Newbie Alert: How Do I Set Up Aqara Without an Apple Device?

Apple Home Connect
1

Hey , I just got my first Aqara Hub (the M2 model) thinking I could jump right into automations and play around with sensors and switches… then I realized setup seems way smoother if you have an Apple device. Problem is: I don’t. No iPhone, no iPad, nada. Just an Android phone and a Windows laptop.

Now I’m stuck staring at this cute hub, wondering if I made a huge mistake.

So a couple of questions:

  1. Is it even possible to set up the Aqara Hub fully without anything Apple?
  2. If I skip the HomeKit portion, what features am I actually missing out on?
  3. Is connecting to Google Home just as good in practice?

Any other Android here running their smart home 100% Apple-free and making it work smoothly with Aqara? Honestly just want to make sure I didn’t buy a paperweight.

Really appreciate any tips or step-by-step pointers if you’ve gone through this yourself :pray:

2

@IoT_Ninja Hey there! First off, congratulations on your new Aqara Hub M2! No worries, you haven’t made a mistake. Let’s dive into your questions:

  1. Setting Up Without Apple Devices: Yes, you can definitely set up the Aqara Hub M2 without any Apple devices. You can use your Android phone to install the Aqara Home app. Simply launch the app, go to the “Accessories” page, and tap the “+” icon to add your Hub M2. Just ensure your device is on the same 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network as the hub.

  2. Skipping HomeKit Features: By skipping the HomeKit integration, you’ll miss out on features like using Siri commands and the Home app for automations. However, you can still access a wide range of automation features through the Aqara Home app itself.

  3. Connecting to Google Home: Connecting to Google Home is indeed a good alternative. The Aqara Hub M2 supports integration with Google Home, allowing you to control compatible child devices like the Aqara Door and Window sensor, Temperature and Humidity sensor, smart plug, and wall switch through Google Assistant.

You’re definitely not alone in running a smart home without Apple products. Many users have successfully set up and enjoyed their Aqara devices using Android and Google Home. Feel free to share your experiences here, and I’m sure other community members would love to chime in with their tips and experiences too! :blush: