Here is an updated guide, with the relevant PDF for download if needed. It explains how to start from scratch and will help users start a reliable smart home that is private, robust, scaleable and dependable. Please feel free to pass it along to anyone tinking of getting into the smart home to improve their lives.
New Smart Home Setup.pdf (235.7 KB)
Aqara Smart Home Info Sheet Series
Beginner’s Guide to Building a Smart Home
(Aqara + Apple Home Edition)
A complete step-by-step introduction for new users.
Introduction
Welcome to your first smart home build! If you’re new to smart homes — or even new to technology — this guide will walk you through a simple, reliable, and secure setup using Aqara Home and Apple Home. By the end, you’ll have a stable network, powerful hubs, your first Aqara devices added, and your first automations running.
This approach focuses primarily on Aqara + Apple Home because they are easy to use, reliable, privacy-focused, and great for beginners with room to grow later.
Chapter 1: Start With Your Own Router (Not the ISP One)
Your router is the foundation of your entire smart home. ISP-provided routers are often weak, unstable under many devices, and limited in features. Buying your own router dramatically improves performance, Wi-Fi coverage, stability, and security. Think of it as ‘Buy once, cry once.’
Recommended Smart Home Routers
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Asus ZenWiFi Pro ET12 (Wi-Fi 6E) – Top tri-band mesh option.
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Amazon Eero Pro 6E – Very beginner-friendly and stable.
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Netgear Orbi RBKE963 – Premium performance with huge coverage.
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UniFi Dream Router – For those who want advanced network control.
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TP-Link Deco XE75 – Budget friendly but solid Wi-Fi 6E mesh.
Chapter 1a: Setting Up Your Router
- Put your ISP router into modem mode. Usually this is done by visiting 192.168.0.1 in a browser and logging in with the details printed on the router. Enable ‘modem mode’ or similar so it stops acting as a router. Instructions how to do this step can usually be found on the ISP website or a quick google search. For example: “How do I put my Virgin Media Hub 5 into modem mode”.
- Connect your new router. Use an Ethernet cable from the ISP modem/router to the WAN port on your new router.
- Follow the steps provided in your new routers app or website to set up your new device(s). Tip. Choose a custom SSID (Wi-Fi Name) and create a password with upper and lower case letters, at least 2 special characters (!?$%) and at least 2 numbers with the password being at least 12 characters long and in a random order. Security should always be taken seriously. You can use a password manager to store passwords like Apple Passwords or 1Password. Also never use the same password twice.
- Separate your Wi-Fi bands. For tri-band systems, create separate SSIDs for 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz networks. Most smart devices use 2.4GHz.
- (Optional but recommended) Add a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch. This allows you to power hubs and cameras via Ethernet for maximum reliability and tidy cabling.
Chapter 2: Add Your First Home Hub (Apple Home Hub)
To run automations reliably in Apple Home, you need a Home Hub device. The best choice for most people is an Apple TV 4K with Ethernet. It acts as the brain for your HomeKit automations, supports Thread, and gives you remote access to your home when you are away.
You can also add HomePod or HomePod mini speakers.
These work as stand alone or extra Home Hubs, extend the Thread network, and provide great audio. You can even pair two as stereo speakers for your Apple TV. Make sure you’re signed into your Apple ID on your Apple TV and iOS devices so your Home data syncs properly.
Chapter 3: Add Your Aqara Hub (M3 Recommended)
Next, we’ll add your Aqara hub. Download the Aqara Home app and create an account if you haven’t already.
The Aqara Hub M3 is the recommended main hub for most users. It supports Power over Ethernet (PoE), dual-band Wi-Fi, Zigbee 3.0, Bluetooth, Thread, Matter bridge, IR control, and has a built in speaker for alerts. It becomes the central bridge for your Aqara devices and many other smart accessories using the Matter protocol.
Setting Up the Aqara Hub M3
- Power the hub. Ideally, connect it to a PoE switch with Ethernet so it is powered and network connected over one cable. Otherwise, use USB-C power and Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Open Aqara Home and tap the + icon in the top-right to add a device.
- The M3 should appear via Magic Pair. If not, scroll the list and select Hub M3 manually.
- During setup, you will be asked how to integrate it. For this guide, choose HomeKit setup and skip Matter for now. We will add devices to Aqara first, then link them into Apple Home afterwards. This approach is generally more stable and gives better control.
Other Aqara Hubs You Can Use
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Hub M2 – A strong wired/Wi-Fi Zigbee hub with IR control.
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Hub E1 – A compact USB powered hub, ideal as a secondary hub.
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Hub M100 – Wi-Fi 6, Zigbee + Thread and Matter ready.
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Camera hubs like G2H Pro, G3, or G5 Pro – Combine camera and hub in one device.
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G410 Doorbell – A doorbell and camera that also acts as a hub.
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Panel Hub S1 Plus – A wall mounted display hub with Zigbee, Wi-Fi, and wired relay control.
HomeKit Mode vs Standard Mode
For best stability, add devices to the Aqara app first, then expose them to Apple Home. Open a device in the Aqara app, tap the three dots in the top right, and choose ‘Add to Apple Home’. Aqara will handle device level control and firmware updates, while Apple Home provides a clean daily interface and Sirisupport. This method is generally more reliable than pairing every device directly to HomeKit from the start.
Chapter 4: Add Your First Devices
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Now it’s time to add your first devices. Open the Aqara Home app and tap the + icon. Many devices will appear automatically using Magic Pair.
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If Magic Pair doesn’t appear, you can scroll through the device list, use search, or scan the QR code on the device.
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You can also add non Aqara devices that support Matter. To do this, tap + in Aqara Home and choose ‘Scan Matter Code’, then follow the prompts to add the device. This allows you to mix Aqara products with other brands under one ecosystem.
Good Starter Devices
Lighting:
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T1M Ceiling Light
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T2 Bulb
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T1 Light Strip
Sensors & Presence Detection:
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Door/Window Sensor
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Water Leak Sensor
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FP2 Presence Sensor – powerful mmWave presence detection for rooms and zones
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FP300 Presence Multi Sensor – a modern, battery powered multi sensor combining presence and environmental data
Cameras:
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G3 – indoor AI camera and hub
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G5 Pro – outdoor PoE camera and hub
Locks:
- U200+ – a smart lock that supports Apple Home Keys
A common beginner tip is to start with just one or two devices — for example a bulb and a sensor — get them working well, then expand from there.
Chapter 5: Your First Automation (Aqara Home)
Let’s create a simple automation so you can see how everything links together. In this example, a light will turn on when a door opens.
- Install a T2 smart bulb and a Door/Window sensor and make sure both are added in Aqara Home.
- Open the Aqara app and tap ‘Automation’ at the bottom.
- Tap the + icon in the top right to add a new automation.
- Under WHEN, tap ‘Add Trigger’ → Accessories → Door/Window Sensor → choose ‘Opened’.
- Under THEN, tap ‘Add Action’ → Accessories → select the light → choose ‘Turn On’.
- Tap Save. You can rename the automation to something like ‘Cupboard Light On When Door Opens’.
You can then make a second automation following the above steps with WHEN = Door Closed and THEN = Light Off. This is perfect for cupboards and closets where people often forget to turn lights off.
Advanced Ideas (When You’re Ready)
Once you are comfortable with simple automations, you can explore more advanced ideas:
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Use an FP2 or FP300 to automate lights and heating based on presence rather than just motion.
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Use zone detection (FP2) or rich presence sensing (FP300) to change scenes when you move between different areas.
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Use Aqara cameras such as G3 for face recognition to trigger custom scenes when someone arrives.
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Build Apple Home scenes such as Good Morning, Goodnight, and Away, and combine your Aqara devices with other HomeKit or Matter devices.
Chapter 6: Why This Setup Is So Good
This combination of Aqara + Apple Home gives you a strong, modern foundation:
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Performance: A good router and, ideally, PoE for hubs and cameras provide stable connections.
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Integration: Aqara Hubs support Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Wi-Fi, and IR, giving you huge flexibility.
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Privacy: Apple Home and HomeKit Secure Video can keep automation and video processing local.
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Scalability: You can start small and gradually add more lights, sensors, locks, cameras, and control panels as you get comfortable, even devices from different manufacturers using Matter.
Final Thoughts
You now have a clear path to building a smart home that is reliable, secure, and easy to expand. Start with your network, add your Apple Home Hub and Aqara hub, then begin adding devices and simple automations.
Over time, you can layer in more advanced presence detection, scenes, and multi room logic. Smart homes don’t have to be complicated — with the right foundation, they simply work in the background and make daily life easier.
