Hey all,
Just wanted to drop some tips for those of you trying to squeeze everything you can out of your Aqara setup with HomeKit. I’ve been deep into smart home automation for a few years now — kind of went from “this is fun” to “this is basically magic."
If you’re just pairing devices straight into the Aqara app and stopping there, you’re only scratching the surface. HomeKit is where the real power kicks in. Here are some ways I’ve unlocked a whole new level of automation:
- Use HomeKit automations instead of Aqara ones whenever possible — they’re faster and more reliable in my experience
- Group sensors creatively. I use two motion sensors in different corners of a room to avoid false alarms, then set the scene only if both detect motion within 3 seconds
- Combine Aqara’s contact sensors with HomeKit’s time-based conditions. For example, “If door opens AND it’s after 10PM” → trigger a security light
- Scene stacking! I have a “Goodnight” scene that drops the lights, locks the door, starts the bedroom temp control — all chained together and triggered with one voice command
Bonus: if you have an Apple TV or HomePod as your Home Hub, automations run locally too. Super clutch if your internet goes out.
Curious how others are pushing their setups — anyone doing cross-room logic or integrating with third-party HomeKit-compatible products? Let’s swap ideas!