Wemo Mini Smart Plug Gains HomeKit Support Through Software Update

[ks234931]

Ok, I ordered a two pack of these bad boys on Amazon. Might get more later. You can get them cheaper ($30 for one or $28.50 each for two) if you order them on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0776YH29B/

What really pushed me over the edge is that they integrate with Ring as well as this new HomeKit functionality. When I'm on vacation I could have lights in my house turn on when someone approaches the front doors or back yard. What I'm hoping is that I can leverage the WEMO triggered actions from the Ring to possibly perform other HomeKit actions like a chain reaction. But even so this will do most of what I want and I can schedule them using HomeKit. Hopefully they upgrade their light switches and motion sensors too. I said it in the past and I'll say it again: I'll be all over WEMO once they add native HomeKit support and now I'm putting my money where my mouth is. Wish more companies would do this.

The only time I broke my rule of only buying HomeKit was with Ring because I got the pro doorbell for Christmas and with the promise of HomeKit coming, I bought the floodlight. It's a good product that does a good job keeping watch over my home. I'd like to buy the Ring alarm thing, but there was no mention of HomeKit. Not sure if I need it, but it could be useful. I like that it's only $10/mo and includes DVR.

Just an FYI, I picked up a two pack today at Costco for $40. I haven't been able to get the firmware upgrade yet, but I'll be real interested to see how the HomeKit support works.

 

[picaman]

In the Wemo forums, the moderators are saying that this is a “planned phased rollout” with people getting the firmware update enabled in waves until everyone gets it by July 27.

The website says it’s a feature and I got a release announcement emailed to me. Why did they announce it if it wasn’t ready? What a marketing screwup.

 

[aristobrat]

This is the email I received:

 

[macduke]

So I bought a two pack new and it arrived a half hour ago. Got it connected and everything. It did a firmware update upon setup, and I figured that was it. But when I try to connect to HomeKit it says something about clicking a firmware update again and it’s just taking me back to the previous screen. Really horrible UI design of its rolling out in phases. Also not very good customer experience if someone goes out and buys your product because it has a new feature and then it’s not ready.

I wonder if it would be possible for someone to capture a copy of the firmware and then I could put it on my site and then snoop on my router what URL my iPhone is trying to connect to and change the hosts file to my server and download it that way? Never tried changing the hosts file on iPhone so idk what’s possible. Or I could just wait a week. Not cool though!

I updated the app and shows that a firmware is needed. Any word of when the firmware update will get pushed out? Disappointed that I can't start using it right away.

Same here. I press the button to update the firmware in the Wemo app and nothing happens.

Same here. Just gonna take some time for it to roll out I guess.

Just an FYI, I picked up a two pack today at Costco for $40. I haven't been able to get the firmware upgrade yet, but I'll be real interested to see how the HomeKit support works.

 

[DotCom2]

So I bought a two pack new and it arrived a half hour ago. Got it connected and everything. It did a firmware update upon setup, and I figured that was it. But when I try to connect to HomeKit it says something about clicking a firmware update again and it’s just taking me back to the previous screen. Really horrible UI design of its rolling out in phases. Also not very good customer experience if someone goes out and buys your product because it has a new feature and then it’s not ready.

I wonder if it would be possible for someone to capture a copy of the firmware and then I could put it on my site and then snoop on my router what URL my iPhone is trying to connect to and change the hosts file to my server and download it that way? Never tried changing the hosts file on iPhone so idk what’s possible. Or I could just wait a week. Not cool though!

Read post #53 above for the explanation from the Vendor.
(I also received this email this morning)

 

[macduke]

Read post #53 above for the explanation from the Vendor.
(I also received this email this morning)

Whoops missed that. Thanks.

 

[ehrens]

Picked up the Costco 2 pack and anxiously awaiting the firmware rollout.

 

[legacyb4]

Firmware just showed up after force-quitting and restarting the app. Updated, had to register in Home app and remove from Homebridge but all is good now!

 

[rogerowankenobi]

Awesome! Chamberlain, I’m looking at you now. I REALLY don’t want to spend $100 on a hub if it’s not necessary. I really like being able to open and close my garage with an app, but it would be so much better to be able to tell Siri to do it

[doublepost=1532742311][/doublepost]Good luck on that. I bought their hub and the door is working fine via Siri, but I see many, many people have problems getting their hub and garage door opener working with HomeKit. Mine has been working fine for over a year.
But I almost bought the Wemo Hub today bundled with the Mini Smart Plug from Amazon. I got lucky, I guess, since I can now buy two more Minis for the hub-bundle price! Hope they work as advertised.

 

[gmanWA]

Just got a couple of these on sale at CostCo. I setup via my iPhone and iPhone Home App shows both plugs - great.

Then I opened up the Home App on my iPad and the Wemo plugs aren't there.

Does software authentication for Homekit only work per IOS device if the manufacturers app is also installed? Is it the IOS device that is actually doing the encryption and so accessories are per IOS device and not really added to the home for everyone to use?

[Update] - NVM - appears to be yet another bug in IOS 12 beta. I can see the new Wemo devices in the Home App on IOS 11 on a device without the Wemo app.

 

[ehrens]

Checking back in to say that 1) the software HomeKit piece is pretty easy and the 2 plugs I got received the upgrade pretty quickly and 2) I picked up another pack today from the Costco for $32.

 

[picaman]

Just got a couple of these on sale at CostCo. I setup via my iPhone and iPhone Home App shows both plugs - great.

Then I opened up the Home App on my iPad and the Wemo plugs aren't there.

Does software authentication for Homekit only work per IOS device if the manufacturers app is also installed? Is it the IOS device that is actually doing the encryption and so accessories are per IOS device and not really added to the home for everyone to use?

[Update] - NVM - appears to be yet another bug in IOS 12 beta. I can see the new Wemo devices in the Home App on IOS 11 on a device without the Wemo app.

I think you must install via the Wemo app, and possibly update the device firmware through the app as well, if needed.

 

[nviz22]

Is the Wemo app still bad?

 

[picaman]

Is the Wemo app still bad?

It’s not the best app on the planet, but it’s functional and mostly intuitive. The plug disconnected itself from the Home app a couple of times, and reconnecting via the Wemo app was relatively straightforward.

 

[nviz22]

It’s not the best app on the planet, but it’s functional and mostly intuitive. The plug disconnected itself from the Home app a couple of times, and reconnecting via the Wemo app was relatively straightforward.

Couple times in a month or within like a 6 month span?

 

[picaman]

Couple times in a month or within like a 6 month span?

Twice in a few months. Honestly not a huge issue for me.

 

[slothinker]

I'm impressed that so many commenters have had success integrating the Wemo Mini Plug with Apple Home and HomeKit. I couldn't integrate w/ my 1st gen Wemo Mini Plugs and bought a 2nd gen Wemo Mini Plug at an Apple Store. The new version has an Apple HomeKit scan-code built-in. After trying everything (multiple different Wifi channels, Yeti app, different devices, different outlets, etc.) I've finally given up trying to get any of my Wemo Mini Plugs and attached devices to show up in Apple Home.

Personally I'd say Amazon's Alexa -- which integrates perfectly and easily with Wemo mini plugs -- puts Apple to shame in the home automation game.