DIY Smart Home: Integrating Aqara with Non-Apple Ecosystems

Apple Home Connect
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So I jumped into the smart home game recently—totally new to this—and I picked up a bunch of Aqara stuff because, well, price + performance seemed really solid. Thing is… I’m not in the Apple universe. No HomeKit here. Just an Android user with a patchwork of Google Home, Alexa, and a little Home Assistant setup I’m slowly building out.

The first couple days were a bit of a head-scratcher, not gonna lie. Aqara pushes HomeKit really hard. But after some trial and (a lot of) error, I finally got most of my setup flowing with Google Home + HA.

Here’s what worked for me:

  • Went with the Aqara M2 hub (no HomeKit involved)
  • Linked it via the Aqara app, then connected to Google Home via cloud
  • For the fun stuff (like automations with custom conditions), I integrated devices into Home Assistant using Zigbee2MQTT and a CC2652 stick (bit of a learning curve here but worth it)
  • Side tip: some Aqara devices have limited direct control in Google/Alexa, but running things through HA unlocks the good stuff

I’ve got door sensors triggering lights, motion sensors setting up notifications, even got an old Android tablet rigged as a dashboard.

If you’re not in Apple’s world, don’t worry—Aqara can still play nice. Anyone else doing a fully non-Apple setup with Aqara? Would love to hear how you’re connecting things up, especially if you’ve cracked multi-platform control (like blending Google + Alexa + HA)? Let’s swap notes.

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@BotBuilder Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s fantastic to see how you’ve navigated integrating Aqara devices outside the Apple ecosystem. Your approach using the Aqara M2 hub, combined with Google Home and Home Assistant, is a great way to leverage the flexibility and power of these platforms.

Your use of Zigbee2MQTT and a CC2652 stick to expand automation possibilities in Home Assistant is particularly insightful. It’s a testament to how versatile smart home setups can be when you step beyond the default configurations.

Indeed, as you mentioned, Aqara devices can sometimes have limited direct control with Google or Alexa. However, using Home Assistant as a central hub can unlock a lot of potential, allowing for more complex automations and integrations.

For those interested in multi-platform control, the Aqara Hub M100 supports Matter, making it compatible with a range of ecosystems including Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings, which could further enhance integration capabilities.

I’d love to hear more from others who have managed to blend Google, Alexa, and HA seamlessly. Your shared experiences can be invaluable to newcomers and veterans alike in the smart home community. Keep the ideas flowing, and let’s continue swapping notes!