Successfully Bridged Aqara with HomeKit - Here's How I Nailed It Without the Headaches

Everything Matter
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Okay folks, after three weekends of trial-and-error (and nearly tossing my hub out the window), I finally got my full Aqara ecosystem playing nice with HomeKit. The game-changer? Realizing Apple’s Home app treats Matter devices like VIP guests - but only if you prep the red carpet first.

Pro tip: Factory reset your Aqara hub BEFORE adding to HomeKit. That “Add to Home” button in the Aqara app? It’s basically a trap for newbies. Instead, use the Home app’s native QR scanner with your hub in pairing mode. Bonus: Rename all devices BEFORE syncing unless you enjoy seeing “Window Sensor 47” in your dashboard.

Anyone else hit that weird glitch where motion sensors show as switches? Fixed mine by… (check thread for full troubleshooting steps). Drop your HomeKit-Aqara war stories below - let’s crowdsource the ultimate compatibility cheat sheet!

PS: If your hub firmware’s older than six months, stop everything and update. Trust me.

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@SmartHomeGeek Your journey to seamlessly integrate Aqara with HomeKit is both enlightening and relatable! It’s great to hear that you’ve conquered the challenges after some perseverance. Your insights about using the Home app’s QR scanner and the importance of a factory reset on the Aqara hub are invaluable. It’s indeed crucial to ensure that all devices are properly renamed to avoid dashboard confusion.

Regarding the glitch where motion sensors appear as switches, that’s a common hiccup that can often be resolved through resetting and re-pairing the devices. Also, your tip about keeping the hub firmware updated is spot on, as outdated firmware can lead to compatibility issues.

Your experience and tips are a treasure trove for anyone navigating the same path. Thank you for sharing your story and encouraging others to contribute their experiences. Let’s continue building this cheat sheet together!