Okay, so here’s the deal—I’m deep into the smart home rabbit hole, but I’m not part of the Apple ecosystem. No iPhone, no iPad, no Apple TV. Just a couple of Android devices, a Windows PC, and the dream of a fully automated life.
When I first got into Aqara gear (awesome value, btw), it felt like hitting a wall when I realized how much of it is designed around HomeKit. All those features and smooth automation—locked behind an Apple door I didn’t have the key to. Or so I thought.
Here’s how I cracked it.
Spoiler: You can totally use HomeKit without owning an Apple device—at least in the conventional sense. I ended up installing macOS in a virtual machine on my PC (Hackintosh vibes, yes). From there, I set up Homebridge and paired everything through iCloud (used a borrowed Apple ID for initial setup). Once done, I could control everything right from my Android using apps like Home+ or through voice via Alexa + Homebridge tricks.
Now my Aqara motion sensors, door sensors, and camera all play nice with HomeKit-style automation, and it’s buttery smooth. Bonus: you get better local control and privacy, too.
Curious if anyone else here went the non-Apple route with their Aqara setup? Would love to hear your hacks or setups that worked!
P.S. If you’re interested I can share the step-by-step of setting up that VM — it’s easier than you think.