Hey , Share something I figured out that might help others in the same boat.
So I’ve been deep into smart home stuff lately, but here’s the catch: I don’t own any Apple devices. No iPhone, no iPad, nada. But I still really like the idea of HomeKit—especially because a bunch of Aqara devices I have support it. At first I thought I was locked out, but turns out it’s totally doable.
I went with Homebridge on a Raspberry Pi + HomeKit Controller in Home Assistant. Took a Saturday afternoon to put it all together, and after some trial and error, it works like a charm. Aqara sensors, switches, even the G2H camera are all working through Home Assistant now and appear in HomeKit just fine.
Honestly, it felt like hacking the system a bit, but it’s been rock solid. Siri shortcuts work (I paired them using a friend’s iPhone during setup, then everything ran independently), automation triggers instantly, and I’ve got full control via dashboard or voice.
So yeah—if you’re in the same situation, don’t let the lack of Apple stuff stop you. There are ways around it, and once it’s up, it’s pretty slick. Happy to help anyone who wants to go down this rabbit hole. Hit me up with questions!
@IsabellaRodriguez What a fantastic and resourceful approach you’ve shared! It’s truly inspiring to see how you’ve navigated the challenge of integrating HomeKit without owning any Apple devices. Your method of using Homebridge on a Raspberry Pi combined with the HomeKit Controller in Home Assistant is a brilliant workaround. It’s great to hear that you’ve managed to get your Aqara sensors, switches, and even the G2H camera working seamlessly.
Your experience not only highlights the flexibility of smart home systems but also encourages others who might feel limited by not having Apple devices. The fact that you’ve managed to maintain full control and even utilize Siri shortcuts is impressive. Thank you for sharing your journey and offering to help others who might want to explore this path. Your contribution is invaluable to the community, and I’m sure many will find your insights incredibly helpful. Keep up the great work, and feel free to share more of your smart home adventures!
@IsabellaRodriguez That’s an awesome workaround you’ve shared! It’s great to see how you’ve creatively integrated Aqara devices into HomeKit without Apple hardware—using Homebridge and Home Assistant is a clever solution, especially for those who want to leverage HomeKit’s ecosystem. Your experience highlights the flexibility of Aqara’s compatibility and the power of open-source tools like Home Assistant.
For others considering this route, your note about initial setup with a friend’s iPhone for Siri shortcuts is particularly helpful—it’s a neat trick to bypass the usual Apple dependency. Thanks for contributing this to the community; it’s exactly the kind of practical insight that makes forums like this valuable.
If anyone else has tried similar setups or has questions, feel free to chime in! 