How to Create "Tap-to-Run" Widgets for Smart Life on iOS

The fastest way to control your smart home is through interactive widgets. Instead of digging through menus in the Smart Life app, you can place a "Tap-to-Run" button directly on your iPhone Home Screen. This guide explains how to set up these shortcuts to control your lighting, plugs, and security with a single touch.

Keywords: Smart Life iOS widget setup, Tuya Tap-to-Run iPhone, interactive smart home widgets, iOS 18 Smart Life shortcuts, control Smart Life from Lock Screen

Contents 📋

1. Step 1: Creating the Tap-to-Run Scene
2. Step 2: Adding Interactive Home Screen Widgets
3. Step 3: Lock Screen Widget Setup
4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

---

Step 1: Creating the Tap-to-Run Scene

The Smart Life app (and the Tuya Smart app) separates tasks into two categories: Automations and Tap-to-Run. Widgets only support Tap-to-Run.

1. Open the Smart Life App and tap the Scene tab.
2. Tap the "+" icon.
3. Choose Launch Tap-to-Run.
4. Select Run the device and choose the action (e.g., "Lamp" > "ON").
5. Save the scene with a short name like "Lights ON."

Step 2: Adding Interactive Home Screen Widgets

With iOS 17 and 18, widgets are now interactive, meaning the command executes immediately without opening the app.

1. Long-press an empty spot on your Home Screen until the icons jiggle.
2. Tap the + in the top-left corner.
3. Find and tap Smart Life.
4. Choose the widget size (Small/Medium) and tap Add Widget.
5. Important: Tap the widget while it is still jiggling to select the specific Tap-to-Run scene you want it to trigger.

Step 3: Lock Screen Widget Setup

You can trigger your home scenes without even unlocking your phone.

1. Long-press your Lock Screen and tap Customize.
2. Select Lock Screen.
3. Tap the Add Widgets box below the clock.
4. Select Smart Life from the list.
5. Tap the widget again after placing it to assign your scene.

Frequently Asked Questions ❓

Why are my scenes not showing in the widget?
Only Tap-to-Run scenes are compatible. If you created an "Automation," it will not appear. You must convert it or create a new Tap-to-Run scene.

Does this work on iPad?
Yes, the process is identical for iPadOS. You can even place these widgets on the iPad Lock Screen.

Do I need my phone nearby for the widget to work?
Your phone must have an active internet connection (Wi-Fi or Cellular) to send the command to the Tuya Cloud servers.

---

Using Tap-to-Run widgets is the ultimate power-user move for any Smart Life enthusiast. It turns your iPhone into a dedicated remote control for your entire house.