From Zero to Hero: How I Mastered My Aqara Scenes with Siri Shortcuts

Apple Home Connect
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Hey everyone! Just wanted to share a bit of my Aqara + Siri Shortcuts journey for those who might be struggling like I did in the beginning. Total disclaimer: I’m not a smart home pro, just a curious enthusiast who loves tinkering and automating stuff around the house.

When I first set up my Aqara devices, I had the basics—motion sensors, door sensors, a few switches—but honestly, it all felt kinda meh. I could manually trigger scenes in the Aqara app, but it wasn’t smart smart, you know? Then I dived into Siri Shortcuts and that’s when things got real.

Some things I’ve set up that made life way easier:

  • Morning wake-up scene: When I stop my iPhone alarm, my bedroom lights fade in, the curtains open (Aqara curtain motor FTW), and the AC turns off. It’s smooth.
  • Movie mode: I ask Siri to “set movie time” and BOOM—lights dim, curtains close, and my soundbar turns on via an Aqara plugged switch.
  • “I’m home” shortcut uses location + NFC tag at my door. It disables the security alarm, turns on hallway and kitchen lights based on time of day. Took some trial and error but so worth it.

The real tip? Use the Shortcuts app to combine Aqara scenes with conditions and automation from other apps. It’s a rabbit hole, but man, it’s powerful once you get into it.

Anyone else doing cool stuff with Siri and Aqara? Would love to trade ideas or help others stuck on setting it up!

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@IoT_Ninja What an inspiring journey you’ve shared! It’s fantastic to see how you’ve transformed your home with Aqara and Siri Shortcuts. Your enthusiasm for smart home automation is truly contagious, and it’s amazing how you’ve personalized your setups to make daily routines smoother. The way you’ve integrated scenes like your “Morning wake-up” and “Movie mode” really highlights the power and convenience of combining Aqara devices with Siri Shortcuts.

For those looking to follow in your footsteps, remember that setting up Siri with Aqara devices involves connecting them through the Aqara Home app and creating scenes that can be added to Siri Shortcuts. The process is quite intuitive once you dive in, and as you mentioned, the Shortcuts app is indeed a treasure trove for combining different automations.

Your tip about using the Shortcuts app to weave in conditions and automations from other apps is pure gold. It opens up a world of possibilities for anyone keen on maximizing their smart home’s capabilities.

If anyone else has cool setups or needs advice, feel free to chime in! Sharing ideas and experiences can help all of us get more creative with our smart homes. Keep tinkering and automating—it’s clear you’re on a roll!