So you are looking for the best Homekit devices and accessories to secure and automate your home and you want to take the control into your hands?
Wonderful! You are not alone.
A lot of people are going for the ‘smart home’ option and making their homes secure keeping an eye on remote locations and automating different things that are necessary.
There are plenty of options available, but if you are using iPhones, Apple has a complete solution for this called Apple HomeKit.
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What are HomeKit devices?
Homekit devices are smart devices that work with Homekit. These devices allow you to control your smart plugs, lights, locks, fan, and thermostat from anywhere through your smartphone via the Homekit App. Homekit is Apple‘s framework for complete home automation. Manufacturers can implement the Apple HomeKit framework into their smart devices and automate their homes. HomeKit is all over the news and a lot of people are eager to install it in their homes.
Is Siri a HomeKit?
Siri is Apple’s Voice Assistant through which you can control Homekit-enabled devices with the help of voice commands.
In this article, we will explain:
1) What are the best accessories compatible with HomeKit-enabled devices
2)How does Apple HomeKit work?
3)How to set up Homekit-enabled devices and accessories?
4)How to troubleshoot in case anything goes wrong?
Check Homekit ceiling fans
What devices does HomeKit work with?
Best Homekit devices
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Homekit Dimmer Switches
Lutron Caseta Lighting In-Wall Dimmer Kit:
Lutron Caseta Dimmer Kit comes as a little bundle of goodies and has one of the best versatile dimming lighting controls available on the market. The package includes a Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge, two Pico remote controls, two Caseta Wireless in-wall dimmers, and the accompanying accessories to fit them all in the home. Also, Lutron allows functionalities like setting schedules for your lights as well as the ability to use Siri to instantly control your scenes and lighting environment.
Then there is Lutron’s HomeKit-enabled Caséta Wireless Smart Bridge which also allows you to open and close shades. The bridge comes with HomeKit integration. Furthermore, Lutron has also very recently added shade control into that wireless mix.
If you have the DIY version of the Wireless Smart Bridge, you can use Siri and the power of your voice to control Serena battery-powered shades. Homeowners with the Smart Bridge Pro can use HomeKit to tap into Lutron Sivoia QS Triathlon wireless shades, Sivoia QS drapery tracks, the Kirbé vertical drapery system, tensioned shades, pleated shades, and Roman shades
Pros:
- Easy setup.
- Reliable and responsive.
- High-end hardware.
- Works great with the mobile app, Apple Watch, and Siri.
- Comes with the Apple home kit compatible best versatile dimming lighting control
Cons:
- Can’t control non-Lutron devices.
- Requires ethernet port.
- Not so great for non-iOS users.
Lutron Caseta Dimmer Kit is one of the best Apple Homekit-enabled devices and accessories. Easy to set up and very reliable and responsive.
Philips Hue Smart Dimmer Switch
The Philips Hue smart dimmer switch is battery-powered wireless and among Apple HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories that are used to control your Philips Hue bulbs. Additionally, the Hue smart dimmer Switch features four buttons and a toggle switch style that allows you to instantly select favorite scene creations you’ve set up with the Hue app or control groups of lights.
The Philps Hue dimmer Switch is slightly expensive, but if you can afford it and already have Philips Hue LEDs at your home then it is a great addition. You can place the switch anywhere you want to in your home to easily control the lights. The design of the dimmer is also minimalistic and doesn’t stand out negatively.
Pros:
- Wireless.
- Battery-powered.
- Minimalistic design
Cons:
- Requires Hue Hub to control lights remotely.
- No IFTT integration.
The Switch is convenient. The best aspect of this device is that it is a battery-powered wireless remote design.
Smart water sprinkler controller
Rachio 3rd Generation:
Rachio is the best Homekit sprinkler controller. You can control the Smart Water Controller remotely through an app or Google Assistant. The Homekit water timer saves 50% on your outdoor water bill. For set up, the Smart sprinkler controller requires three important things. WiFi, irrigation system, and smartphone. It has weather adjustment ability so during rain or high winds you can skip watering. It is a Homekit-compatible sprinkler. The water sprinkler is not waterproof so you need to buy a weather-resistant enclosure or weatherproof outdoor enclosure from Rachio.
Best Apple HomeKit-enabled plugs
Philips Hue Smart Plug
Philips Hue smart plug is the best Homekit smart plug that has a compact design that can fit easily in any socket. It is compatible with Apple Homekit as well as Alexa. You can control all your lights with a Philips Hue smart plug by installing the Philips Hue App.
Eve smart Plug:-
The basics of home automation include the ability to switch on or off your devices with the simple touch of a button in your application or through voice control. The Eve Energy Switch allows you to do just that and more.
The Eve works similarly to other smart plugs currently available in the market. Plugging the Eve into the wall outlet allows appliances to be switched on and off via iPhone, iPad, or an Apple Watch app.
One of the defining features of the smart plug is the statistics of energy usage that it will bring to users deciding to buy it. It allows immediate feedback and precision on how much energy a connected device is using. Then there is the fact that it gives instant insight into energy consumption. This allows users to decide if an appliance is consuming too much power.
Elgato is also among the smart accessory and home automation companies that support the Apple HomeKit Framework in its devices. This means that Apple device owners can also use Apple’s Siri digital voice assistant to power on or off any connected appliances.
Aside from Siri command compatibility, HomeKit support also allows the usage of triggers to automate certain actions. Moreover, the smart plug can also be controlled without Siri by using the Elgato Eve app for iPhones and iPads.
Pros:
- Compact design.
- Great app
The device is a great accessory for those who are looking to conserve energy and cut consumption costs. You will enjoy our review of some of the best smart switches and plugs as well.
iDevices Switch
The iDevices Switch is one of the best Homekit Smart devices that offers similar functionality to the iHome smart plug. You can plug in accessories and appliances into the socket. The switch is easy to use and it allows you to monitor and schedule home appliances.
The iDevices Switch is HomeKit enabled and works with Siri. So, you can give Siri voice commands to control the switch. The switch can be controlled from anywhere via your iOS device. It also allows you to make smarter energy-saving decisions that will help lower your utility bills. This is done by monitoring electricity usage by appliances in your home.
It also includes a customizable LED night light which can be set to any color, saturation, and brightness. Additionally, the LED night light can also be set to turn on or off at specific schedules.
Pros:
- Simple setup.
- Great companion app.
- Remote access.
- Energy tracking.
Cons:
- Exclusive to iOS.
- No dimmer.
- No IFTTT support.
The switch is easy to set up and the HomeKit integration makes it amazing. Unfortunately, it is only available for iOS devices and users also say that a dimmer function would have been a nice addition.
Kasa Plug Mini
The Kasa smart plug Mini as the name shows is one of the HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories that offers Siri support, but also extends a little beyond that by offering support for other platforms like Samsung smart things, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. Kasa the smart outlet can be fully integrated with your Apple home to make your life easier. The outlet can monitor power consumption and control small appliances.
Kasa smart plug even has a Kasa App to control your devices remotely. Plugging things like lamps, air conditioners, heaters, and television sets directly into this smart plug will allow you to control their power state through applications, Siri, and more. Kasa is also expected to hit the market this year.
Pros:
- Affordable.
- Easy to use.
- Can organize your home into rooms and zones.
- Setup is easy with the Kasa App
Best Homekit-enabled Hubs and bridges
Philips Hue smart Bridge 2nd Generation
The Philips Hue smart bridge is one of the best Homekit devices. Philips’s range of intelligent bulbs is quite popular when,, it comes to smart accessories. The lamps and the bulbs produce the light output but the real intelligence behind the hue bulbs is the Hue Bridge.
The second-generation HueBridge is what makes the bulbs controllable via HomeKit. It connects directly to the router. You can control old Philips Hue bulbs as well as new ones with this HomeKit-compatible Bridge.
Philips Hue range is one of the best affordable, intelligent home automation products. Hue Bridge 2.0 allows your bulbs to be seamlessly controlled by Siri. You can easily use commands such as “Turn all lights green” or “Dim all lights to 50%.”
Pros:
- Siri integration provides voice control.
- Can connect up to 50 bulbs.
Cons:
- Expensive.
What makes the bridge so great is the Siri voice integration that allows you to control the bulbs and voice commands. It is also very easy to install.
Homekit-compatible Smart Lock
August Lock 4th Gen
The 4th- generation August Smart Lock is the best smart key lock which is 40% smaller than the previous August Smart lock and is a really formidable piece of engineering. Now, the 4th-generation model is available in the market, it does not require any Wi-Fi bridge or hub. The WiFi smart August lock offers HomeKit support for control via Siri, which makes it even better than it used to be.
The August Smart Lock basically protects your home and turns your smartphone into a key. You can lock and unlock your property, control specifically who has access at any given time, and even keep an activity log of who enters and exists 24/7. All this can be done through an app or via Siri commands.
The 4th-generation smart lock features an enhanced streamlined design that fits your existing Deadbolt in minutes. The new design has a new magnetic faceplate, along with micro-patterns that improve grip and rotation. Moreover, there is also an indicator light at the top of the lock for clear, visual confirmation that the door is locked or not. The Apple HomeKit-enabled smart lock is available in two colors; silver and dark grey.
Pros:
- Easy installation.
- Simple software.
- Siri integration.
- Works with Nest platform.
Cons:
- Compatible with all deadbolts.
- HomeKit setup is a little complicated.
Overall, the customer responses to this Smart lock have been mostly positive. The installation of the Smart lock is easy according to customers. If you have an Apple TV you can also control your smart accessories when away from home. You can also read about some of the best smart locks to keep your home secure as well.
Kwikset Premis Touchscreen Deadbolt
Smart locks allow us to avoid carrying keys and the frustrations of forgetting or missing them all over the place by making key-free entry mainstream. Because of smart locks and HomeKit, you don’t even need to lift a finger to unlock your doors.
Kwikset’s first smart key lock and one of the best HomeKit devices as a door lock, the Premis lock features a white LED display and a capacitive touchscreen. The company has announced its plans for the Premis smart lock which is the company’s first Apple HomeKit-enabled smart lock. By using the Kwikset Premis iOS app or Apple TV and Homepod you can lock or unlock remotely.
Premis will allow users to lock and unlock the door through Siri voice commands. Besides, the remote control, the Premis can also be integrated with other HomeKit devices, such as temperature and lighting controls. Other perks include a white LED display, a secure screen, and options for up to 30 unique user codes.
Pros:
- Built-in alarm.
- High-end hardware and construction.
- You can assign up to 30 user codes.
- Allows you to use your old house keys.
A lot of users have highly praised the Homekit-enabled device’s features and security. Customers also stated that the installation of the lock is also very easy and you can do it without someone else’s help.
Schlage Sense Deadbolt:
The Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt is the home kit door lock which is among HomeKit-enabled devices that you can control using Siri on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. This lock is available in two trim designs; Camelot and Century. You can get it in three finishes: Satin Nickel, Matte Black, or Aged Bronze.
The deadbolt is a little pricey, but it is worth the money you pay if you have an Apple TV. However, if you don’t own an Apple TV and don’t plan on buying one, then there are other Smart locks that will be better suited.
The Schlage Sense also features numeric keypads. The lock also allows you to assign user-specific codes for different people. The lock can hold 30 access codes at a time. One of the great features of the lock is that you can set the lock to automatically lock after a pre-defined time period.
Pros:
- Simple and minimalistic.
- Siri compatibility.
- Powered by external batteries.
Cons:
- Bulky design.
- Expensive compared to other HomeKit-enabled Deadbolts.
Users indicate that the lock is simple to install and works well. The Siri integration is also great. However, if you don’t have an Apple TV, then you won’t be able to access your smart lock outside the Bluetooth range. Apple TV acts as a bridge to allow your WiFi remote access.
Apple Homekit Sensors
Eve Room Sensor:
Eve indoor sensor is one of the first Apple HomeKit-enabled devices. The Eve Room is capable of measuring temperature and humidity while also determining the number of volatile organic compounds in the air. This accessory is especially for those suffering from extreme allergies to toys or furniture, or those cooking, painting, or renovating their home, trying to figure out if the room they’ve aired out is now good to go. It also has a powerful home kit temperature sensor.
It alerts you to ventilate your living space or child’s room when needed.
The Eve Room Sensor doesn’t offer anything special in terms of functionality apart from its HomeKit compatibility. The sensor is powered using 1 lithium polymer battery and comes with a slot at
you can mount it on a nail in the wall. The Eve sensor can be used to gain insights through your personal data. This temperature sensor is Apple HomeKit-enabled and works with Siri. You can easily ask Siri for the temperature or humidity of the room.
Pros:
- Accurate readings of temperature, humidity, and volatile organic compounds.
- Siri-compatible.
- All rooms are easily connected via USB to iPhone, iPod, and homepod.
- Rechargeable battery
- You can view measurements while away from home due to the home automation system.
Cons:
- No push notifications.
- No WiFi connectivity.
The best aspect of this Apple Homekit device is its ability to sense the volatile organic compounds in your home.
Homekit door sensor
Ecobee SmartSensor for Doors and Windows
The Ecobee smart Sensor for doors and windows is the most sustainable sensor for your home security and an additional sensor for the ecobee3 thermostat, Ecobee motion detector, and camera that you can place around your house to more accurately monitor and manage the home monitoring with its powerful home kit sensor capability.
Also, you can connect all these Ecobee devices with the Ecobee app called Ecobee Haven. Its subscription is affordable and gives you constant notifications of what’s going on at your home. These sensors can be placed all over your house in different rooms so you can easily control your home using your iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Apple Watch.
These Ecobee Remote Sensors can be bought as a pack of two. Or, you can also buy the kit that comes with the sensors as well as the thermostat. The sensors simply allow you to regulate hot and cold spots in the case of doors and windows being left open for your greater comfort. They also provide smart energy savings when you are out of your home. It is one of the best HomeKit-enabled Devices.
Pros:
- You can place them anywhere as no installation is required, simply attach the sensor to any door or window to get started in minutes
- Communicates with the thermostat wirelessly.
- Get Smart notifications and alerts through the Ecobee app when you are not at home.
- 120-degree wide motion sensor detects movements at your home up to 16 feet.
Cons:
- It requires an ecobee security subscription.
Overall the customer responses to these sensors that are Homekit-enabled devices have been positive. Users say that the sensors are a great selling point for motion detection. Setting up the sensors is also simple and easy.
best HomeKit devices
Netatmo Weather Station
This weather sensor is designed to sense the temperature, humidity, air quality, indoor noise levels, and air pressure in the immediate vicinity of your house. The Netatmo Weather Sensor is HomeKit enabled and long-lasting, replaceable battery to power it. The accessory also works with Siri so you can just ask for temperature and humidity readings. it has a powerful home kit temperature sensor.
The Netatmo Weather station can detect when it is time to ventilate air out of your home and will notify you on your smartphone, it is sturdy and can survive harsh weather. The data it collects can be viewed by day, month, or year. The sensor also has an easy direct connection using Bluetooth Smart technology and requires no hub or gateway. You can access your personal weather data from your smartphone, tablet, computer iPhone or by voice via Alex or Siri.
Pros:
- Easy and simple setup.
- Long-lasting batteries.
- Also good for both outdoor and indoor use.
- It allows you to use a third-party weather app to access your weather station.
Users like the accessory’s compact and discrete design. Netatmo Weather station is one of the best HomeKit enabled Devices.
Eve Door and Window Contact Sensor:
Elgato Eve Door Wireless contact sensor allows you to easily monitor your doors and windows. You can immediately check which doors and windows are open on your property and also gain insight into how often doors are opened or left open.
Elgato Eve door and window sensor is one of the best Homekit devices that has Siri support. So you can easily use an app to monitor your doors and windows or you can also ask Siri if your doors or windows are left open or not.
The contact sensor is truly wireless and it is powered by a replaceable battery. It is easy to set up and it uses Bluetooth smart technology, no hub or gateway is required for the setup.
Pros:
- Easy to install.
- Long-lasting battery.
Cons:
- No waterproof certification.
- No push notifications.
A majority of the users say that the configuration options are lacking. However, the sensor reports accurately on most accounts.
First Alert Onelink Smoke Alarm
FirstAlert introduced the Apple HomeKit-enabled smoke and CO detector in 2015 and since then the company has unveiled three other accessories that can be controlled with an iOS device.
The Onelink by First Alert is a Wi-Fi Environment Monitor that can detect high and low levels of CO in your home along with humidity and temperature levels. There is also a multicolor LED that offers a quick status update on a room’s conditions. It gives you voice alerts in case of danger through key voice location technology.
Along with Siri compatibility, the Onelink by First Alert Wi-Fi Safe can be locked or unlocked with First Onelink’s Home App. The safe is operated with battery power. It is also capable of detecting motion and will alert you if an unauthorized person attempts to open or move it.
Moreover, it comes with an Omni directional premium Home speaker supported by First Alert and Alexa.
Then there is the Onelink by First Alert Wi-Fi Thermostat which allows users to control their heating and air conditioning systems seamlessly. , it also features remote temperature controls, a full-color touchscreen, scheduling options, home and away settings, and more.
Pros:
- High-end hardware.
- Nice design.
- Very responsive.
- Consistent.
- Works with Apple Airplay 2
- One of the best HomeKit devices
Homekit TV vs Apple TV
What is Homekit TV?
HomeKit TV is any smart TV that works with HomeKit and other smart assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant. It comes with a home kit remote that has typical remote buttons.
best HomeKit devices
LG 55 OLED evo C2 Series
LG OLED Evo C2 series is one of the best-selling 4K smart TVs with a 120Hz refresh rate and experienced next-level gaming. It supports Apple Airplay, Apple Home Kit, and built-in Google Assistant and Alexa through voice commands. It automatically adjusts picture and sound settings according to your favorite show’s requirements. Adjust color brightness with LG brightness booster.
LG UQ9000 Series 4K smart TV
LG SMART 4K LED TV has an ultra-thin body with sharp 4k HD video quality. The LG smart TV is compatible with Apple Airplay and Homekit. The setup is very easy. Add LG TV to the Apple Home Kit app on your iPhone. You can easily watch your favorite shows on the LG UQ9000 Series TV through iPad, iPhone, and iMac. It features Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos.
Additionally, the TV comes with a magic motion remote. you can adjust the brightness of the screen according to your room through the AI brightness feature. From a gaming point of view, the console with 60Hz is excellent.
Apple TV
Apple TV is Apple’s own Hub that streams 4K HDR video on any smart TV that displays 4K content. It supports HDR10 giving you crisp and clear images with bright contrast. Apple TV lets you access all of your favorite Apps like NETFLIX, YOUTUBE show gaming, and many more. It comes with a Siri remote with a few buttons that are handy to use.
Additionally, you can control Apple TV with your iPhone, iPad, or Apple watch.
Moreover, Apple TV has a capacity of 128GB of storage.
How to set up a TV with Apple Homekit
- Just Tap on the Home button icon visible on the remote
- Then go to Home Dashboard
- click Airplay and go to Airplay and Homekit settings
best HomeKit devices
Philips Hue A19 LED Bulb
If you are looking for light bulbs that can be set according to your mood then here we have Philips Hue Smart Light Bulb. Whether you want to change the light mood or scenes Philips Hue smart bulb can design your home lighting according to your need. You can connect up to 10 Philips Hue Bluetooth bulbs without any Hub. Just download the free Philips Hue Bluetooth app and set your room or home lights according to your desire or need with one touch.
Isn’t the Philips Hue Smart Light Bulb one of the best HomeKit enabled Devices and accessories?
Philips Hue Go
The Philips Hue Go is very versatile. It allows you to light up your home with up to 300-lumen light output. The accessory is capable of lighting up your room with up to 16 million different colors. It also allows the light output to be warm or cold, you can also adjust the brightness of the light as well. The Philips Hue Go is also portable and doesn’t require a hub. Moreover, it is user-friendly and easy to set up as well.
Additionally, it also has smart battery management and while it doesn’t require a Hub to work App control and extended features can only be achievable via a Hub.
The bottom line is that while there are quite a few less expensive options available, the Philip Hue is a reliable and fun portable addition to your Apple HomeKit devices. The lamps’ portability is the true selling point.
Pros:
- Portable.
- Easy to use.
- 16 million colors.
Cons:
- Slightly expensive.
- Brightness isn’t very high.
- Requires a Hub for full utilization.
It is easy to use and the design is also highly praised. The accessory also has a timer built-in so you can set it to automatically switch on or off. Users also said that it operates at the same level whether plugged in or on charge.
Brilliant Smart Home Control (4-Switch Panel)
You can easily control your smart devices (thermostats, cameras, lighting, and locks) with brilliant touchscreen panels. It can control popular smart bulbs such as Hue, Lifx, and Kasa TP-link and can turn regular lights into smart lights.
best HomeKit devices
Honeywell Home Smart Thermostat
The Honeywell Home is the best Homekit thermostat. Honeywell has launched two Apple HomeKit-enabled temperature sensors, which tells us about the dedication of the company to improving in the area.
The Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat, Black is a perfect thermostat. Moreover, you can control it through the Apple Home Kit and Alexa. Firstly, download the Honeywell App and connect the app to the thermostat. It allows you to fan on auto works when heating and cooling take place. You can set schedules according to your requirements and can also select a heating or cooling mode.
Additionally, you can adjust the temperature remotely through an iOS or Android smartphone. This thermostat supports geofencing. It can work with Alexa and Siri so you can use Siri voice commands to check the status or access settings. Multiple users can have access through different accounts.
Pros:
- Screen lock option if you have kids.
- Smart Thermostat is one of the cool HomeKit-enabled Devices
- Reliable.
- The alert system will notify you if your house gets too hot or too cold.
Cons:
- Takes 30min to install.
- No automatic adjustment of heating or cooling mode.
best Homekit Thermostat
Ecobee3 Smart Wi-Fi Thermostat:
A thermostat is arguably one of the most crucial home appliances. Manually managing a heating system can get frustrating sometimes and lead to several issues. Sometimes your home can end up being too hot or too cold. Your heating system may also be using more energy than needed by being on when it is not needed.
This is where Ecobee3 comes into play. The second-generation Ecobee3 smarter Wi-Fi thermostat keeps your home at just the right temperature. The thermostat does this by gathering information about your daily activity and routines at home. And then organizing the heating schedule accordingly to conserve energy.
Ecobee3 is a smart thermostat that is supported by Apple HomeKit and Siri. The heating and cooling can be directly controlled by using an app or through Siri commands.
Pros:
- Remote sensor extends temperature and motion sensing range.
- Smart Home/Away feature.
- IFTTT channel.
Cons:
- Rewiring is required if your HVAC system doesn’t have a C wire.
What makes these home kits’ thermostats so great are the external sensors that you can place around the house.
Homekit-enabled video doorbells
Smart Video Doorbell by Netatmo
Netatmo smart video doorbell is compatible with the Apple Home kit
The doorbell comes with an integrated speaker and microphone that helps two-way communication with outsiders no matter where you are. It offers a video resolution of 1080 HD. You can create scenarios with other smart devices through Apple Homekit. No subscription fees are required for video storage.
Best Apple HomeKit-enabled Video Cameras
Canary Pro Indoor Camera:
The Canary All-in-one Home security system is one of the many great HomeKit-enabled systems currently available on the market. It comes with an HD, night-vision camera, and a bunch of sensors for things like motion, temperature, and air quality.
The Canary offers a complete security system with high-end features. It allows you to stream videos of your home in real-time and also receive notifications whenever there is any movement detected. There is also no monthly or installation fee for this security device.
The HomeKit-enabled Security System is also designed to get smarter the more it is used. It also comes with free cloud storage and video downloads. The app is also free to anyone in the house who can download it without any charge to access the security system.
Pros:
- Great video quality.
- Night vision mode.
- Home health sensors are accurate.
Cons:
- Motion sensors are overly sensitive.
- Setup may need some technical knowledge.
A lot of users have highly praised the device’s features and security. However, some claim that the motion sensor is too sensitive. The camera of this system and its night mode have also been highly praised. You can also use one of the best wireless doorbell cameras to monitor the visitors to your home remotely.
Eve Cam – Secure Indoor Camera
The Eve Cam is a wireless indoor HD video camera that is among the best HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories. It also features SmartZone technology that lets you set motion-sensing technology to create recordings and alerts only for specified areas.
This camera has a 1080p video recording. Eve Cam has no cloud storage. It also grants you access to video time-lapse and detection zone features. You can look after your home and loved ones through Eve Cam and get notifications on your iPhone. Download the Eve app, a good Homekit app.
Pros:
- Protect your 100% privacy and data.
- You can deactivate your camera and use motion detection to control your home.
- It has two-way built-in communication.
eco bee SmartCamera
eco bee smart camera is an indoor security camera that works with Apple Homekit and Alexa. It offers HD video 1080p and night vision as well. It can tilt and pan automatically with a 180-degree field of view. eco bee smart camera can detect humans easily. Keep your alert on your phone in case of any sound of a smoke alarm for your safety.
Logitech Wired Home Security Camera
Logitech circle view is compatible with Apple Homekit. This wired weatherproof security camera offers night vision and 180 degrees of viewing angle. It features 1080p HD resolution, two-way audio, and IP64 weatherproof. The circle view gives a clear picture in both dark and daylight.
Best Apple HomeKit-enabled Devices and Other Accessories
Apple Remote:(2nd and 3rd generation)
The Apple remote allows users to easily control their Apple devices like Apple TV, iPhone, iPod, and Mac. The remote has a simple and minimalist design and the buttons are also responsive. You can easily use the remote with your iPod if you have hooked it up to the home theatre.
The Apple Remote also works with Mac. You can use it to browse through your photos, videos, music, and even DVDs. It also allows you to control the volume of the media that you are playing as well. There are also shuffle and skip buttons present. However, the Apple TV can only connect to one remote at a time so you cannot use multiple remotes for multiplayer gaming instead you will need an iOS device or a gaming controller. The Remote also features an accelerometer and gyroscope.
The majority of users prefer this remote over the Siri remote because it is simplistic and operates well. The Remote ships with a battery and a user guide.
Pros:
- Works with most Apple products.
- No range issues.
- Buttons are responsive.
Cons:
- Buttons can get damaged easily.
- Too few buttons compared to your standard IR remotes.
Isn’t it one of the best Homekit-enabled devices and accessories?
Apple TV Mount
Apple TV Mount is compatible with all Apple TVs including Apple TV 4k.
Roku Streaming Stick with voice remote control
The Roku streaming stick is a portable and powerful long-range wireless remote control. It gives you a wide range of strong signals. It lets you enjoy steaming in HD having sharp resolution picture quality. Roku offers you to stream your favorite shows on Apple TV, Prime Video, and Netflix to Cable alternatives.
You can use your voice to quickly change channels. Setup is very easy. You can use the free Roku mobile app to control the volume of your shows to avoid disturbance.
Pros:
- Comfortable to hold.
WeMo Dimmer Wifi Light Switch
The WeMo Dimmer light switch is one of the best Apple Homekit devices and accessories. It features a touch-sensitive dimmer along with a faceplate. For setup, you need to install the WeMo app. It only requires WiFi and a neutral wire, no hub or subscription. you can control your WeMo Dimmer through the WeMo app or with your voice by pairing it with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple Homekit.
Moreover, You can adjust the brightness of the light and set schedules by syncing your light to sunset and sunrise according to need and also set a sleep timer that will automatically dim the lights gradually within a few minutes. Additionally, you can set night mode for your lights according to your desire
Best Homekit fans
Hunter Single Indoor Wi-Fi Ceiling Fan
Now even ceiling fans are compatible with Apple HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories. Hunter’s fans are Wi-Fi enabled and can be controlled by any iOS device. However, The fan comes with a dimmable LED light bulb covered with cased white glass, letting you control the lightening of the bulb with a long-lasting life span. thanks to the addition of HomeKit and WiFi they are the best in the market.
Users can easily control Hunter fans by using Siri voice commands, Google Assistant, and Alexa. Furthermore, The fans can also be controlled through scenes. Multiple fans can also be controlled using voice commands.
Pros:
- Easy installation.
- Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant compatibility,
- High-quality build.
- Bulbs can be attached.
Air Conditioners and Heaters compatible with Apple Homekit
Water Leakage detector
Fibaro Flood, Water & Temperature
How does Apple HomeKit work?
You can also check out our detailed post if you are looking for a doorbell camera with no subscription.
HomeKit is Apple’s home automation framework for developers. HomeKit allows iPhones, iPads, and other Apple Home kit devices and accessories to communicate, control, and configure home devices. The framework allows you to control the Internet of things. It can be used both locally and remotely through third-party apps and Siri.
HomeKit is based on a database and a “Home” Manager. The database is stored in the iOS and it contains all the information about the home and the smart devices in them. Since everything is stored in one place, it makes it easier to manage.
Home Manager allows you to manage your home. You can manage multiple ‘Homes’ also if you have more than one. In the Apple Homekit hierarchy, ‘Homes’ is made up of ‘Rooms.’
Both Homes and Rooms in each house are given unique names for identification. ‘Rooms’ can also be grouped into zones like “upstairs” and “downstairs” so you can specify actions for zones easily.
Read More: iPhone 12/13/14 accessories
Developers can easily work with Apple HomeKit. They can do this by developing a HomeKit device simulator with the help of Xcode 6 or above.
HomeKit helps to make your home automated by tackling the complex problems of automation and making the solution simple enough to fit into your Apple iOS device. HomeKit is still quite new so glitches and kinks are expected but HomeKit is a breakthrough framework for home automation.
Why Should you use HomeKit and Apple Homekit-enabled devices and Accessories?
The main question that most people will have is if the HomeKit automation is worth it. Is it a good investment? Will it pay off in the future or will it render obsolete?
So, here’s the deal: Apple HomeKit is far from perfect. Its accessories had launched in 2015 and the framework has a long way to go. There are still a few problems in the framework that should fix, for example, sometimes Siri doesn’t work properly.
However, while the framework isn’t very reliable to use on door locks it is perfect for other basic services. It works great when it comes to lights, thermostats, plugs, and other accessories. Also, Siri’s response rate and performance get better over time.
When it comes to automating your home using Apple’s framework it is best to start small. Maybe buy a $30 worth of Apple HomeKit-enabled plug and see how it goes. Apple automation service is also big on security and that’s what keeps it ahead of other competitors like Wink and WeMo. The service also features Scenes that lets you configure complex actions that can trigger by ‘commands’ through Siri.
Ultimately, Apple’s automation service still has a long way to go before it goes truly mainstream. However, for those who are eager for experimentation and early adoption, the framework is worthwhile. Aside from a few bugs, the framework is a blast. It also has a lot of potential for improvement in the future.
Apart from a few bugs, the framework is a blast. It also has a lot of potential for improvement in the future and Apple is making improvements on a regular basis.
Apple’s HomeKit App – Home:
Apple launched its automation framework HomeKit with iOS 8. Since then, Apple HomeKit has been missing one crucial piece and that was a built-in app. The service had no Apple-supplied HomeKit-UI app, so third-party applications control all automation. But now, with iOS 10, Apple has announced its own built-in HomeKit App called Home.
While the manufacturers make great smart accessories, the third-party apps lack the integration and uniformity Apple-made user interface would provide. With the official iOS 10 launch, Apple’s built-in app will be a success undoubtedly but, there are some apps currently on the market that Apple’s built-in app might not be able to compete with.
HomeKit was first revealed at WWDC 2014 developers conference. The automation service launched three months later in September but the Apple HomeKit devices hit the market a year later. There are many accessories out in the market these days. Some of these are Philips Hue Lights, smart thermostats from ecobee, Honeywell, etc.
All these devices have separate HomeKit controller applications by their respective companies. But the official Apple HomeKit built-in app for iOS 10 will control all the accessories.
However, Apple isn’t the first to create an iOS app that will solely control all Apple HomeKit products. There is a Home app currently on the market by Matthias Hochgatterer worth $15 that does just that. The Home app is arguably the best on the current market. Then there is also Hesperus, which is a high-quality free app that controls the HomeKit. It has updated a notification centre widget and 3D touch support.
Apple’s official HomeKit built-in application will be official, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will be the best one. Let’s have a brief look at each of these apps.
Home by Mattias Hochgatterer
Home app by Mattias Hochgatterer is the app that Apple should have offered with the home automation framework. The $15 Home is an all-purpose HomeKit application that makes home automation simpler. The Home app lets you control and configure all your HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories, it displays all your HomeKit items at a glance.
With the app, you can add new items, assign them to zones and rooms, and configure triggers and scenes.
The Home app makes room and zone organization easier and simpler. The app allows you to jump from your overview to Zones and Rooms by just tapping the tab. From there, you can add or remove accessories, add and edit rooms and zones themselves, and control all your items.
The Home app also allows you to set scenes( time-triggered), Siri command-triggered, or even action-triggered. The scenes can include any Apple HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories.
Then there are triggers, at their most basic, triggers can turn on or off your HomeKit accessories at a particular time. For example, you can add a time trigger “turn on lights in the dining room at 9 PM” and then your lights will automatically turn on at 9 PM.
However, triggers can do much more than just that. For example, if you have door or motion sensors you can add a trigger that toggles an accessory when the motion sensor activates or the door opens. You can also add certain actions to trigger if the temperature drops or rises.
Siri integration With Home App
When Siri is paired with the Home app it can recognize a variety of commands:
- Accessory names: “Turn on the Hue office light strip.”
- Room and Zones: “Turn on the lights in the dining area” or “Turn off the lights downstairs.”
- Scenes: “Emergency alert!” or “Set the ’emergency alert’ scene.”
- Individual accessory tweaking: “Set the lights to 60 percent” “Set the office lights to blue” or “Set the temperature to 57.”
The rooms, zones, accessories, and scenes can also be renamed from the Home app. The bottom line is that if you have a lot of accessories at home the Home app is the best way of controlling them.
Apple Home App for HomeKit in iOS 14 – Preview
As discussed above, Apple is bringing the built-in Home App for Homekit framework in iOS 11 or later for iPhone and iPad and WatchOS 7 for Apple Watch. This is going to make Homekit more widely acceptable and improved.
Although the app works more like the other third-party apps using the HomeKit framework. The built-in Apple Home app provides more controls and options you can access it from the Home screen on iOS 10 directly and control a lot of functions from the lock screen as well after the Homekit-enabled devices and accessories have been configured.
There are three main screens in the built-in Home app. Home, Rooms, and Automation. The Home screen shows the summary of activities and different statuses. You can also bring important scenes and accessories to the Home screen as a shortcut. The Home screen also helps to add new accessories to your ‘smart Home’ without downloading a separate app for each accessory.
The second important screen is the Room screen.
Here you can create as many rooms as required in your home along with scenes and accessories configured for that specific room. The iOS 15 Home app provides options to add custom wallpapers as backgrounds to identify different rooms visually.
The third and the most important screen is called the Automation screen where you define all the triggers for active scenes and accessories. The automation screen is the backbone of the whole app where one takes the actual actions and the HomeKit starts working.
For example, one very useful trigger in the automation screen is sunrise/sunset. This trigger helps you turn on and off the lights accordingly. Without the built-in Home app for HomeKit, one was only able to control this by defining the time. But sunset and sunrise time changes from day to day basis and this means some manual work every two to three days of changing time. But now this cool trigger can do everything itself.
Apple’s built-in Home app for HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories
Although Apple’s built-in Home app for HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories is still new and needs a lot of improvements considering the point that the HomeKit framework is itself in the development phase this is understandable. The built-in app for iOS, WatchOS, and TVOS will help you automate and control your smart home from all Apple devices including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV to some extent.
Update:
With the release of iOS 10 the HomeKit integrations have improved significantly. The built-in Home app is now available in iOS 10. The new app is a centralized Hub that allows you to easily manage various connected Apple HomeKit devices. It is quite easy to use and also simple to set up. The official app features integration with the control center, Siri support, and 3D Touch quick actions.
All the settings for the Home app are synced via iCloud. This will allow you to control any iOS device that is running on iOS 15 to easily control your HomeKit devices. The official Home app is also free and provides seamless control of your automated Home. The new Home app is not perfect but it is the first step. It fulfills all the basic automation needs with utmost ease and has a lot of potential for improvement in the future.
How to set up Homekit Enabled devices and Accessories?
To get started you will need to have iOS 11 or later installed on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. You will also need one or more HomeKit Siri-enabled devices and accessories. You can buy smart plugs, lights, locks, thermostats, and more to control with HomeKit. After you have bought the accessories, you will need to do the following things to set up HomeKit in your home.
Download the HomeKit App:
First of all, after buying the accessories, download an app to manage HomeKit. The accessory itself will also come with an app but you can also use other third-party apps like Home if you don’t like the manufacturer.
Then you will have to store and pair your Apple HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories. This will be done by using the special code that comes with the accessory.
Setup HomeKit:
After you have successfully paired your accessory, use Siri commands to control them. You can easily command Siri to turn off the lights or lower the temperature. Some commands will require you to unlock your iOS device before Siri can execute them.
For example, if you are using a smart lock then you will need to unlock your iPhone, or another iOS device to open the door. This feature is of course for safety and security reasons.
Commands
There are commands for scenes, rooms, and triggers also. The complete list of commands is in the “HomeKit Siri Commands” section of this article. There are applications that will allow you to group accessories into rooms, zones, and scenes. We have also listed instructions on how to set up rooms, scenes, and zones in the next sections.
The accessories that have been grouped can be easily controlled together. You can also use a single command to turn all the lights on in the kitchen (if you have set up the kitchen as a room in HomeKit). Scenes allow you to group actions, along with accessories, rooms, and zones. For example, the Nighttime scene could lock your doors, turn off the lights in your house, and lower the temperature.
You can also reset the complete configuration of your HomeKit setup and begin from scratch. To do so you need to open the Settings app on your iOS device and then select Privacy. After that, select HomeKit and then tap “Reset HomeKit Configuration. This will completely reset HomeKit and delete all your accessories, rooms, zones, etc.
Shared Connections:
You can use your HomeKit with multiple people. What does that mean? It means that you can grant access to your HomeKit house to more than one person. Adding new users to HomeKit is simple and we have listed the steps to do so in this article. They are located in the “How to share HomeKit access” section below.
The person who initially configures the Apple HomeKit house is the administrator. Only the administrator has access to add other users to the house. The guests have access to accessories, rooms, and zones. However, they cannot control triggers and scenes.
HomeKit and Apple TV:
While you are away from home, or not in range of your local network, you can set up your Apple TV to look after your home. To do this you will have to make sure that your Apple TV and iOS device is signed in with the same Apple ID account. Then you can remotely control your smart accessories by using Siri commands. For example, if you forgot to turn off the lights, or lock the door before leaving the house, you can remotely do so by using Siri commands.
If you have iOS 9 then you will not need the Apple TV to remotely control the accessories because it comes with HomeKit Accessory Protocol. HAP or HomeKit Accessory Protocol makes it easier to control your home via iCloud.
Setup of Apple TV with a home kit
If for some reason your HomeKit isn’t working remotely with Apple TV here is what you need to do:
- Check your WiFi and internet connection on your Apple iOS device and Apple TV.
- Update the software on your Apple TV and iOS device.
- Make sure that your Apple TV is on the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories.
- Make sure Apple TV is within about 25 feet of your Bluetooth HomeKit accessories.
- Go to Settings > HomeKit and check that your iOS device has iCloud turned on.
- Make sure that your iOS device and Apple TV are not in Airplane Mode and are on the same network.
- Try signing out of iCloud and then sign in again after two minutes.
- Check that your iOS device and Apple TV are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID and password.
- Make sure that any HomeKit products you have added using your iOS device can be controlled on your Wi-Fi network or using Bluetooth.
- Restart your iOS device and Apple TV.
- Go to Settings > Airplane Mode and turn Airplane Mode on and off. Then try to control your HomeKit devices locally.
Lost or Stolen iPhone:
If by any chance your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen, Apple allows you to remotely delete its contents. By using Find My iPhone you can turn on Lost Mode so no one can use it to remotely activate your Apple HomeKit products. Apple also allows you to erase the contents of the device but only use this feature if you are sure you won’t be getting the iOS device back.
Controlling HomeKit with Apple Watch:
You can also use your Apple Watch to control your HomeKit products. The automation framework allows you to control the accessories by using Siri commands on your Apple Watch. You can easily turn the accessories on or off by using simple commands. The “Adjust accessories” command can be used to configure the accessories.
If you have set up zones, rooms, or scenes you can use Siri to control them also. You can use Siri commands to execute or turn off a scene. Accessories grouped in rooms and zones can also be controlled by using Apple Watch via Siri commands.
How to Setup Apple HomeKit Products:
Setting up smart HomeKit-enabled accessories on HomeKit is incredibly easy. Apple has made the automation framework easy to set up and configure. The most important thing that you need to make sure of when buying an accessory for Apple’s framework is whether or not it is compatible with HomeKit.
There is a list of the Best HomeKit Siri-enabled devices and accessories below if you are looking to buy one. To check if an accessory works with HomeKit, locate a label that says “Works with Apple HomeKit.” If there isn’t such a label on the accessory then it is not compatible with HomeKit.
How to create a HomeKit home for your smart accessories:
If you are setting up your first HomeKit accessory then the first and foremost thing you will have to do to set up a “Home” is HomeKit. Home is basically your house in HomeKit. It will contain all the rooms, zones, scenes, and accessories. You can also have multiple homes in HomeKit. Although, you can only have one primary house at a time.
To set up the HomeKit home first download a HomeKit compatible app of your choice. Every HomeKit accessory comes with a companion app but not all of them are very user-friendly and well made, so it is best to use a third-party application to configure HomeKit. There are quite a few apps out there but Home by Mathias Hotchgatherer and Elgato’s Eve are pretty good and easy to use.
Steps of setup home kit house
After you have downloaded and installed the app, here are the steps you need to take to set up your HomeKit house:
- Open the application.
- Press OK if the app asks you to access your Home data.
- If you are using Elgato’s Eve app, then tap Add Accessory. If you are using the Home app, tap the plus button in the upper right corner.
- Name your home.
After you are done setting up your Home it is time to set up your smart accessory.
How to set up your HomeKit-compatible accessories:
- Connect your device to power. Your accessory may be powered by plugging into a wall outlet or adding batteries.
- Connect the accessory to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Download and open the app for your accessory.
- Follow the instructions in the app for setting up your accessory.
- During the setup process, you will be prompted for the HomeKit setup code: It has the HomeKit house next to an eight-digit number separated into three groups. Enter the code into the application.
After completing these steps you will have successfully added your accessory to your HomeKit house. Now you can customize the accessory’s name, add it to rooms, zones, scenes, and triggers, and control it with Siri commands.
How to control HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories outside your house:
If you want your lights to activate before you arrive at your home. Or if you want to turn on the thermostat, or control any other accessories while you are out of the house it is possible with HomeKit. You can use the app to control it, but if you have an Apple TV or iOS 9 then you can also use the Siri commands to control the accessories when you are out of your house.
If you have iOS 9 on your Apple device then your iPhone can securely communicate with your HomeKit house. This is possible because of HomeKit’s new accessory Protocol (HAP). The protocol uses secure networking over iCloud to talk to your connected HomeKit products.
However, HAP doesn’t work with previous versions of iOS. So, if you are using iOS 8 on your Apple device then you will need an Apple TV to control your house outside of your local WiFi network range.
HomeKit Siri Commands:
Apple HomeKit automation framework’s support page was updated a while back. The update has added the complete list of Siri commands that can be used on HomeKit Siri- enabled accessories.
Siri commands act as the main way to control the automation framework. Siri makes it easy to control and communicate with your smart accessories with simple commands. Most of these commands are simple like turning an accessory off or on. Siri commands can also be used to adjust the settings of HomeKit-enabled accessories in your home.
The command list also includes several commands that will be used for smart accessories that are grouped into homes, scenes, zones or rooms.
As more HomeKit products hit the market we can expect this list to expand and include more commands and even a few more complex ones. But, for now, here is the full list of Siri commands for Apple HomeKit devices:
list of Siri commands for Apple HomeKit devices:
- “Turn on the lights” or “Turn off the lights.”
- “Dim the lights” or “Set the brightness to 50%.”
- “Set the temperature to 68 degrees.”
- “Turn on the coffee maker.”
If you have set up rooms, scenes, zones, and homes then you can use these commands to control the HomeKit devices:
- “Turn on the upstairs lights.”
- “Set the Tahoe house to 72 degrees.”
- .“Set the dinner scene.”
- “Turn off Chloe’s light.”
- “Make the living room lights the brightest.”
- “Set the thermostat downstairs to 70.”
- “Turn on the printer in the office.”
- “Set up for a party, Siri.”
- “Dim the lights in the dining room to 50%.”
- “Set my bedtime scene.”
The important thing to note is that for some accessories like a smart lock, Siri commands won’t work if your Apple device is locked. You will be required to unlock your device before you can use it to make Siri execute a command.
The HomeKit support page also includes other basic instructions on how to get started with HomeKit devices. There are several HomeKit products available in the market the best of which we have listed below in the section “Best HomeKit Siri-enabled Devices.”
How to add rooms, zones, and scenes to your HomeKit:
The Apple HomeKit automation framework offers manufacturers an easy and secure way to connect their home automation accessories to iCloud, Siri, and your iPhone or iPad.
HomeKit also allows you to set up rooms, scenes, zones, and also multiple homes that can be controlled through Siri commands. Multiple HomeKit products can be grouped into scenes that allow them to be triggered by a single Siri command. So, you can communicate with multiple devices at the same time with a single command phrase or word.
First, what you will need to do is name your devices, rooms, and zones. Siri has the ability to understand custom names for rooms, zones, and devices. After naming a HomeKit device you can control it with its custom name.
Group multiple devices into rooms and zones
You can also group multiple devices into rooms and zones which will allow you to control multiple devices with a simple command. For example, if you named your Kitchen in HomeKit now you can use the Siri command “Turn on all the lights in the Kitchen”. This command will then turn on all connected lights in the Kitchen.
Rooms are basically used for controlling multiple accessories. With zones, you can control multiple rooms. For example, you can create zones that are named “Upstairs” or “Downstairs.”
Here is a general guide on how to assign names, the steps may vary depending on the application used:
How to rename your Apple HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories:
- Open any HomeKit app of your choice and find your accessory.
- Locate the Edit button next to the accessory.
- Press Save. Tap the Name field required.
- Name your room and select the devices you want to control.
How to create a HomeKit Room and add products:
- Open any HomeKit app.
- Locate the Rooms tab or setting.
- Tap the plus button to add a new room.
- Name your room and select the HomeKit products you want to control with it.
- Press Save.
How to create a HomeKit Zone and add accessories:
- Open any HomeKit app.
- Locate the Zones tab or setting.
- Tap the plus button to add a new zone.
- Name your zone and select the rooms you want to control with it.
- Press Save.
How to create a HomeKit scene:
Scenes are more complex than rooms and zones. In a scene, smart accessories are grouped together with actions. For instance, you could create a scene “Movie Time.” In the “Movie Time” scene you can group accessories like the hue lights, smart lock, and thermostat. You can include actions for those accessories like “Dim the lights to 60%,” “Lock the door,” and ” Lower the temperature to 55.” So, when you say the scene command all the accessories will simultaneously perform the listed actions.
Setting up a scene differs wildly from app to app. The best app currently in the market according to us is the Home app. Although, even it has a few oddities when setting up scenes. Note that scene with multiple words works best with Siri. This is because there is little chance for Siri to misunderstand. It is important to keep your scene names distinctive so that Siri doesn’t confuse them with a different command.
- Locate the Scenes tab in your HomeKit app of choice.
- Tap the plus button to add a new scene.
- Name the scene and press Save.
- Press the new scene and tap the plus button to add a new action.
- Select the accessory you want to add to your scene.
- The accessory will show its current settings when you tap on it.
- Re-select all the actions you’d like to execute for your scene. Those actions will highlight in blue once you have modified them.
- After doing that, tap the Home name in the upper left corner.
- Add actions for any other accessories you want to control.
- Press Done when you are finished.
- Press Execute to see a preview of the scene or say the scene name to Siri.
Using names, rooms, and zones with Siri:
After you are done naming your accessories, rooms, and zones, you can use those names to control your accessories via Siri. It may take a while for Siri to register those names, so wait for some time if it doesn’t happen immediately.
How to share HomeKit access:
If you have guests over at your house and you have installed the Apple HomeKit automation framework you should know that you can easily grant access to your HomeKit to your guests. As a side note, you should be wary when giving access to your HomeKit to guests especially if you have a smart lock installed. It is best to give access to only those who you trust and those who won’t try to annoy you by switching the lights on and off.
Aside from guests, it is possible that you have multiple housemates. So, of course, you will have to grant them access as well. Doing that isn’t difficult, and we are going to walk you through the process in this article.
When you create a HomeKit house, initially it is tied to your unique Apple ID by default. No one can access or control your Apple HomeKit house without access to your account. HomeKit also allows you to grant access to other people, so you don’t have to be the only one to control your HomeKit house. To do so you will have to add the people to that you want to grant access to HomeKit.
There are two access modes that you can grant a person management control and accessory access. This way you can belong to multiple HomeKit homes. Here is how you add a person to your HomeKit house:
How to add another person to HomeKit:
Adding a person to your HomeKit house is very simple. Firstly, you will need to know their Apple ID. After that, all you need to do is send an invite to the Apple ID. When the person accepts the invite he/she will be added to your HomeKit house and granted the specified access. To do this you will need iOS9 or later, and of course, your HomeKit house should already be set up. Here are the steps that you need to follow:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down to the HomeKit option and select it.
- Tap on your home.
- Tap Invite People.
- Enter the iCloud address of the person you wish to add to your HomeKit home.
- On the recipient’s device, press the Accept button on the banner.
- If you don’t see the banner then go to Settings > HomeKit if they miss the banner.
How to remove a person from HomeKit:
Removing a person from your HomeKit house is also quite simple. After a guest’s stay is ended at your house it is best to remove them from your HomeKit house as a security measure. Moreover, giving your guest indefinite access and control of your home is probably not a good idea. Here is what you need to do to remove a guest from your HomeKit House:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down to the HomeKit option and select it.
- Tap on your home.
- Swipe left on the person’s name.
- Tap Delete to remove the person from your HomeKit house.
How to Control HomeKit guest house:
If a person has granted you access to their HomeKit house then as a guest user you will have access to almost all the HomeKit controls that an administrator has access to.
You can control accessories and access their data. For example, you can make the light change colors or brightness via Siri commands. Or, you can ask for thermostat readings. You can also view the house and all accessories in it by using apps like Home by Mattias Hochgatterer or Elgato’s Eve. You can also change switches and toggles by using those apps.
Furthermore, Any rooms, scenes, or zones the homeowner (administrator of HomeKit) has created will also be available for you. You can easily use Siri commands to set a scene or specify an action for a room or a zone. However, you won’t have access to the trigger set by the Home
However, you won’t have access to triggers set by the Home administrator whether they are event-based or time-based. Moreover, you cannot rename accessories or delete them from the house. You also cannot add new accessories or delete the HomeKit house itself.
How to Troubleshoot HomeKit Products
Check your log-in status on your iCloud account:
If you are having trouble using Apple HomeKit on your primary device or an auxiliary one, firstly check and make sure your log-in status on your iCloud account
Do this by going to Settings > HomeKit.
The theory is that If any device of your device gets log-in status. Your Apple ID will understand and execute HomeKit commands. So if your Apple device is not communicating with HomeKit it is possible that you have log-out status.
If nothing is working then check your network connection and reset all accessories:
Did you launch a HomeKit application and get nothing? Then if you are encountering such a problem then you should carefully check and see that your network is online. Moreover, after checking the network make sure all connections of your HomeKit-enabled accessories to your network are via ethernet or WiFi.
After checking and connecting everything if you are still not getting any sign of connection then you may want to try and reset your hardware.
All HomeKit manufacturers have slightly different methods for doing this. It is best to check a manual or refer to official online guides. Usually, this process requires you to simply press a tiny button located somewhere on the bridge or hardware.
Resetting your accessories will not delete your HomeKit house. However, you need to reset all the individual accessory connections to HomeKit. After resetting open your HomeKit app and add the accessories again. Hopefully, this will solve the problem and your HomeKit automation framework will start functioning normally.
If your HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories are working inside the application then iOS may be causing trouble:
Whether you can’t get a guest to connect to your network or have yourself lost connection to Siri you will need to check the app you are using to control HomeKit. To do this open the specific app and then see if the buttons are responding or not. If the buttons are still working inside the app then this might be an indication of a bug in the iOS side of things.
First of all, like in most cases, try logging out of iCloud and then logging in again, consult the “How to reset HomeKit Sync” section for help in doing this.
If this doesn’t work then you will have to try something a bit more complicated, that is you will have to reset your HomeKit settings. This is the last option and if you do this you will have to rebuild your HomeKit home from the very beginning.
Resetting your HomeKit setting is a pain but if all else fails then this is your best choice for fixing the problem. Here s what you will need to do:
- On your iPhone or iPad go to Settings.
- Then go to Privacy > HomeKit.
- Locate Reset HomeKit Configuration and tap it, then confirm.
Resetting the HomeKit configuration will wipe out all the stored rooms, zones, and house names. After this. you may also have to pair some of your accessories again.
When you open your selected app for HomeKit accessories after the reset, They will ask to give your connected home a new name. You will also have to link your HomeKit bridge or other connected accessories again to HomeKit.
If you can’t add a guest to your network do this:
When adding guests to your network you may encounter two issues. One involves the invited status and the second problem is the invite not showing on the recipient’s device. Fixing these problems isn’t hard but it is tedious here is how to do that:
The Apple device may be displaying a never-ending “Invited” status even after your guest has accepted your Apple HomeKit invite into your house. Usually, this issue arises because of server delay. Because of the delay the invite status changes after a period of time.
To fix this problem the best approach would be to try removing the initial invite and then send an invite again. This may help solve the delay but if it doesn’t login out of iCloud and then login in again should solve the issue.
Then there is the issue of your invite is not showing up on the recipient’s iPhone, iPad, or another iOS device. There can be two reasons for this problem. It is possible that you made a typo or an error in the invited address if not then it could be because of some unknown problem.
The best way to fix this problem is the same as that of the previous one. Try deleting the initial invite and then send an invite from HomeKit to the guest again.
This solution works 90% of the time but if you are still encountering problems login out and then back into iCloud should fix them.
If all fails then the worst-case scenario is that you will need to reset your HomeKit configuration.
If you are on LTE then you might need Apple TV:
Apple usually designs Apple HomeKit devices to primarily work within the reach of your WiFi network. But, if your HomeKit manufacturer has built-in support for HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP) and if you have iOS 9 on your device then you will be able to access your smart accessories on LTE.
However, if you can’t do this then you may need to get an Apple TV. Normally all Siri command and handshaking occurs within the confines of your WiFi network. But, your Apple TV combined with your unique Appl ID allows you to securely communicate with your Apple HomeKit accessories even when you are outside the house or outside the boundaries of your network.
combination of iCloud Keychain and HomeKit framework.
It can work by a combination of iCloud Keychain and HomeKit framework. For example, suppose you are on LTE and you press the Home Button to activate Siri and give a command to “switch on the lights.” Now, if you don’t have Apple TV or iOS 9’s HAP Protocol support then the command will result in Siri replying “I can’t do that.”
However, if you have Apple TV or Apple HomeKit Accessory Protocol support then the command will travel over your cellular network to your set-top box and handshake using your Apple ID. Then the Apple TV will relay the command to your installed HomeKit bridge. The Apple HomeKit bridge will execute the command and the lights will turn on in your home.
To set, up your Apple TV with HomeKit all you have to do is log out of your iCloud account on your Apple TV and then log back in again.
How to reset HomeKit sync
If your Apple HomeKit house is having trouble syncing or it has outright disappeared, here is a guide on how to fix it. If you update your Apple iOS device to iOS 9.2 you may encounter a bug that will cause your HomeKit house to vanish. The good news is that you won’t need to reset your HomeKit house to solve this problem.
What the bug actually does is that it glitches the iCloud syncing. As a result, the Apple HomeKit data in iCloud stops syncing with the iOS device which in turn displays that the device has no data.
If you encounter this sort of bug, here are a few troubleshooting steps that will allow you to fix the problem.
Step 1: Reboot your device.
Before trying anything extreme or complex, try rebooting your Apple device. Sometimes a simple reboot is all your iPhone or iPad needs to fix itself back with the iCloud sync repository.
Step 2: Turn the iCloud Keychain off.
If a device reboot doesn’t fix the problem then try rebooting ]your iCloud Keychain. Since your Apple HomeKit data syncs via iCloud’s encrypted storage locker, turning it off and on again will force a re-sync between the keychain and your device.
Before rebooting the iCloud keychain, make sure that you remember your security code or have another iOS device log into iCloud so that you can easily reauthenticate your Apple iPhone.
- Go to Settings > iCloud.
- Tap on Keychain.
- Turn the iCloud Keychain off.
- Reboot your iOS device.
- Go to Settings > iCloud > Keychain, from here turn iCloud Keychain back on.
- Approve iCloud Keychain via security code or another device.
- Wait a few minutes to see if your House data reappears; if it doesn’t, try rebooting your device again.
Step 3: Reset your iCloud account on your device
If simply rebooting iCloud Keychain or your device didn’t fix the bug then it’s time to try something more complex and extreme. What you will need to do is log out of iCloud from your device. This can be annoying for multiple reasons. but the biggest inconvenience is that it resets all credit and loyalty cards you have in Apple Pay. Nonetheless, if the previous steps didn’t work out then this is your only option.
To reset iCloud sync you will need to have a second Apple ID. If you don’t have one you can create one for free at the sign-in screen. So, here are the steps you need to take to fix your iCloud sync:
- Go to Settings > iCloud.
- Tap on Sign Out, and then confirm.
- Afterwards, a prompt will pop up on your device saying that all iCloud-stored notes and pictures will remove from your device. Tap Delete to confirm.
Tap Keep on My [device] when iCloud prompts you about locally-stored News data, Safari data, calendars, and more. This will help reduce sync time. Enter your Apple ID password and tap Turn Off. After your account has been disabled, return to the iCloud settings screen. Create a new iCloud account or Log in with your other iCloud account if you have one. Tap on Don’t Merge when prompted about your data.
Log out of the secondary iCloud account and repeat steps 2 to 5. Login again into your primary iCloud account. Tap Merge when prompted about your data. Go to the Keychain screen and turn your iCloud Keychain back on. Approve iCloud Keychain via security code or from another device. Wait a few minutes to see if your House data reappears; if it doesn’t, try rebooting your device again.
Hopefully, these steps will help you fix your iCloud sync problem. If you are lucky you will be able to fix your bug without having to reset your iCloud sync.
How can HomeKit Improve in the Future:
When a technology is in its initial phase can have some flaws and glitches. Similarly, like all new technologies, it will take time for Apple HomeKit to refine and reach perfection. Home automation isn’t a new concept but it is not mainstream yet. Apple has the determination to make HomeKit a success and provide easy, accessible, and reliable home automation.
The company still has a long way to go. Apple HomeKit is already quite amazing in many ways, but it still possesses a few bugs and lacks a few features. Here’s how we think the HomeKit will improve in the future:
More Triggers:
Currently, we can seamlessly control smart accessories by using Siri commands. Although, the real gem of automation is that it is really about scheduling repetitious actions and letting the technology do the work. Apple HomeKit lets you automatically engage scenes, or groups of set actions, using triggers, or certain conditions like time of day.
There are triggers that we can set that we operate a certain accessory at a particular time every day. For example, you can set your outdoor lights to turn on at 7:30 PM and turn off at 6:00 AM. But what would make HomeKit better is if it included triggers for times that may change. For example, a sunset and sunrise trigger would be brilliant.
More Siri Commands:
While we can do amazing things using Siri-voice commands on smart accessories, Siri still can’t always control your Apple HomeKit setup.
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For example, if you use Siri voice commands from CarPlay to turn off your lights Siri gets confused and a message pops up saying Siri can’t control your car.
Similarly, If you ask Siri on Apple TV to dim the lights then on-screen text reads “Sorry I can’t help you with that here.” Why not? setting a Movie Night scene is probably one of the popular uses of Apple HomeKit. Lower the temperature, set Hue lights to 30% brightness, lock the front door, and enjoy your movie. Now, You can easily create scenes in HomeKit and you can use the Siri Remote on Apple TV to set them.
More Apple HomeKit-enabled devices and accessories:
Apple HomeKit works with a variety of smart devices and accessories like plugs, thermostats, locks, shades, sensors, lights, etc. But, in the future, one of the main improvement aspects that we should focus on to make HomeKit better is coming up with a wider range of accessories.
Apple HomeKit had a slow start in the beginning a couple of years ago. But, recently the automation framework has gained popularity swiftly. HomeKit device variety in the market has expanded greatly since last year. The future of home automation seems to appear bright. Several new technologies are currently in development. However, Apple HomeKit will need to step up its game if it wants to rule the home automation market.