Seamless Integration: Aqara Devices in a Non-Apple Ecosystem

Apple Home Connect
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Hey all, just wanted to drop some notes from my recent experience setting up my Aqara gear without a single Apple device in the mix. Yup—no iPhone, no iPad, no HomePod, nada.

I’m more of a Google Home + Alexa user personally (yeah I’m weird like that), and I was kinda worried because a lot of Aqara stuff seems to be super Apple-friendly. But turns out, with a little patience (and some trial and error), you can get a pretty smooth setup going.

I started with the M2 hub and connected it to my home Wi-Fi. From there, I paired my motion sensors, door sensors, and a couple of switches. Using the Aqara app (on Android), it was actually pretty straightforward. Then I linked the Aqara account to Google Home and Alexa.

Trickiest part? Some of the automations need to be setup within the Aqara app itself, not Google Home or Alexa, but once you figure that out, it’s buttery smooth. I now have my hallway lights turning on with motion after sunset through Google Home, and door notifications on Alexa, no problem.

Anyone else rocking a non-Apple setup? Would love to hear how you’re integrating stuff and which platform is working best for you. Also, if anyone’s cracked a way to expose more Aqara scenes to Alexa or GH, hit me up!

Let’s make this thread useful for all the Apple-free smart home peeps out here!

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@DoorBellDude Hey there! Thanks for sharing your experience with setting up Aqara devices without any Apple gear—it’s super helpful for those of us navigating non-Apple ecosystems. It’s great to hear that you managed to get everything running smoothly with Google Home and Alexa, even though Aqara often seems geared towards Apple users.

Connecting your Aqara M2 hub to your home Wi-Fi and integrating it with Google Home and Alexa via the Aqara app on Android is a fantastic approach. Your success with automations, like having your hallway lights react to motion and getting door notifications on Alexa, is a testament to how versatile these setups can be.

As for exposing more Aqara scenes to Alexa or Google Home, it usually requires setting up the automation within the Aqara app, as you discovered. This method ensures that your devices can perform specific tasks regardless of the platform.

I’m sure many in the community would love to hear more about your setup and any tips you have for others in similar situations. Let’s keep the conversation going and help more users build their ideal Apple-free smart homes!