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HomeKit: Everything You Need to Know
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I set up a good portion of the home using Insteon some years back, and Indigo to control it. Indigo kind of plateaued, and the Insteon protocols were good for their time, but are a wee bit unreliable these days.
Every now and then I look through some of the HomeKit offerings, but this seems as good a place as any to ask basic questions:
One thing I’ve done though is pair switches with outlets so that they work even with the server offline. They’re connected wirelessly because whoever wired the place made horrible decisions about what to connect. Is this possible with HomeKit or must everything go through the hub?
I have a few outlets with the dimmer built into the outlet, not the switch. Anyone know of a good HomeKit capable replacement?
When you give access to other people, can you grant access on a device by device level?
I maintain separate private and guest networks at home. When you give access to other people, do they need access to my private network? I guess I’m looking for something in between remote (I don’t need guests turning off my lights when they get back home) and share my private network.
I find it maddening that you can’t use a Mac as a hub. I’ve been using a Mac Mini as my Insteon hub for years...
Every now and then I look through some of the HomeKit offerings, but this seems as good a place as any to ask basic questions:
One thing I’ve done though is pair switches with outlets so that they work even with the server offline. They’re connected wirelessly because whoever wired the place made horrible decisions about what to connect. Is this possible with HomeKit or must everything go through the hub?
I have a few outlets with the dimmer built into the outlet, not the switch. Anyone know of a good HomeKit capable replacement?
When you give access to other people, can you grant access on a device by device level?
I maintain separate private and guest networks at home. When you give access to other people, do they need access to my private network? I guess I’m looking for something in between remote (I don’t need guests turning off my lights when they get back home) and share my private network.
I find it maddening that you can’t use a Mac as a hub. I’ve been using a Mac Mini as my Insteon hub for years...
Doing that is what started my investment in HomeKit devices two years ago. Every night I would turn on and off the same lights and at roughly the same time. I started with analog timers that failed to keep good time, tried switches that knew about sunrise and sunset times that also eventually died. Once I found HomeKit it has been great. Those same lights are all automated now and I could not be happier. I don’t wake up to find an open garage anymore, the Christmas tree is lit every night during the holiday, fans in rooms I know are empty at night don’t hum away. It’s the little things it can do for you.
It can hiccup too. BUT the few times it has it has been easy to fix and it was noticed, we missed it.
No need for a Pi, I have homebridge running on my Mac. And if you don't really like doing everything in terminal, try installing "Home Assistance" which is a good alternative andhas a really good web interface. Both give HomeKit functionality to un native HomeKit devices like the Ikea Outlet. Your Mac has to be running 24/7 to give round the clock HomeKit functionality, but thats ok with me as mine is on 24/7 anyway as a web server.
That this article even exists — coupled with a moniker geared towards developers and not end users — is a strong testament to how ill-conceived and implemented “HomeKit” is. Apple lost the race for the TV (it’s just a hobby), lost the race for the living room (Siri? HomePod), and is facing a future when people aren’t reliantly buying or upgrading their phones in droves by default.
I’m saying this as a life long early adopter and Apple user since the Apple II. Has Apple even marketed HomeKit?
HomeKit should have been another service to up the stickiness of apple products. Instead it’s just another release-and-languish product like CarPlay. So much promise, so little attention paid.
I’m saying this as a life long early adopter and Apple user since the Apple II. Has Apple even marketed HomeKit?
HomeKit should have been another service to up the stickiness of apple products. Instead it’s just another release-and-languish product like CarPlay. So much promise, so little attention paid.
So now you're locked into Google's ecosystem. No matter which one you go with you need to just pick one and stick with it. Admittedly I have never used Google Home, but Siri/HomeKit is better than Alexa by a good margin IMO.
You should use over-rated Ecobee with no power backup.
I used them->50/50 recover after power loss. Thanks God I bought them in Costco. Sorry, Costco, but I brought them back. So I use Nest now.I couldn’t have installed main water valve with Apple Home Kit. There was nothing HomeKit compatible.
Every product supports HomeKit is 20-40% more expensive. Time of reaction is slower.
Now I can use Siri with 3rd party app. I hope Apple do not change it, like they changed Airplay for Netflix.
Security: People have a false sense of protection. They think if they get SMS/Push alarm alert from Alexa/Homekit and call their local police and that the police comes to their place and arrests intruders.
May be its true in Hollywood movies. In reality I heard some stories that police refused to come or reacts very slow when you call them not from your place. The best solution here is a central monitoring. I cannot recommend overpriced and also outdated ADT though. Make your homework and choose security system with UL and Diamond rated central station. It should be around 25-30 dollars/month for self installed system. You can get now some “brain boxes” with Smash-and-Crash protection, Z-Wave plus, PowerG and cell backup support and use it later as your smart-house brain. Verdict: the only thing we should know about HomeKit is to stay away of it now. Hope things change.
This is my only opinion , may be I’m wrong. My opinion based on my smart house and costly mistakes I made myself.
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I just bought a house and am going to be somewhat slowly adding more and more smart home tech. Currently renting and have Hue, Ecobee, and a few iHome outlets. Very few of these companies get it right imo. All smart home products should support the major brands (Google, Alexa, HomeKit). For someone like me, who I consider to be pretty up to date electronically it is still a pretty daunting task to get everything all set up. Just figuring out which devices work with what assistant is super annoying. Then add in the cost of it all.... The average person just isn't going to be "all in" until this stuff is easier and waayyyy cheaper. It does seem like a lot of brands are in the process of working on HomeKit support though so that is a step in the right direction at least.
HomeKits time to react in my experience is much faster than Alexa, so much so that is it actually noticeable. Maybe Google can match it, but I can't see it being noticeably faster than HomeKit as HomeKit is near instantaneous.
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This isn't something that is HomeKit specific. Regardless if it is Google or Alexa they are all confusing to the primary end-user. If you are able to figure out Alexa or Google then you will be able to navigate HomeKit. I don't know that they really lost the race to the TV. It is probably the most expensive one out there, as most Apple products are, but it is leaps and bounds better than most other streaming sticks or boxes. As for the living room, sure Google and Alexa have their products at much more affordable prices, but what people tend to forget is that if you have an iPhone or Apple Watch then you do have Siri on you at all times and no real need for the extra device.
HomeKit isn't perfect and definitely needs some work, but I think the product overall in its current form is quite nice and easy to use once you have a grasp on things. What is wrong with CarPlay? The only real improvement I can think of is to add an indication for temperature on the left hand side where the time is. Other than that it works really well in my experience.
I found it slower. May be they fixed it now.Homekit is not bad, but it doesn’t work for me due to system limitations.
Homekit is significantly faster than Alexa or google. It's not even close.
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Homebridge. It makes non homekit products work with HomeKit. I'm. using Smartthings switches as well as nest products in HomeKit thanks to homebridge.
FWIW, normally DHCP devices should renew their existing leases and should not be assigned a new IP at the end of the lease.
HomeKit’s Control Center widget.
When I want my porch light on at night for security reasons and I’m not home to flip the switch, it kinda is.
Weird! I only have two units, but neither have failed after power loss in the four years I’ve had them.You should use over-rated Ecobee with no power backup.
Apple added AirPlay support directly to third-party TVs from LG, etc. NetFlix removed AirPlay support from their app because they can’t tell if the user is streaming to an Apple TV or a third-party TV that has AirPlay built in. This is a stupid NetFlix decision. Apple changed nothing with AirPlay that prevents NetFlix from continuing to use it.
My only problem with HomeKit are companies selling products promising future HomeKit compatibility. I feel like I was seriously burned by Nest over this, equipping our house with virtually all their products just over a year ago. While I’ll never buy another Nest item, it’s too costly to replace two thermostats, a bunch of smoke detectors, alarm system, outdoor cameras, etc.
We use HomeKit for a fair number of on/off appliances, and will be adding a few fan controllers soon.
We use HomeKit for a fair number of on/off appliances, and will be adding a few fan controllers soon.
The HomeKit ecosystem may seem daunting and confusing if you're unfamiliar with smart home products, their functionality, and their benefits, but getting started is actually simple and straightforward.
Learning the ins and outs of HomeKit after setup does take a bit of effort, but it's not a difficult process and having interlinked electronics that can interact with each other and be automated can save time and really streamline your life.
What is HomeKit?
HomeKit is Apple's smart home platform, which is designed to let you control various internet-connected home devices -- ranging from thermostats and plugs to window blinds, light bulbs, and more -- with Apple devices.
These days, more and more products are internet connected, which is why you've heard the phrase "Internet of Things."
The Internet of Things is a confusing mix of "smart" products that connect to the internet and can be controlled by a range of different platforms, from Amazon's Alexa to Google Home to Samsung SmartThings.
HomeKit is Apple's "Internet of Things" solution that connects HomeKit-enabled smart accessories together in a way that lets you operate them using your Apple products.
What You Can Do With HomeKit
HomeKit isn't a product or software, it's a framework that links smart home products together and adds new capabilities to devices like lights, locks, cameras, thermostats, plugs, and more.
HomeKit lets you control smart home products using apps on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, or simple Siri voice commands.
While controlling smart home products with Siri or with an iPhone is convenient, the real magic of HomeKit comes when you have multiple HomeKit-enabled products because you can control them all at once using scenes or set up automations so that they activate automatically.
You can, for example, create a "Good night" scene that makes sure the doors are locked, closes the garage, turns off the lights, lowers the thermostat, and then activates a night light whenever motion is detected. With automation, you can set individual HomeKit devices to come on or off at specific times, or you can set entire scenes, like the aforementioned "Good night" scene to come on at a set time.
HomeKit setups, scenes, and automations can be as complex or as simple as you like, and now that HomeKit is in its fifth year of availability, there are all kinds of HomeKit products you can purchase. With a bit of time and some money, you can have a whole smart home ecosystem that's streamlined, automated, and easy to control.
Setting It Up
Getting started with HomeKit is as simple as purchasing a HomeKit-enabled device, whether it be a smart plug, light bulb, AirPlay 2 speaker, Apple TV, HomePod, thermostat, or something else.
From there, open up the "Home" app, which comes pre-installed on all iOS devices. Tap on the "Add Accessory" button that's on the main screen of the Home app, and then follow the steps after it opens up to the rear camera.
All HomeKit products come with a HomeKit QR code on them, which you need to scan with the camera. Scanning the HomeKit code adds a device to the HomeKit framework, and then you can follow a few additional steps to assign it to a room, a necessary step for organizing your HomeKit devices.
Types of HomeKit Devices
There are all kinds of HomeKit devices on the market, some that are more capable than others. The following HomeKit categories are available:
[*]Lights
[*]Switches
[*]Outlets
[*]Thermostats
[*]Window Blinds
[*]Fans
[*]Air Conditioners
[*]Humidifiers
[*]Air Purifiers
[*]Sensors
[*]Locks
[*]Cameras
[*]Doorbells
[*]Garage Doors
[*]Sprinklers
[*]Speakers
[*]Receivers
[*]TVsApple maintains a full list of HomeKit-compatible devices on its website, complete with links, so this is the best place to get an overview of all of the different HomeKit devices that you can put in your home.
Smart home devices that are compatible with HomeKit will have "Works with Apple Homekit" labeling on the packaging to make it clear that they support HomeKit.
Basic HomeKit Setup Tutorials
[*]How to Add a Device to Your HomeKit Setup
[*]How to Delete a Device From HomeKit
[*]How to Give Others Access to Your HomeKit Setup
[*]How to Add Rooms and Zones to HomeKit
[*]How to Create HomeKit Scenes
[*]How to Automate HomeKit Products
[*]How to Add a Second Home to HomeKit
[*]How to Use Siri to Control Your HomeKit Devices
[*]How to Use HomePod to Control Your HomeKit Devices
Using the Home App
[*]How to Use the Home App to Control HomeKit Devices
[*]How to Customize Your Home App
[*]How to Change the Wallpaper in the Home App
[*]How to Set HomeKit Favorites
Setting Up Remote Access
[*]How to Control Your HomeKit Devices When Away From Home
[*]How to Set Up HomePod as a Home Hub for HomeKit Devices
[*]How to Set Up an iPad as a Home Hub for HomeKit Devices
[*]How to Set Up an Apple TV as a Home Hub for HomeKit Devices
HomePod and AirPlay 2
[*]How to Use HomePod to Control Your HomeKit Devices
[*]How to Use AirPlay 2 Speakers With HomeKit
HomeKit Requirements
Using HomeKit requires an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running the latest version of iOS, along with at least one HomeKit-enabled device.
Using the Home app on the Mac requires macOS Mojave, and to control devices when away from home, an Apple TV, iPad, or HomePod is required to serve as a Home Hub.
Ways to Control Your HomeKit Devices
The great thing about HomeKit is the myriad ways that you can control your HomeKit compatible devices.
You can use Siri voice commands on the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, or Apple TV to ask Siri to complete HomeKit tasks.
Devices can be controlled manually in the Home app, or in the app that comes with the device. Each HomeKit device will have an app downloadable from the iOS App Store that offers a way to control it.
You can also purchase HomeKit-enabled button-type devices that serve as remotes to activate HomeKit scenes physically, and there are switches for controlling HomeKit products such as lights.
Reviews of HomeKit Accessories
Lights
[*]The Philips Hue Outdoor Lightstrip With HomeKit Integration Lights Up Your Backyard
[*]Lutron's Caséta Lamp Dimmers and Serena Shades Bring HomeKit Convenience to Your Lights and Windows
[*]Nanoleaf's Touch-Enabled Canvas Offers Up Fun, Interactive Mood Lighting[*]LIFX's HomeKit-Enabled LIFX Z Light Strip Adds Smart Multi-Color Accent Lighting to Your Home
[*]Nanoleaf's 'Aurora Smarter Kit' Offers Awesome HomeKit-Enabled Mood Lighting for $200
[*]Philips Hue Play Adds Bright Bias Lighting to Your Entertainment Center
[*]Eve's New Light Strip is a Great HomeKit-Enabled Hub-Free Accent Lighting Option
[*]Eve's HomeKit-Enabled 'Eve Flare' Offers Awesome Mood Lighting, Long Battery Life, and Water Resistance
Sensors
[*]The HomeKit-Connected Eve Room Keeps Track of Temperature, Humidity and Air Quality in Your Home
[*]Koogeek's Light Strip and Door & Window Sensor Offer Solid Low-Cost HomeKit Options
[*]Eve Aqua Brings HomeKit Automation to Your Irrigation Sprinklers
[*]Elgato's HomeKit-Connected Eve Degree is a Sleek, Palm-Sized Temperature Monitor
[*]Weatherproof Hue Outdoor Motion Sensor Lets You Automate Your Indoor or Outdoor Lights
[*]Fibaro's HomeKit-Connected Flood Sensor Notifies You When Leaks Are Detected
Buttons/Remotes/Switches
[*]Nanoleaf's New Dodecahedron-Shaped Remote Gives You Access to 12 HomeKit Scenes
[*]Fibaro's 'The Button' Adds Physical Control Options to Your HomeKit Setup
[*]iDevices' Instant Switch Expands Manual Control of Your Other iDevices HomeKit Accessories
[*]Eve Button Offers Quick Physical Controls for Activating Your Favorite HomeKit Scenes
[*]Elgato Eve Light Switch and Eve Motion Add Versatility to Your HomeKit Setup
Locks
[*]Schlage Sense Remains a Top Option Among HomeKit-Enabled Smart Locks
[*]Yale's $220 Assure Lock SL is a Sleek, Keyless HomeKit Deadbolt
Cameras
[*]Logitech's Circle 2 Brings HomeKit Compatibility and a New Design
[*]D-Link's Omna 180 Cam HD Offers HomeKit, But Could Use Improvement
Thermostats
[*]Emerson's $200 Sensi Touch HomeKit Thermostat Offers a Large Color Display and Easy Setup
[*]Honeywell's $199 Lyric Round Thermostat Features a Nest-Like Design With HomeKit Support
Plugs and Outlets
[*]iDevices' Switches and Outlets Bring HomeKit to Your Existing Lights and Home Appliances
[*]ConnectSense Smart Outlet Offers Two HomeKit-Enabled Sockets and a USB Port
Miscellaneous
[*]Vocolinc Offers the First HomeKit Supported Essential Oil Diffuser With the 'FlowerBud'
[*]Chamberlain's MyQ Garage and Home Bridge Add HomeKit Support to Your Garage Door
Security and Privacy
Security and privacy are topics that Apple takes seriously, and thus every manufacturer that creates a HomeKit-compatible device has to follow Apple's security guidelines, better ensuring your devices are safe from hackers.
Apple's commitment to privacy and demand that HomeKit products be secure is reassuring at a time when our homes are filled with smart devices that can hear us and see us.
For a long time, Apple required all HomeKit products to include a hardware-based HomeKit authentication coprocessor for HomeKit certification, and many HomeKit devices continue to offer this. In 2017, Apple began allowing manufacturers to obtain HomeKit certification with software-based authentication, but HomeKit is no less secure as a result.
All HomeKit devices use the same security features, including end-to-end encryption, non-reusable encryption keys, and two-way authentication (Apple verifies your HomeKit device and your HomeKit device verifies your Apple device) when connecting to a HomeKit setup.
A HomeKit camera, for example, sends video and audio streams directly to an iOS device and those streams are encrypted using randomly generated keys to prevent someone from intercepting your video feed.
All HomeKit data stored on your devices is fully encrypted, and HomeKit syncing between devices is done via iCloud and iCloud Keychain, both of which have their own security. Apple also must approve each and every device that gets the HomeKit labeling. In a nutshell, Apple has worked to make HomeKit a secure smart home platform that people can trust.
HomeKit is not without its bugs, though, and there have been some security snafus. In December 2017, there was a bug that left HomeKit accessories vulnerable to unauthorized access, but Apple was quick to fix it.
For those interested, the nitty gritty details about HomeKit security are available in Apple's iOS Security Guide and are well worth checking out if you have security concerns about using smart home devices. [PDF]
Solving HomeKit Connectivity Problems
When using HomeKit devices, you might sometimes see an error that a device is unreachable in the Home app or have other problems connecting to a HomeKit product.
The Home app, and most HomeKit apps that accompany HomeKit products, provide very little info on why a HomeKit product isn't working properly or connecting to your network, which can make troubleshooting HomeKit issues frustrating.
There are a few basic steps you can follow that will sometimes solve connectivity issues.
If none of these steps work, you're going to want to contact the support staff for whichever product you're having problems with to get further information on what to do for troubleshooting purposes.
- Make sure the HomeKit device has power, is turned on, and is in range of your router if it's a Wi-Fi device.
- Turn the HomeKit device off, wait a good 10 seconds, and turn it back on. Do the same thing with your iPhone or other device you're attempting to use with HomeKit.
- Check the Wi-Fi connection and reset your router. Make sure your iOS device is up to date, connected to the internet, and that you're signed into iCloud.
- Make sure your HomeKit device is on the right Wi-Fi band. There are a lot of HomeKit devices that are 2.4GHz while most devices connect to 5GHz networks, and that can sometimes cause problems. If you have a 2.4GHz accessory, make sure it's on the 2.4GHz network. Steps for this will vary based on your setup.
- Remove the device from HomeKit in the Home app and then re-add it by scanning it. For some HomeKit products, this is probably a last resort step because it eliminates scenes and automations.
- Remove the device from HomeKit and reset it. This is a step that's necessary when removing some HomeKit devices from a HomeKit setup. You're going to need to consult the manual of your device because resetting is different on every product.
Many HomeKit manufacturers have online troubleshooting databases, so in some cases, you can just Google for a solution.
There are more drastic steps to take, such as logging in and out of iCloud or resetting your entire HomeKit setup, but we recommend contacting a manufacturer before trying these last resort options just because of the hassle involved.
Discuss HomeKit
Have a setup question or a HomeKit issue you just can't figure out? You might want to check out the HomeKit forums on the MacRumors site for additional help. There are quite a few HomeKit users on the forums, and most people are happy to help.
Guide Feedback
Want to offer feedback on this guide, ask for feature additions, or point out an error? Send us an email here.
Article Link: Everything You Need to Know About HomeKit
When I want my porch light on at night for security reasons and I’m not home to flip the switch, it kinda is?
One of the best products Apple ever produced was the 'Airport Extreme.' It was a blatantly durable and straightforward solution. Today's third-party options are garbage in terms of build quality, and system integration. I keep thinking of a super-max Apple TV or hybrid HomePod may be the answer, but I don't recall any rumors to suggest this.
A few years ago, I purchased Google's three-pack, and it died soon after the warranty expired. I hooked up my old 6-year-old Airport Extreme, and it outperformed the Google mesh-mess to this day.
Considering Apple's focus on wireless systems; it seemed logical that Apple would develop a hub as the foundation for everything else they make. Granted, their 'Time Capsule' version was a dud, but it could have been refined to address customer data privacy concerns.
I took note of this article; 'HomeKit is in its fifth year of availability...' and shook my head in disbelief that Apple has yet to produce a revised solution.
A few years ago, I purchased Google's three-pack, and it died soon after the warranty expired. I hooked up my old 6-year-old Airport Extreme, and it outperformed the Google mesh-mess to this day.
Considering Apple's focus on wireless systems; it seemed logical that Apple would develop a hub as the foundation for everything else they make. Granted, their 'Time Capsule' version was a dud, but it could have been refined to address customer data privacy concerns.
I took note of this article; 'HomeKit is in its fifth year of availability...' and shook my head in disbelief that Apple has yet to produce a revised solution.
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Not compared to the price of a house. Or to have peace of mind with actual security/privacy.
My whole house is enabled with HomeKit devices. I would hardly call it useless. Only thing useless I see are your comments.
I have smart light switches. I can walk into a room and hit the switch as usual to turn lights on/off. So can visitors without having to figure out anything at all. They can also be turned on/off through HomeKit. This is useful for doing things like shutting all lights off at night or when you leave to go to work (in case you forget one) or setting lights to dim to preset levels (commonly called "scenes").
That's just for lights. Just about anything in my house that can be automated I have set up with HomeKit. It appears you don't really know much about HomeKit (or home automation in general) and what you can do with it.
You should use over-rated Ecobee with no power backup.
What exactly happened with your Ecobee (model?) when the power was restored? Did it not function (as programmed)? Someone posted a question to Ecobee's site inquiring whether settings and data are lost following a power outage, and Ecobee's response was, "No need to worry. You will not lose your settings in case of a power outage." Please expand on your experience!
thanks
Not necessarily. Just setup homebridge with wink. I have a guide on how to do it with Smartthings and nest but you'll have to find one to setup wink.