loops](https://community.homey.app/t/app-pro-loops/85754). In order for it to work: - You need to initiate the loop. That part you have done in your second screenshot. - Then you need to create separate flows for what needs to happen when the loop starts and iterates (based on the WHEN Loop X started/iterates/finishes flowcards). As part of those flows you use the flowcard from your first screenshot that randomly sets the hue of the light. ---
**Author:** ![ChrisG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/chrisg/32/8825_2.png) [@ChrisG](https://community.homey.app/u/ChrisG)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 2:33pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/3 "2026-10-03T14:33:18Z")
According to the forum rules, the same question (even in a different language) is not allowed. > [@Flow - Endlos-Schleife](https://community.homey.app/t/flow-endlos-schleife/160302): > > Ich verzweifle eben wirklich. Die 9-Jährige will einen Flow. Bei “Alexa, Party an”, soll ein Flow starten, der quasi eine Playlist startet, aber - und darum geht es - die Deckenlampe in unterschiedlichen Farben durchlaufen lässt. Ist eine IKEA-Birne. So, da Spotify steuern via Homey auf einer Alexa nicht geht, muss ich zweigleisig fahren. Spotify wird über eine Routine auf der Alexa zum Laufen gebracht, was auch schon funktioniert. Nun brauche ich den Flow unter Homey für die Birne. Ich lege ei… ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kupfer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kupfer/32/147787_2.png) [@Peter\_Kupfer](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kupfer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/4 "2026-10-03T14:55:03Z")
OK, I tried it again @SunBeech Frist I created a flow called “change color” - in German “Farbe wechseln” - and this one looks like this ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-10-03 um 16.51.34](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/2/2/222376af39cbc80060a4aed4ca078a740a680821.png) This one is responsible for changing the color! Secondly I created a flow called “Start Party” and this one looks like this! ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-10-03 um 16.51.22](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/8/2/82f0c37b98eb4ef75291e3970a443055cd5257f4.png) Did you mean this? ---
**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 3, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/5 "2026-10-03T15:25:10Z")
That’s only part of the set of flows. You need to recreate the example included in the post I linked: [![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/d/e/deeb09388d229f6c6d5a035afea388b038c7adc9.png) ](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/d/e/deeb09388d229f6c6d5a035afea388b038c7adc9.png) The set contains 4 flows: 1: That one you have: it is in your second screenshot 2: That one you also have: it is in your first screenshot. You can delete the 1 sec delay. 3: You need to create this one too, as this is the one that determines what happens at iteration 1 through 10. Use the same ‘Eine zufällige Farbe setzen’-flowcard. 4: This one is optional: it is what happens after the last itteration. The easiest way is if you connect the three WHEN cards from 2, 3 and 4 to your ‘Eine zufällige Farbe setzen’-flowcard. Also: does the ‘Eine zufällige Farbe setzen’-flowcard also switch on the light? If not, that your need to add that flowcard to flow 2. ---
**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 3, 2026, 3:28pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/6 "2026-10-03T15:28:42Z")
> [@ChrisG](#): > > According to the forum rules, the same question (even in a different language) is not allowed. This is not correct! Which part of the forum rules says that? When I was a moderator, I discussed this with Emile. He made it very clear that the same question is allowed in different language categories! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kupfer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kupfer/32/147787_2.png) [@Peter\_Kupfer](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kupfer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 3:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/7 "2026-10-03T15:45:11Z")
OK, now I’m totally lost. Your screenshot shows “4 streams”, fine. And you saved this as a flow, or? Is the name of this flow “loop1” @SunBeech ? Because I have currently two flows: One is called “change color”, the other one “party”. Maybe that’s the reason why I’m lost! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kupfer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kupfer/32/147787_2.png) [@Peter\_Kupfer](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kupfer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/8 "2026-10-03T16:02:36Z")
I found a video here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30QnhoVkvrw&t=10s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30QnhoVkvrw&t=10s) but this one is also confusing. He’s using a flow called “Blinking Light Flow” but when you look at his cards he’s using “Flashing Lights” ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-10-03 um 18.00.49](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/a/6/a65d5a507f5c06c40eee61fd35b35b0026238443.jpeg) ---
**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 3, 2026, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/9 "2026-10-03T16:12:27Z")
Yeah it might be a little confusing. The example shows 1 canvas that includes 4 streams. I was referring to those streams as flows. But let’s stick to stream. I suggest you do the same, so all the parts are on one canvas for an easier overview. The first stream (1) is the only one that has the start button. So when you start the flow, you are starting the first stream. The other three (2, 3 and 4) get triggered automatically based on the running loop. Does that make sense? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kupfer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kupfer/32/147787_2.png) [@Peter\_Kupfer](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kupfer)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/10 "2026-10-03T16:27:44Z")
It makes sense @SunBeech I did two flows. One is for the start and the iterations called “Party on” and looks like this! ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-10-03 um 18.24.57](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/4/0/40dd9dcd3deb606490fee57c2c3dca5ee9f7d62a.png) But I also need a flow to turn off the flashing light, or? So I created a flow called “Party Off” and this one looks like this! ![Bildschirmfoto 2026-10-03 um 18.24.17](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/a/7/a7a5e827507d8aa4fa1f10e008f2f32996522cf6.png) ---
**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 4, 2026, 7:55am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/problems-self-repeating-flow/160315/11 "2026-10-04T07:55:07Z")
The first flow (canvas) looks ok. I think the WHEN card in your second flow stops the flashing after the first iteration. That’s not what you want. The flashing stops automatically when the loop has done all its iterations (999 in your example). Then the WHEN ‘The loop x finished’-flowcard triggers. You can use that one to specify what needs to happen. For example; switch off the light. If you also add a start button to that same flow as a second trigger, then you can also stop the iteration mid -way by adding the extra flowcard that you included in your second flow (Stop loop x).