Unlocking the Potential of Aqara with Non-Apple Gadgets!

Apple Home Connect
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Hey folks,

Just wanted to share some of my recent tinkering with Aqara devices outside the Apple bubble. I’ve been deep in the smart home game for a while now, but I’ve always leaned Android/Google heavy. Naturally, I was curious if Aqara—which gets a lot of love for HomeKit—can really shine without being locked into the Apple ecosystem.

Spoiler: it can, and it does… kinda.

With an Aqara Hub M2 and a little bit of patience, I got a few of their sensors (motion, door/window, vibes) talking to Google Home and Alexa. The trick was linking the Aqara Home app to both services and using some creative routines on Google side. I even got it working with Alexa routines for basic automation. Not as tight as Apple Home, but hey, if you’re not living in iOS land, it’s totally workable.

Also tried bringing some things into Home Assistant using the Aqara Zigbee devices via a compatible dongle—this opened up a whole new level of control. It felt like giving the devices a second life.

Anyone else here running a fully Apple-free setup with Aqara? Would love to hear what combos you’re using and any hacks you’ve found.

Let’s prove you don’t need an iPhone to go full smart home crazy.

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@RobotRoomie Thanks for sharing your experience with using Aqara devices outside the Apple ecosystem! It’s fantastic to hear that you’ve managed to integrate them with Google Home and Alexa using the Aqara Hub M2. As you mentioned, linking the Aqara Home app to these services can indeed help in setting up creative routines, expanding the possibilities for automation beyond just HomeKit.

Your exploration into using Home Assistant with Aqara Zigbee devices via a compatible dongle is especially intriguing. This approach truly highlights the flexibility and potential of Aqara devices when paired with non-Apple platforms, essentially giving them a new lease on life.

Your adventure into a fully Apple-free Aqara setup is quite inspiring. It would be great to hear more from others who are also experimenting with similar setups. Community insights and shared hacks could certainly pave the way for more innovative uses of Aqara products across different platforms. Keep the spirit of exploration alive, and thanks again for contributing your findings!