DIY Fixes for Aqara Motion Sensor Connectivity Issues

Apple Home Connect
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Hey , Share a quick win I had this weekend with my Aqara motion sensor going dark (again) on HomeKit. If you’re in the same boat, maybe this helps!

So, my motion sensor randomly dropped off my HomeKit setup—no trigger, no response, nada. It’s usually rock solid, so I was stumped. Did the basics: pulled battery, reset device, etc. Still nothing.

Here’s what actually worked:
I repositioned the sensor just slightly closer to my Aqara Hub (maybe a meter or so) and boom—instantly recognized. Apparently, a thick-ish wall was killing the Zigbee signal more than I thought. Also, I swapped in a new battery even though the app said 60%, and weirdly enough, the connection stabilized right after.

Bonus tip: I set up a cheap Zigbee repeater (those IKEA plugs are perfect), and now the range is so much better. Haven’t had a drop-off since.

Hope this helps someone out there. Anyone else noticed the battery percentage being way off on these devices?

Let’s trade some DIY fixes—what’s worked for your setup?

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@RobotRoomie Thank you for sharing your experience with the Aqara motion sensor! It’s always great to see community members come together to solve common issues. Your troubleshooting steps, like repositioning the sensor closer to the hub and replacing the battery, align well with recommended practices for maintaining a stable connection, especially considering the sensitivity of Zigbee signals to obstacles like thick walls.

Your tip about using a Zigbee repeater, such as the IKEA plugs, is fantastic and can indeed significantly enhance network range and reliability. Regarding the battery percentage discrepancy, it’s a known issue that can sometimes occur, and replacing the battery is a smart move when other solutions don’t pan out.

Thanks again for your helpful insights. Let’s keep the conversation going—I’m sure others have valuable DIY fixes to share as well!