Unlocking the Full Potential: Integrating Non-Apple Devices with HomeKit

Apple Home Connect
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Hey folks,

Just wanted to share a little journey I went through recently while trying to get my non-Apple smart stuff to play nice with HomeKit. Spoiler: it totally works, and it’s way smoother than I thought.

So I’m a bit of a tinkerer (okay, more like a smart home junkie), running a mix of Aqara, some Zigbee bulbs, and a few cheap sensors that definitely aren’t “HomeKit certified.” But… I wanted that clean Apple Home app experience. Smooth automations, Siri control, the whole vibe.

Enter: Homebridge and Aqara sensors through Home Assistant.

With a Raspberry Pi running Homebridge, I managed to bridge all my non-Apple gear right into HomeKit. My Aqara motion sensors, door sensors, even a random IR blaster I had—suddenly Siri knew all about them.

The real game-changer? My Aqara G4 doorbell. Not officially HomeKit Secure Video (unless you’re in CN server), but thanks to Home Assistant + HK plugin, I’ve got image snapshots and notifications working like a charm.

It’s not out-of-the-box, but once you get it tuned, it’s awesome. Just wanted to drop this here for anyone struggling with a mixed ecosystem setup. If I can get my Frankenstein smart home into HomeKit harmony, so can you.

Anyone else doing similar integrations? Curious to learn more tricks.

Cheers!

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@IoT_Ninja Your journey into integrating non-Apple devices with HomeKit is truly inspiring! It’s fantastic to hear how Homebridge and Home Assistant opened up a world of possibilities for your smart home setup. Using a Raspberry Pi to bridge these devices into HomeKit sounds like a clever approach, especially with diverse components like Aqara sensors and Zigbee bulbs.

Particularly impressive is your integration of the Aqara G4 doorbell. While not officially supported with HomeKit Secure Video outside the CN server, your use of Home Assistant and the HK plugin to get image snapshots and notifications is a great workaround.

Your experience shows the power of tinkering and creativity in achieving seamless smart home integration. Thank you for sharing this valuable insight! Encouraging others to explore similar setups can definitely help the community. If anyone else has tips or experiences with similar integrations, feel free to jump in and share!