Hi,
In our house we have separate apartments for different family members but share the same Wi-Fi. In my own apartment I already run a large Aqara + HomeKit setup.
Now I’m trying to set up a completely independent Aqara system in another apartment, starting with an M1S Gen2 hub.
1. During setup (in a new “Home” in the Aqara app) it always asks to connect to Apple Home. Is there no way to install it without Apple Home?
2. Even if I create a second independent Apple Home, the setup still fails with an “unknown error.”
@akis_papadopoulos Thanks for sharing your situation—setting up multiple, independent Aqara systems on the same Wi-Fi is a great way to keep things organized within shared spaces!
To address your questions:
-
Is Apple Home mandatory when setting up an Aqara hub (like M1S Gen 2) in a new “Home” within the Aqara app?
- You can set up the Aqara Hub M1S Gen 2 directly within the Aqara Home app. During the setup process, the app may prompt you to bind to Apple HomeKit if it detects you’re using iOS, but binding to HomeKit is not strictly mandatory for the hub to function within the Aqara ecosystem. You can skip the HomeKit binding step and continue using the hub and its accessories solely within the Aqara Home app if you prefer. Some prompts might feel persistent, but you are able to use the Aqara app independently.
-
Facing ‘unknown error’ when setting up a second, independent Apple Home.
- “Unknown error” messages can be frustrating! This can occur for several reasons, especially when multiple HomeKit and Aqara setups co-exist on the same Wi-Fi. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:
- Ensure both your phone and the new M1S Gen 2 hub are on the same Wi-Fi network and that there’s no network isolation between apartments.
- Double-check that you’re adding the hub to the correct “Home” in both Apple Home and Aqara apps.
- Restart your mobile device and the hub before attempting the pairing process again.
- If issues persist, try resetting the hub by holding its button for 10+ seconds until the indicator blinks, then re-add it.
- Make sure you are using the latest version of both the Aqara Home and Apple Home apps, and your mobile device is updated.
- “Unknown error” messages can be frustrating! This can occur for several reasons, especially when multiple HomeKit and Aqara setups co-exist on the same Wi-Fi. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:
If the problem continues after these steps, the error could be related to network conflicts, account permissions, or device cache. In such cases, you might want to seek personalized troubleshooting. Please contact Customer Service Team by Aqara Home App (Profile>Help&Feedback>Customer Service) or scanning the QR code:
Hope this helps! If you work out a solution or have insights from your setup, feel free to share—others in the community may benefit as well.
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@akis_papadopoulos Hi there! Thanks for sharing your setup scenario—it’s great to see how you’re expanding Aqara into different parts of your home. Let’s break down your questions:
For your first question: Is there a way to install the M1S Gen2 hub without connecting to Apple Home?
The reference information doesn’t explicitly address whether the M1S Gen2 hub requires Apple Home connection during setup. However, for other hubs like Hub M3 and Hub M2, HomeKit setup is mentioned as an optional step for iOS users wanting HomeKit control (e.g., Hub M3 requires scanning the HomeKit code if you want HomeKit control) . It’s possible the prompt to connect to Apple Home might be optional, but without specific details on the M1S Gen2, we can’t confirm.
For your second question: Why does setup fail with an “unknown error” even with a second Apple Home?
The reference information doesn’t cover “unknown error” issues specifically when setting up a second independent Aqara system on shared Wi-Fi. Common troubleshooting steps for hub setup issues (like those for Hub M2) include resetting the hub, ensuring the same Wi-Fi network, and deleting previous entries in both the Aqara and Apple Home apps . However, these are general tips, and the shared Wi-Fi environment might introduce unique variables (e.g., network isolation, IP conflicts) not covered in the references.
Since the reference info doesn’t have detailed solutions for your specific scenario, I’d recommend trying basic troubleshooting first: reset the M1S Gen2 hub (hold the reset button for 5-10 seconds), ensure both the hub and your phone are on the same Wi-Fi band (2.4GHz if applicable), and check if the Aqara Home app is updated to the latest version. If the issue persists, feel free to reach out to Aqara Customer Service for more tailored help—they can dive into the “unknown error” logs.
If other community members have experience with separate Aqara setups on shared Wi-Fi, your insights would be super helpful here! 
If you need further assistance, please contact Customer Service Team by Aqara Home App (Profile>Help&Feedback>Customer Service) or scanning the QR code:
@akis_papadopoulos Hi there! Let’s try to address your questions based on the available information.
For your first question: The reference information doesn’t specifically mention whether the M1S Gen2 hub can be set up without connecting to Apple Home. However, some Aqara hubs (like Hub M3) require scanning or entering the HomeKit Setup Code for HomeKit control, but this might be optional if you don’t need HomeKit integration. You could try proceeding through the setup process to see if there’s an option to skip HomeKit binding, though this isn’t confirmed in the provided references.
For the second question about the “unknown error” when setting up a second independent Apple Home, while there’s no direct troubleshooting for this exact scenario, similar HomeKit setup issues often relate to network or device settings. You might want to try the following steps (adapted from general Aqara HomeKit troubleshooting):
- Ensure your iOS device, Aqara Home app, and the M1S Gen2 hub have the latest firmware/software versions .
- Check if your router supports IPv6 (some Matter/Thread devices require it) and try toggling it off and on .
- Confirm the hub is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your iOS device .
- Restart your iOS device and reset the M1S Gen2 hub, then attempt setup again .
If the issue persists, feel free to share more details (like error codes or setup steps) – the community might have additional insights! For further assistance, you can also contact the Aqara Customer Service Team via the Aqara Home App (Profile>Help&Feedback>Customer Service) or by creating a ticket here.
Hope this helps, and looking forward to hearing how it goes!
@akis_papadopoulos Hi there! Let’s break down your questions and troubleshoot together.
For your first question: While some Aqara hubs (like Hub M3 or M2) mention HomeKit setup for iOS users, the reference information doesn’t explicitly state that connecting to Apple Home is mandatory. During setup, there may be an option to skip HomeKit integration—keep an eye out for a “Later” or “Skip” button in the app prompts. If not, ensure you’re following the hub’s specific setup steps (e.g., confirming Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections) as outlined in general hub guides [“content_id”:1, “content_id”:5, “content_id”:7].
For the “unknown error” during setup with a second Apple Home: Common fixes from troubleshooting guides include:
- Checking app and firmware versions: Ensure the Aqara Home app and your M1S Gen2 hub are running the latest updates [“content_id”:3, “content_id”:6].
- Network consistency: Verify both your phone and the new hub are on the same Wi-Fi network (2.4/5GHz, as supported by the hub) and that IPv6 is enabled (if required) [“content_id”:3, “content_id”:5].
- Rebooting and re-adding: Try power-cycling the hub (unplug for 10 seconds) and re-adding it to the Aqara app, ensuring no other hubs are interfering with the setup process [“content_id”:6, “content_id”:7].
If the error persists, these steps often resolve connectivity hiccups. Feel free to share if you try them—we’re here to help!
If you still face issues, consider reaching out to Aqara support for further assistance.
Hope this helps get your second setup up and running smoothly!