So the issue I’ve been having and reported to Aqara Support is that I’ve purchased 4 more T2 bulbs (currently have 2 fully working and attached to my M3 via Thread/Matter) but none of the new T2 bulbs will add to the M3. I get the errors “Unable to add accessory” and then “AqaraHome-8952 Connection Failed”.
So for what should be a really simple task and one that I’ve completed twice before. However the response I got from Aqara was…
“They will fix this on iOS 18.6, but it will take a very long time. We recommend that you connect the T2 bulb to the Apple Home app first if you have an Apple Home hub(HomePod mini or Apple TV), then expose it to the Aqara Home app by sharing its matter code via Apple Home app”.
What? First off I don’t have a Apple Home hub and secondly, do all Aqara T2 bulbs / M3 connections have this issue or just mine. Seems crazy to me.
Anyone else having the same issue or have a fix that Aqara don’t know about?
@2springfieldclose It seems like you’re experiencing a frustrating issue with adding your new T2 bulbs to the M3 hub via Thread/Matter. From the reference information available, I don’t have specific troubleshooting steps for the T2 bulbs or the exact scenario you’ve described. However, here are a few general suggestions that might help resolve connection issues based on similar device problems:
Firmware and App Updates: Ensure that your Aqara Home app and hub firmware are both updated to the latest versions. This can often resolve compatibility issues.
Network Configuration: Check if your network settings are optimized for Thread/Matter. For instance, ensure that your hub and devices are connected on the same 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, as 5GHz may not be supported.
Device Reset: Try resetting the T2 bulbs to their factory settings and attempt adding them again. This can sometimes clear any temporary glitches.
Proximity Check: Make sure the bulbs are close enough to the hub during the pairing process to ensure a strong signal.
Matter Compatibility: Verify that the Matter protocol is correctly enabled and configured on both your Aqara hub and the T2 bulbs.
Unfortunately, without an Apple Home hub, the workaround suggested by Aqara support might not be applicable to you. It might be helpful to reach out to Aqara support again and inquire if there are any known issues specific to your setup or if a firmware update is forthcoming to address this.
Please continue to engage with the community here—someone else might have encountered and resolved a similar issue. If the problem persists, consider creating a support ticket for more personalized assistance. Thank you for your patience and understanding!
@2springfieldclose
Thank you for your feedback — we really appreciate you bringing this to our attention.
We’ve looked into this issue and found that some Matter-over-Thread devices, including the T2 bulb, may occasionally fail to be added to the Aqara Home app via iOS devices. This appears to be related to changes introduced in iOS 18.4, as the issue does not occur on iOS 18.3 or earlier. We’ve already reported this to Apple and are actively working with them to find a solution.
In the meantime, we recommend using the Aqara Home app to add your T2 bulb and selecting the ”Zigbee Mode“ during setup. This can help avoid the current Thread pairing issue, and the ”Zigbee Mode“ also supports more features compared to the Matter-over-Thread version.
We understand how frustrating this must be, especially since you’ve successfully added similar devices before. Please rest assured that this issue is not specific to your devices — it affects certain combinations of iOS 18.4+ and Matter-over-Thread pairing, and we are doing our best to get it resolved as quickly as possible.
Thanks again for your patience and continued support!
I would suggest to check in your settings-general-matter accessories and see if the new bulbs registered there but not in the aqara app. Of the new ones did then delete from there, reset the bulbs and start again.
If they did not I would reset the bulbs, reboot my network and try the pairing process again. Those are things that have helped me in the past.
I reported this issue to Aqara support a while back and after a lot of back and forth and me providing screenshots and videos, they told me Aqara would investigate and come back to me. They haven’t yet.
I found that the bulb T2 can be successfully added as a Matter over Thread device in Apple Home and shared successfully with Aqara Home as a Matter device. Why would Aqara Home not be able to handle the inclusion of a Thread device while Apple Home can?
Yes, we’ve also noticed the issue you mentioned. We implemented the device onboarding process using Apple’s Matter commissioning API, and it appears that the bug is related to that. As a workaround, you can try adding the device through the Apple Home app first, and then share it with the Aqara Home app.
I’m sorry, am I reading this right? This has been a bug since 18.3 (January 27, 2025), so for 5 months. It is just now being addressed/brought up to apple, and people have been complaining about it for months. Further, 18.6 is still potentially months away. Are you saying that people without apple kit will need to wait 7 months before they can pair a P2 door sensor with a hub through matter?
According to Aqara, the problem was introduced in 18.4. It is not clear to me whether the problem is caused by Apple or Aqara. Aqara recommends that users who do not have an Apple hub, add the T2 bulb to the Aqara hub using Zigbee mode.
I’ve same issue however with P2. I’m trying to connect it to M3 Hub using Android device. Any advice how I can resolve it and first of all what is the issue?
@wiremanfamily It seems like you’re also encountering difficulties with connecting your T2 bulbs, and it’s quite frustrating when these issues arise. While I don’t have specific details for the T2 bulbs in this scenario, here are some general tips from related experiences that might help:
Check Network Settings: Ensure that your devices and hub are on the same Wi-Fi network, ideally on a 2.4GHz band, as some devices don’t support 5GHz.
Update Firmware: Make sure all your devices, including the Aqara Home app, are updated to the latest firmware and software versions. This can often resolve compatibility issues.
Reset Devices: Resetting your T2 bulbs and attempting to add them again might clear any temporary glitches.
Proximity Matters: During pairing, ensure the bulbs are close to the hub to maintain a strong signal.
HomeKit Troubleshooting: If you’re having trouble with HomeKit as well, consider restarting your HomeKit hub (if applicable) or checking for any updates or settings that might affect connectivity.
Since you mentioned similar issues with HomeKit, it might also help to reach out to Aqara support for further insights into any known issues or upcoming fixes. Engaging with the community could also provide solutions others have discovered. Don’t hesitate to create a support ticket if you need more personalized assistance. Your patience is appreciated, and I hope these suggestions lead to a resolution!
