How to Add any Smart Home Device to Homekit [Step Guide]

How to Add any Smart Home Device to HomeKit

Ever wondered how to add your smart home device to HomeKit? Now, you can bring your non HomeKit compatible devices into the iOS Home App with following solutions.

Add Devices to Apple HomeKit

If  you are you looking to make your home smarter, adding devices to Apple HomeKit is a great way to do it. Let's find how.

01. Add non-HomeKit compatible smart home devices to HomeKit

02. Add HomeKit compatible smart home devices to HomeKit

Add Non-HomeKit compatible Smart Home Devices to HomeKit

If you've invested in smart home devices that aren't HomeKit compatible, you may feel limited in your ability to control your home with a single app. But don't worry, there are solutions!

In this article, we'll focus on how to add non-HomeKit compatible smart home devices to Apple HomeKit so you can enjoy a fully integrated smart home.

Let's see what are the best methods.

  1. Software Based Solutions →
  2. Hardware Based Solutions →

Software Based Solutions

Enomek - HomeKit Enabler [Editor's pick]

Have you ever worried that your most wanted smart home devices aren't compatible with HomeKit? If so here is the best solution. The amazing app called as Enomek that support to add any smart home devices to Apple HomeKit.

Step guide for Enomek App Installation

Click here to learn more about Enomek - Add Any Device to Apple HomeKit

Homebridge

Simply, Homebridge is a lightweight NodeJS server that emulates the iOS HomeKit API and also open-source software that supports hundreds of plugins. But, you need to have some coding experience to install Homebridge yourself.

Let's see how to Install Homebridge on your Mac / PC. Click here for step by step Guide →

Hardware Based Solutions

01. HOOBS

HOOBS is an improved version of Homebridge. Also, it stands for Homebridge Out Of Box System and adds some fantastic features like pre-built images. It includes a fully-assembled Raspberry Pi along with a copy of the HOOBS Homebridge server pre-installed on a microSD card. If you have any problems with installing HOOBS, Kodmy team or the HOOBS community may help you to resolve any problems.

GET HOOBS NOW

PRE-ORDER HOOBS PRO

02. Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi is the cheapest single-board computer. If you want to integrate your smart device using Raspberry Pi, you have to connect it to your home network. This computer runs on Linux and also provides a set of general purpose input and output (GPIO).

Get your Raspberry Pi today

Add HomeKit compatible Smart Home Devices to HomeKit

You can look for the "Works with Apple HomeKit" label on the device package. Follow these steps to add your device.

Step 01: Open the Home app
On every Apple device running iOS 10 or later, there is a pre-installed version of the Home app. Open the app, then choose "Add Accessory" from the top menu.

Step 2: Manually enter or scan the device's code
The app will then prompt you to manually enter or scan the device's barcode with your camera. The code is typically printed on the item itself or in the user manual.

Step 3: Follow the device-specific instructions
When the device is recognized, the Home app will prompt you to couple it with HomeKit by following the steps unique to that device. To ensure a successful pairing, carefully follow the instructions.

Step 4: Name your device and assign it to a room After the pairing is complete, you can name your device and assign it to a specific room. This will help you identify and control the device more easily within the Home app.

Step 5: Enjoy your smart home! Congratulations, you've successfully added a device to Apple HomeKit! Repeat the process for any other compatible devices you want to add, and start enjoying the convenience and flexibility of a smart home.

Step by Step Guide to add any devices to Apple HomeKit using Homebridge

Before connecting your smart device to Apple HomeKit, you need to have a computer that works with Homebridge. Here’re the options for installing Homebridge.

Install Homebridge on macOS

Before you begin – What you’ll need

01.  A computer that runs the latest version of OS

02. Terminal app

You need to have access to the terminal. So, you can copy and paste commands from this guide

03. You have to make sure that doesn’t yet have Homebridge (If you installed Homebridge previously, you want to remove any existing installation)

04. Apple Silicon / M1 devices

Step 1: Install Node.js

You’ll need to install Node.js before installing the Homebridge (Homebridge uses Node.js for running Javascript apps on a local machine). Also, you need to install other development environments such as C++or Python. (Note: Additional Homebridge plugins work properly with these development environments)

Download the latest version of Node.js- Download Node.js v16.14.0 x64 macOS Installer.

Once installed the Node.js, test whether it works or not from a terminal window using the following commands:

#test node.js is working
user@local:~# node -v 
v16.13.1
#test npm is working
user@local:~# npm -v
8.7.0

If the above commands does not show the version numbers you will have to install node.js and npm before going to the next step

Step 2: Install Homebridge and Homebridge UI

Run the following commands on the terminal window or over SSH to install Homebridge with the web interface components.

#install homebridge
user@local:~# sudo npm install -g --unsafe-perm homebridge homebridge-config-ui-x

This may take some time to install Homebridge as npm will fetch and install a few dependencies needed.

Step 3: Start Homebridge service

Once homebridge is installed, you can start the Homebridge service. Do remember! The first run takes a bit longer time as it wants to generate its initial configuration. To set up, it uses the following commands from a terminal.

#start homebridge service
user@local:~# sudo hb-service install –-user homebridge

Don’t worry! This will do all the things that are needed to set up Homebridge and the Homebridge UI as a service.

config.json will automatically create under ~/.homebridge if it does not already exist

Step 4: Log in to the Homebridge UI

Once it’s completed, you can see a list of IP addresses and you can use them to connect to the web interface. You’ll need to allow adding devices and configuring them. Also, you’ll see the default username and password.

First, log into the web interface and then use the default username and password (both admin).

Homebridge UI
Homebridge UI

If Homebridge is installed and set up to run correctly, the Homebridge UI web interface will allow you to:

  • Install Plugins
  • Remove Plugins
  • Update Plugins
  • Modify the Homebridge config.json
  • Manage aspect of your Homebridge service

Install Homebridge on Windows 10

Before you begin – What you’ll need

  1. A computer running an update-to-date version of Windows 10
  2. An account with administrator privilege

Step 1: Install Node.js

Install Node.js and other development environments such as C++or Python before adding the Homebridge to your device.

Download the newest version of Node.js using- Node.js v16.14.0 64-bit - Node.js v16.14.0 32-bit

Next, you need to check whether it works or not (open a new Node.js Command Prompt window as an administrator) using the following commands. (Search Node.js in the search bar > Right-click on Node. js command prompt > Run as administration > click yes)

#test node.js is working
user@local:~# node -v 
v16.13.1
#test npm is working
user@local:~# npm -v
8.7.0

Step 2: Install Homebridge and Homebridge UI

Run the following commands on the administrator Node.js command prompt to install Homebridge with the web interface components.

npm install -g --unsafe-perm homebridge homebridge-config-ui-x

Step 3: Start Homebridge service

To install Homebridge as a service, it uses the following commands from an administrator command prompt.

hb-service install

Once intalled the Homebridge as a service, make sure whether you give Node.js permmisions.

config.json will automatically create under ~/.homebridge if it does not already exist

Step 4: Log in to the Homebridge UI

With Homebridge UI

You can login to the Homebridge UI using the command line or using Homebridge User Interface. See how to login to the Homebridge UI

Using the command line

You can view your pairing code from a Node.js command prompt using this command:

hb-service logs

If you want to edit your config.json, you can open the $HOME\.homebridge\config.json file in a code editor. Do remember! If you have made any changes to config.json, you’ll need to restart Homebridge following commands:

hb-service stop
hb-service start

Install Homebridge on Debian or Ubuntu Linux

Before you begin – What you’ll need

  1. A Debian, Ubuntu, or Raspbian Linux machine
  2. Terminal app – You need to have access to the terminal. So, you can copy and paste commands from this guide
  3. You have to make sure that doesn’t yet have Homebridge (If you installed Homebridge previously, you want to remove any existing installation)

Step 1: Install Node.js

Now, you have to install the latest version of Node.js and additional dependencies (use following commands):

# setup repo
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_16.x | sudo bash -
# install Node.js
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs gcc g++ make python net-tools
# test node is working
node -v

Step 2: Install Homebridge and Homebridge UI

Next, you need to install Homebridge with the web interface components. Open the administrator Node.js command prompt and  run the following commands:

sudo npm install -g --unsafe-perm homebridge homebridge-config-ui-x

Step 3: Start Homebridge service

Now, you can start the Homebridge service by using following command from your terminal:

sudo hb-service install --user homebridge

Next, you need to make sure you grant Node.js permissions to access your private network.

config.json will automatically create under /var/lib/homebridge if it does not already exist

Step 4: Log in to the Homebridge UI

Let's see how to login to the Homebridge UI

Congratulations! Now, you have installed Homebridge to your device successfully. The next step is to add your smart home devices to Homebridge.

Let's have a look at the following articles describing Tuya, Ring, and myQ Device support to Apple Homekit.

How to add Tuya to HomeKit?

Once you install the Homebridge, you have to add Tuya plugins, add Homebridge to HomeKit and then you can control your Tuya device on HomeKit.

How to add Ring to HomeKit?

Now, you have installed the Homebridge. Then, you need to add Ring plugins, add Homebridge to HomeKit and then you can able to control your Ring device on HomeKit.

How to add myQ to HomeKit?

After installing Homebridge to your Mac/PC, you need to install myQ plugins, run plugins, and add Homebridge to HomeKit. So that, you can control your myQ devices on HomeKit.

How to add Alexa to HomeKit?

Further, if you want to add Alexa to HomeKit, you can find out How to use Alexa to control Apple HomeKit devices after installing Homebridge to your Mac/PC.

How to add Shelly to HomeKit?

Do you need to add your Shelly devices to Apple HomeKit? After Homebridge installation, you have to install Shelly Homebridge plugin, run and then you can control your Shelly devices on HomeKit.

How to add Roborock to Apple HomeKit

If you want to add your favourite Xiaomi Roborock smart vacuum to Homekit, you can refer our guide to add Roborock to Apple HomeKit.

How to add Tesla to Apple HomeKit?

If you're a Tesla owner, you may be wondering How to connect Tesla Car to Apple HomeKit using Homebridge.

FAQs about add any smart home devices to HomeKit

01. Can you add any smart device to Apple home?

You can easily add HomeKit-compatible smart home devices to Apple HomeKit by opening the Apple Home App and adding accessories using your iPhone or iPad.

How do I add non HomeKit devices to HomeKit? If you have non-HomeKit compatible smart home devices, you can add your smart home accessories using HomeBridge, HOOBS, Raspberry Pi, Matter, Home Assistant or any other third-party software or hardware solutions (Bridge to connect non-HomeKit compatible smart Home devices with Apple HomeKit).

02. What devices are compatible with HomeKit?

Smart thermostats: Ecobee, Honeywell Home, Sensi
Smart lighting: LIFX, Lutron, Nanoleaf, Philips Hue
Smart outlets: Eve, iDevices, Wemo
Smart locks: August, Kwikset, Schlage, Yale
Security cameras: Arlo, Eufy, Somfy
Security systems: Abode, Honeywell
Sensors: Fibaro, First Alert OneLink, iHome
Video doorbells: Logitech, Netatmo
Garage door openers: Chamberlain MyQ, LiftMaster MyQ
Air purifiers: Coway, Molekule
Humidifiers: De'Longhi

03. How do I add a smart home device to Alexa?

You can simply say "Alexa discover devices" by plugging in and powering up your smart home devices. If you want  to add smart home devices via the Amazon Alexa App, you can open the Alexa app > select devices > choose the + icon > select Add Devices > choose device type and brand > follow the on-screen prompts.

04. How do I add smart devices to Apple HomeKit?
Scan the setup QR-Code on your device to add devices to Apple HomeKit.

Other option: Hold your iPhone close to your device (isn't possible by all accessories) > the device will pop up in your screen with a button 'Connect to your home'

05. How to add your Apple TV to the Home app?

Open Settings on Apple TV > Select Users and Accounts (Make sure your name is selected under Default User and that you're signed in to iCloud with the Apple ID that you used to set up your accessories in the Home app) > Go back to Apple TV Settings > Select AirPlay and HomeKit


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