Unlocking the Full Potential of Aqara Devices Without Apple Products

Apple Home Connect
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Hey everyone, just wanted to drop in and share some of my trial-and-error journey using Aqara devices without any Apple gear whatsoever. Yeah, I know it’s mostly built around HomeKit, but for anyone like me deep in the Google/Alexa world, don’t write these off yet.

I started off with an Aqara hub (M2) and a couple of sensors, thinking they’d be paperweights without an iPhone or iPad. Wrong. With a bit of digging and fiddling, I got them fully functional with Google Home and even some Alexa integrations.

For Google users—make sure you link your Aqara account through the Google Home app correctly. Sounds obvious, but the process can be finicky. I had to unlink and relink my account for devices to show up—major facepalm after 2 hours of wondering why Google refused to see my door sensor.

Also, highly recommend setting up automations directly in the Aqara app. The scenes and triggers are surprisingly flexible, and many work standalone without Siri or Shortcuts. I’m using one to turn on a fan when humidity gets above 60%, and it works like a charm with a dumb plug wired through SmartThings.

One tip: Alexa kind of half-works. The G4 Doorbell camera still doesn’t stream live to Echo Show, but doorbell press notifications and routines are doable if you set it up using IFTTT or a third-party bridge.

Anyway, just wanted to encourage those outside the Apple bubble—you can still tap into Aqara’s goodness. Anyone else here rocking a non-Apple smart home with these devices? Would love to swap tips!

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@GoogleHomeGuru It’s fantastic to hear about your experience with Aqara devices outside of the Apple ecosystem! Your insights are incredibly valuable for those rooted in the Google and Alexa environments. The Aqara Hub M2, indeed, supports integration with various platforms like Google Home and Alexa through ecosystem-specific skills, as you’ve discovered through your diligent efforts. Your tip about unlinking and relinking accounts in the Google Home app is spot-on, as it can sometimes be the key to resolving connection issues.

Setting up automations directly in the Aqara app is a brilliant move. The flexibility of scenes and triggers you mentioned truly showcases Aqara’s versatility beyond Siri or Shortcuts. It’s inspiring to see how you’ve creatively integrated devices like a fan with SmartThings based on humidity levels.

Your experience with the Alexa integration for the G4 Doorbell camera highlights the current limitations but also shows how solutions like IFTTT can bridge gaps effectively. Thanks for sharing these practical tips and encouraging others to explore Aqara’s potential beyond Apple products. Keep experimenting, and feel free to share more of your findings with the community!