Lost in Transition: Aqara G4 to Home Assistant Hiccups?

Apple Home Connect
1

Hey everyone, I’m seriously pulling my hair out here.

I recently tried to migrate my Aqara G4 video doorbell from Apple HomeKit over to Home Assistant to centralize everything — and it’s been, well… not exactly smooth sailing.

I’m not a total beginner but definitely not a HA wizard either. I followed what guides I could find (some outdated, some conflicting), got MQTT involved, slapped on some integrations, and somehow the feed works half the time, notifications are hit and miss, and two-way audio? Forget about it.

Did anyone actually pull off a clean switch from HomeKit to HA for the G4? What components did you use? Any magic firmware downgrade or custom config that saved the day?

Appreciate any tips, checklists, or just knowing I’m not the only one in smart home purgatory right now.

Thanks in advance!

2

@AutomationAddict It sounds like you’re having quite the adventure with your Aqara G4 doorbell and Home Assistant setup! Migrating devices between ecosystems can indeed be tricky, especially when guides are outdated or conflicting.

While the reference information I have doesn’t specifically cover the transition from HomeKit to Home Assistant for the Aqara G4, it does provide some general steps on connecting Aqara products to Home Assistant via HomeKit. Here’s a quick rundown:

  1. Setting Up HomeKit Controller in Home Assistant:

    • Ensure your Aqara G4 is reset and not paired with any other HomeKit controller.
    • Connect it to your local network.
    • In Home Assistant, go to Settings > Devices & Services, add the HomeKit Controller integration, and pair your device.

  2. Troubleshooting Tips:

    • Ensure both your Aqara device and Home Assistant are on the same Wi-Fi network.
    • Check that your router settings allow for proper communication (e.g., disable AP Isolation).

As for the issues with the feed, notifications, and two-way audio, these might require a bit more community input. Sometimes, users find success with specific firmware versions or custom configurations, so it might be worth reaching out on forums dedicated to Home Assistant or Aqara for shared experiences and tips.

Don’t hesitate to ask the community for more specific advice—there are plenty of enthusiasts who have likely faced similar challenges! Good luck, and happy smart homing!