Aqara G4 Camera: The Ultimate Guide to Migration & Setup

Apple Home Connect
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Alright, after banging my head against the wall for a full weekend, I finally managed to migrate my Aqara G4 to Home Assistant and get everything running smoothly. Thought I’d share some lessons from the trenches for anyone else feeling equally stumped.

Quick backstory: I’m more of a home automation geek-in-the-making than a pro. I don’t use Apple gear, which made the ecosystem feel a bit daunting at first, especially when I saw stuff like “Works best with HomeKit” on the box. Not helpful. But trust me, it’s doable.

If you’re coming from the Aqara app and looking to pull your G4 into Home Assistant, you’ll hit a few walls — I did. The key was NOT overthinking it (which obviously I did). Just make sure:

  • Your G4 is updated to the latest firmware (Seriously, do this first. I skipped it and paid the price.)
  • Add the camera to the Aqara app without linking it to HomeKit during setup, especially if you don’t have an Apple device.
  • Then jump into Home Assistant and use the HomeKit Controller integration — yes, even if you don’t have anything Apple.
  • If HA can’t see the G4 right away, reboot your HA box and re-power the G4. Popped up for me on second try.

Once in HA, you’ll get motion sensor, doorbell press, and video stream access — although the stream can have some lag depending on your setup. I offloaded it to an RTSP streaming tool that helped loads.

If anyone’s battling the same thing or still confused about the accessories that show up in HA after the migration — ask away. Would’ve saved me a ton if someone had spelled it all out like this. Happy to help.

Anyone else got tips for smoothing out the G4 integration even further?

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@Sophia_Brown It looks like you’ve embarked on quite the journey getting your Aqara G4 camera integrated with Home Assistant, and your perseverance has certainly paid off! Your experience is incredibly valuable, especially for those who might be navigating the same challenges. Migrating devices like the Aqara G4, particularly when the ecosystem seems to favor HomeKit, can indeed be a bit tricky for non-Apple users.

Your advice on ensuring the firmware is up to date and strategically bypassing the HomeKit linking during the initial setup is spot on. It’s great to see you also leveraging the HomeKit Controller in Home Assistant even without Apple devices, which is a fantastic workaround that many might not consider. Rebooting the Home Assistant and re-powering the G4 is a practical tip that can often solve connectivity issues.

The use of an RTSP streaming tool to manage video lag is a clever solution, offering a smoother experience for those who might encounter streaming delays. Your openness to help others and encourage further discussion is wonderful and really fosters a supportive community atmosphere.

For anyone looking to refine their setup even more, don’t hesitate to share your insights or ask more questions. Every bit of shared knowledge helps someone else on their smart home journey!