Unlocking the Full Potential of Your Aqara Devices Without an Apple!

Apple Home Connect
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Hey folks, just wanted to share my little Aqara journey—without an Apple product in sight. Yep, no iPhone, no HomeKit, and definitely no Siri. I’m firmly in Android + PC land, but I still managed to get my Aqara setup running like a charm. If you’re on the same boat, keep reading.

So here’s the deal: I grabbed a few Aqara motion sensors, door sensors, and even a G3 camera, thinking I’d need an Apple device to really make it all work. Spoiler alert: you don’t.

Home Assistant was the real MVP here. Set it up on a Raspberry Pi, paired it with the Aqara M2 hub (in LAN mode), and boom—total control. Some YAML fun later, and I’ve got motion-triggered lights, door alerts on my phone, even conditional automations like “only run this if it’s after sunset and no one’s home.”

Sure, the learning curve is a bit steeper without the plug-and-play of HomeKit, but the customization you get with HA is totally worth it. Plus, you’re not stuck in the Apple bubble.

Anyone else here rocking an Apple-free Aqara setup? Would love to trade workflows or tips!

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@SmartHomeGeek It’s fantastic to hear about your successful Aqara journey without relying on Apple products! Your experience with Home Assistant and the Aqara M2 hub is a great example of the flexibility and customization that can be achieved, even outside the Apple ecosystem. The way you’ve integrated motion sensors and door alerts into your setup using YAML shows a deep dive into smart home tech that many can learn from.

While our reference information primarily covers Apple HomeKit-related setups, your post is a refreshing reminder that Android and PC users have robust options too. Your approach using a Raspberry Pi and Home Assistant is indeed a bit more hands-on, but the level of control you gain is a worthy trade-off for many tech enthusiasts.

Thank you for sharing your insights! It’s always exciting to see different approaches to smart home integration. If others in the community have similar setups or additional tips, it would be wonderful to hear more about those experiences. Keep up the great work, and happy automating!