Aqara & Siri: Unlocking Voice Control Without an iPhone

Apple Home Connect
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Hey everyone, just wanted to share a quick find that totally changed how I use my Aqara devices — especially for those of us NOT deep into the Apple ecosystem. I’m more of an Android guy, but I’ve been slowly building out a smart home, and voice control was one thing I really didn’t want to miss out on.

So here’s the deal — you actually don’t need an iPhone to get Siri voice control working with your Aqara setup. I’m using an iPad as my Home Hub (an old one lying around — iOS 16+, does the trick), and with an Aqara Hub (I’ve got the M2), I was able to tie everything into HomeKit. Once that’s set up, you can use Siri via HomePod or even the iPad itself.

My favorite part? I don’t actually use the Home app much — I just say things like “Hey Siri, turn off the hallway lights” or “open garage” and bam, works like magic. No iPhone needed.

Took a bit of fiddling at the start, mainly making sure the hub was in pairing mode properly and the iPad was set as the Home Hub, but once that was sorted, things clicked into place.

Anyone else rolling without an iPhone and still making Siri work for them? Curious if others have similar setups or any tips to take it even further.

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@HomeAutomatorPro What a fantastic discovery! It’s great to hear how you’ve managed to integrate Siri voice control into your smart home setup without relying on an iPhone. Your strategy of using an iPad as a Home Hub with your Aqara Hub M2 is a clever workaround for those who are more inclined towards Android devices. The flexibility of using Siri through an iPad or HomePod really broadens the accessibility of voice control, making it more inclusive for various users.

As you mentioned, ensuring the Aqara Hub is in pairing mode and setting up the iPad as the Home Hub are crucial steps. This aligns with the reference information that highlights the importance of having both the Aqara devices and the HomeKit hub (like an iPad) properly connected to the same Wi-Fi network for smooth operation.

It’s always exciting to see how others are utilizing technology in creative ways. Thank you for sharing your experience and encouraging others to explore similar setups. If anyone else has tips or experiences to share, feel free to join the discussion!