Apple introduced HomeKit in September 2014 alongside iOS 8, and since then, there have been various advancements and updates. Getting familiar with HomeKit and its setup process is straightforward; it just requires some dedication. Therefore, in this HomeKit manual, I'll walk you through the fundamentals of setup and accessories, as well as delve into advanced features such as HomeKit Secure Video, automations, and scenes.
What is HomeKit?
HomeKit is Apple's smart home platform, allowing direct communication with connected devices in your home. It ensures security by encrypting data and can be accessed remotely through a HomeKit hub like an Apple TV or HomePod mini.
You can use Siri voice commands to control your smart home devices with HomeKit. For more advanced features, you can create automations and scenes to personalize your home experience.
What Can you Do With HomeKit?
HomeKit is a framework that connects smart home products together, allowing them to work seamlessly. It adds new features to devices like lights, locks, cameras, thermostats, and plugs. You can control these smart home products using apps on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, as well as through Siri voice commands.
For more advanced use, HomeKit offers automations and scenes to control multiple devices at once.
For example, you can create a "Good evening" scene, which ensures that the door will be closed, the blinds will be closed, the lights will be turned off and the security system will be armed. With automation, you can also set individual HomeKit smart devices to turn on or off at specific times. You can use sensors to trigger a device. For example, when the air quality in the room polluted, the air purifier is turned on, or if gets cold, the heating is automatically turned on and heated to the set temperature.
What do you need to run HomeKit?
- • iPhone, iPad, Macbook, Apple Watch with latest iOS. I would recommend using latest iOS to get the all HomeKit features;
- • At least one HomeKit-enabled accessory;
- • Home Wi-Fi network (internet enabled for remote control);
- • HomeKit hub, Apple TV or a HomePod mini.
Setting up a HomeKit smart home
Once you've gathered all the necessary components for setting up a HomeKit smart home, the next step is actually configuring your smart home. However, it's crucial to keep in mind the HomeKit hierarchy and the delegation of roles within that hierarchy.
- • Home - This is your home where you live;
- • Rooms - This is a room in your home and you need at least one for HomeKit;
- • Accessory - An Accessory is assigned to a room and you need at least of these;
- • Groups/Zones - This is a group of rooms or accessories. For instance, in my home, I have downstairs, upstairs and outside. I can then ask Siri “Turn the downstairs lights off” Siri will then turn the downstairs lights off;
- • Scenes - Scenes within HomeKit can be a collection of accessories to create a mood. So when you say Hey Siri set TV scene Siri will then set the lights to the TV light scene you have programmed;
- • Automation/Triggers - Triggers are actions that happen when a certain event takes place. So for instance, if you have set a trigger to turn on lights and unlock the door when you are 500 meters from home, Then HomeKit will do this for you. Please note you need an Apple TV or Homepod mini running to use HomeKit triggers and automation..
How to Pair HomeKit Accessories
HomeKit-enabled accessories come with a setup code, typically found on the product packaging or included documentation. To pair the accessory with your HomeKit system, open the companion app provided by the accessory manufacturer. Then, use your device's camera to scan the setup code located on the accessory or its packaging. Follow the on-screen setup instructions, which will guide you through naming the device and assigning it to a specific room in your home.
Accessory Names
If you didn't assign a name to your HomeKit device during the initial setup, it's advisable to do so afterward. Names play a crucial role in controlling individual HomeKit devices using Siri. By default, HomeKit-enabled devices come with pre-set names, typically reflecting the product's brand or model. For example, a Aqara Wall Switch might be labeled "Wall Switch".
To avoid confusion for both yourself and Siri, it's recommended to rename the device with something memorable. Additionally, remember that each HomeKit-connected device requires a unique name to ensure proper identification and control.
Rooms and Zones
I would also suggest assigning each HomeKit product to a specific room. This enables room-based voice commands such as "Turn off the lights in the bedroom" via Siri. Assigning devices to rooms ensures that a Siri command mentioning a room controls all devices in that room. Similar to device names, room names must be unique.
A room can represent any area of your home, from a bedroom or bathroom to a dining room or office. Rooms can even extend outdoors, encompassing spaces like a garage or garden. If you have numerous HomeKit-supported devices, creating rooms and grouping devices accordingly streamlines control. This organization is particularly helpful when setting up scenes and automation triggers.
Scenes
You can utilize HomeKit scenes for various purposes and even integrate them with triggers and automations. For instance, you could create a scene named "Romance" to adjust all the lights in a specific area to romantic lighting tones. Similarly, you could have a scene for "Relaxing" that sets the lights to calming tones and also closes the blinds in the room to establish a serene ambiance.
Setting up scenes is straightforward: you assign HomeKit products to each scene by selecting a scene and choosing the desired accessory. While you can have an unlimited number of scenes, in my experience, only a few are needed to create the desired mood or ambiance in your home.
Automations
HomeKit elevates home automation by offering automation control, allowing you to connect and control combinations of accessories simultaneously. For instance, you can set a trigger like "arriving home" to automatically turn on the lights for the drive, adjust the thermostat, and unlock the front door. Conversely, the scene "leaving home" can be configured to turn off all lights, lock the doors, and adjust the thermostat temperature.
You can schedule automations for specific times or events. For example, you might want all the lights in the house to start turning on at sunset. These triggers can also be personalized based on the preferences of household members or individual users. For instance, you can set the heating to turn off at 10 am, but only if nobody is home.
Additionally, you can use automations to trigger other devices with one device. For instance, using a motion sensor like the Philips Hue motion sensor, you can set up a trigger to turn on the bathroom lights whenever motion is detected.
In a similar manner, you can set up and activate a security system. For example, when the last resident leaves home and there's nobody inside, if the door or window sensor or a vibration sensor installed on the window detects activity, the alarm will be triggered, lights will be turned on, and you'll receive a notification on your phone. The activation of the alarm occurs automatically. When your phone realizes that you're leaving home and nobody is there, HomeKit will suggest activating the security system for you. Similarly, when you or any resident returns home and is nearby, HomeKit will suggest deactivating the security system.
Group HomeKit Accessories
Occasionally, it's simpler to control certain accessories when they're grouped together. For instance, if you have a ceiling light or lamp with multiple bulbs. For example, I have 6 recessed lights in my bathroom, all powered by Philips Hue G10 bulbs. Each of these bulbs is labeled "bathroom 1," "bathroom 2," and so on.
So instead of having to control each bulb separately when turning the lights on or off, you can manage all the smart lights with just one tap of a button using this method.
HomeKit icons
The Home app assigns default images to all your HomeKit devices when you add them. However, you have the option to customize these images to better identify your smart home devices. You can change images for various groups of devices such as lights, outlets, climate control equipment, and blinds. Not all HomeKit devices have multiple images available. Sensors and cameras, for example, typically have only one default image.
Use Siri Voice assistant to control HomeKit
You can also use Siri to control your HomeKit smart home with simple commands like "Turn on the living room lights" or "Increase the temperature in the bedroom to 22 degrees." You can use Siri both at home and when you're away from home.
HomeKit Secure Video
HomeKit Secure Video is Apple’s latest addition to the HomeKit ecosystem, offering camera streaming, recording, and activity notifications directly within the Home app. With this feature, your camera will record footage as usual, allowing for live viewing. Meanwhile, your HomeKit hub processes the video locally for motion detection and sends alerts accordingly. After recording, HomeKit encrypts the video files before uploading them to iCloud for secure viewing.
