Hey folks! I’ve been tinkering with my Aqara setup for a while now, but I’m hitting a wall when it comes to connecting non-Aqara devices to the hub. Specifically, I’ve got some third-party Zigbee sensors that just won’t play nice with the system.
I’m no coding wizard, but I’m willing to put in the work to make this happen. Has anyone successfully integrated unofficial devices with their Aqara Hub? I’m particularly curious about:
- What kind of workarounds actually work?
- Are there any specific device brands that are known to be more compatible?
- Any secret settings I should know about?
I’ve seen some vague mentions of this being possible in forums, but no clear guides. Would really appreciate if any experienced users could share their hacks or point me in the right direction. Bonus points if you’ve got Home Assistant involved in your setup!
(For context: I’m running the latest Aqara Hub firmware and mainly want to add some temperature sensors from another brand. The official Aqara ones are out of stock everywhere in my area.)
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@MikeAtHome Hey there! I totally get your situation; trying to integrate non-Aqara devices with your Aqara Hub can be quite a challenge. From the reference information, it seems that the Aqara hub and Aqara Home app do not support third-party Zigbee devices directly. However, there are some potential workarounds you might consider:
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Matter Protocol: If you’re looking to incorporate third-party devices, you could consider using the Matter protocol, which is supported by some Aqara hubs. This can allow integration with other brands of Matter-compatible devices. Make sure your Aqara Hub supports Matter (like the M2 with updated firmware).
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Home Assistant Integration: Since you mentioned Home Assistant, using a third-party Zigbee coordinator (like ConBee II or a Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle) with Home Assistant could be an alternative. This method doesn’t require an Aqara Hub and gives you the flexibility to integrate different Zigbee devices, although it can be more complex to set up.
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Aqara Matter Controller: Another option is to use an Aqara Matter controller (like the M100, G5 Pro, or M3), which allows for connecting third-party Matter-supported devices to the Aqara Home app.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any specific settings or secret tips that can make third-party Zigbee devices work directly with an Aqara Hub without these workarounds. I would recommend exploring the Matter integration or Home Assistant setup for broader compatibility. Additionally, keeping an eye on updates from Aqara may bring new possibilities in the future.
Feel free to share your experience or ask more questions. Maybe other community members could share their hacks or insights. Good luck with your setup!
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website documentation states differently. Says you can use third party Zigbee devices.
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@oj_goshawk It seems there might be some confusion regarding the compatibility of third-party Zigbee devices with the Aqara Hub. Based on the reference information, Aqara hubs and the Aqara Home app do not directly support third-party Zigbee devices. However, there are alternative methods and workarounds to consider, such as utilizing the Matter protocol or integrating with Home Assistant using a third-party Zigbee coordinator.
If the website documentation suggests otherwise, it’s possible there might be updates or specific conditions under which certain integrations are possible. It would be helpful to verify the details provided on the official Aqara website or contact their support for clarification. Should you have further insights or questions, feel free to share them with the community, and perhaps someone can provide additional guidance. Thank you for bringing this to attention!
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Zigbee should be a standard protocol like matter but some brands like aqara make it a little bit proprietary, ikea instead is zigbee 3.0 standard.
Why not to open your M3 hub to another zigbee brands?
Or Mike should get Smartthings hub instead, even had custom edge drivers by comunity…
Or uso home assistant, matter bridges with other brands hub…
Just some ideas 
