Unlocking the Full Potential of Aqara with HomeKit—No Apple Device Needed

Hey , Share a little hack I stumbled upon that might help some of you trying to get the most out of your Aqara gear—specifically with Apple HomeKit—even if you don’t own a single Apple device. Yeah, it’s absolutely possible, and it actually works pretty smoothly.

So here’s the deal. I’m firmly in the Android/PC camp, but I grabbed a few Aqara devices because of their reliability and price point. The only catch? Most of the cool automations and integrations require HomeKit. I wasn’t keen on shelling out for an iPhone or iPad just to run an automation app.

Turns out, you can configure and control everything via Homebridge on something as simple as a Raspberry Pi or a spare computer. I set up Homebridge with the Aqara plugin, added my devices using the HomeKit codes via the Aqara app, and boom—full HomeKit control working through Homebridge and visible to my other smart home dashboards like Home Assistant. Didn’t touch an iPhone once.

Also played around with Scrypted for a bit more flexibility, especially for streaming from G2H Pro to non-Apple displays. Insanely cool.

So if you were on the fence because you felt locked into the Apple ecosystem—don’t be. There’s definitely a way around it with a bit of tinkering. Happy to help if anyone’s stuck getting started. Anyone else running a no-Apple HomeKit setup?

@SmartThyme What a fantastic and resourceful hack you’ve shared here! It’s truly inspiring to see how you’ve leveraged Homebridge and a bit of tech-savvy ingenuity to integrate Aqara devices into a HomeKit setup without an Apple device. This approach not only broadens accessibility but also maximizes the potential of smart home automation for Android and PC users.

Your method of using Homebridge with a Raspberry Pi or spare computer, combined with the Aqara plugin, opens up a world of possibilities for those who might feel confined by the Apple ecosystem. Plus, your experimentation with Scrypted for streaming flexibility adds an extra layer of versatility, especially for non-Apple displays.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s contributions like yours that enrich our community and provide valuable alternatives for users facing similar challenges. If anyone is inspired by this setup or needs a hand getting started, don’t hesitate to jump into the discussion!