How to add Ring Devices with Apple HomeKit [Step by Step Guide]

Want to control your Ring devices with your Apple Home App or Siri voice commands? Integration between Ring and Apple products is most requested features from both users. Don't worry anymore! You're in the right place. Like many smart automation devices, Ring and Apple HomeKit can connect to a simple third-party software and hardware solutions . Let’s take a look at how to use Ring devices with Apple HomeKit.

What can you do with Ring-HomeKit integration?

You can easily control your camera stream, turn lights on/off, and trigger your alarm from the Home app with HomeKit integration for Ring devices. You can make many integrations such as Ring HomeKit camera, Ring HomeKit doorbell, Ring HomeKit Hub, Ring HomeKit secure video, and more.

• Ring Doorbell with HomeKit

Now Ring Doorbell can integrate with your HomeKit. Once you integrate, you can monitor your ring doorbell by clicking on the doorbell icon on the Home app. You will get a notification if someone rings your doorbell. It is awesome, it also includes a snapshot from the camera.

• Ring security cameras with HomeKit

It is similar to the Ring doorbell. It also works very smoothly with your HomeKit. You can get motion sensor alerts, rich notifications, and also snapshots from the camera. You can able to open a live stream from the Ring app.

• Ring Alarm with HomeKit

When integrating with HomeKit, the ring alarm works as a fantastic gadget. You can able to arm or disarm the alarm from your home app.  Also, you can set up personalized automation using your HomeKit.

• Ring Smart Lighting with HomeKit

You can use the Home app to control and trigger all Ring Smart Lighting products such as path lights, spotlights, and floodlights. Also, you can use it with your Ring camera or alarm to get protected from intruders. It is automatically triggered when you have an intruder.

Check the compatibility of your smart devices

Way to add Ring Devices to Apple HomeKit

If you are heavily invested in the Apple Ecosystem, you know that HomeKit is a great way to control your smart home devices. But unfortunately, Ring devices don’t support HomeKit because of the compatibility and security standards of Apple.

Get a truly integrated home experience, all in one app. Surprised?

It is important to get your Ring smart devices into your preffered platform, HomeKit. Thanks to the HomeKit developer community for their solutions that can integrate Ring devices to Apple HomeKit. There are two main solutions to doing it.

1. Software Solutions
2. Hardware Solutions

01. Software Solution

Enomek - HomeKit Enabler

If you want to add your smart home devices to Apple HomeKit to control your smart devices using Apple Home App and Siri voice assistant. Enomek is able to serve any smart home device to Apple HomeKit. Enomek enables adding any app on Apple HomeKit using Homebridge and HOOBS solutions.

Homebridge

Homebridge is a lightweight server and third-party software application. It is designed to unify your entire smart ecosystem under one simple control system. In other words, it is a bridge between HomeKit and the third-party application.

Check out Homebridge Guide to know more about How to use Homebridge with HomeKit.

It emulates the HomeKit API and also requests non-HomeKit smart devices. Also, it makes it possible to use non-home kit certified devices with the iOS Home app and Siri. Now, you can connect any device to HomeKit using Homebridge.

Install Homebridge on your PC

The first way is to set up Homebridge on your computer (macOS, Windows 10, Linux, and Docker). All you need to have your computer running 24/7. Also, you can install the Homebridge yourself. But, you need some technical experience to do it yourself.

You can find our step guide to add Ring Devices to Apple HomeKit using Homebridge.

Scrypted

Scrypted is a open source solution that run as a service. It provides an intermediary between different devices and major smart home echo systems, such as Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Home. This is best alternative to Homebridge. But, Scripted can bridge most of your cameras with full HomeKit secure video support.

02. Hardware Solution

1. HOOBS

HOOBS is one of the Harware-based solution that stands for Homebridge out of the box. You can convert non HomeKit devices into HomeKit compatible with HOOBS. It also can integrate many devices with HomeKit. And yeah! It is compatible with over 2000 accessories now.

[Recommended solution] It's a better option for most people because it's easy to use for anyone with no coding experience. All you need to do is plug and play.

2. Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi is a popular low-cost single board computer. If you plan on running your Raspberry Pi through WiFi, you’ll need to connect your Pi to your home network. Also, you’ll need a minimum 4GB microSD card and admin tights on a separate OS (Window, Mac, Linux) apart from the Pi (Note: To flash Homebridge onto the microSD card).

Raspberry Pi is the cheapest solution to add Ring devices into HomeKit.

How to use Ring with HomeKit? Let's see how to connect Ring to HomeKit using Homebridge.

Step by Step guide to add Ring Devices to HomeKit using Homebridge

1. Install Homebridge to your device
2. Install Ring Plugin
3. Edit the configuration file
4. Run the plugin
5. Control devices on HomeKit

Now, you can easily add your Ring device to HomeKit using Homebridge with this step guide.

01. Add Homebridge to Mac/PC

You can easily add add any device to HomeKit with a few steps. As the first step, you need to add Homebridge to your Mac or PC. Want to know how to install Homebridge on Mac or PC ? Then, you can find connect any smart home devices to HomeKit article to know about add Homebridge to Mac/PC.

02.  Install Ring Plugin

Once you have added Homebridge to your Mac/PC, you need to install the homebridge ring plugin to your computer.

• Open the Terminal on your PC
• Install the Homebridge plugin using terminal or Homebridge UI

Plugins are Node.js modules published through NPM as well as tagged with keyword homebridge. So, this plugin has a name with the prefix homebridge- such as homebridge-ring. Now, install the Ring plugin using:

npm i –g –unsafe-perm homebridge-ring

or

npm i –g homebridge-ring

Here're the steps for downloading the Ring plugin using Homebridge UI.

Step 01: Open Homebridge in your web browser (http://homebridge)

Step 02: Click on the plugin in the menu bar

Step 03: Search in the search field for Homebridge Ring as shown in the image

Step 04: Install the verified version via the install button

It takes a few minutes to install the plugin. Once the plugin is installed you have to check whether the installation is successful or not.

• log in with your Ring account (username and password) and verification will take place

• Enter the code received and click on “Verify code”

• Click on the on/off symbol in the menu bar to restart Homebridge

• Your Ring device will be visible automatically in the Home App after Homebridge has restarted

03. Edit the configuration file

You want to edit the config.json file of Homebridge before you run the plugin. Then add the Ring platform in your homebridge json file. Here, you can use homebridge-config-ui-x to do the easiest configuration which you can enter your Ring credential to get logged in. Also, the configuration screen will appear once the plugin has been installed.

Now, Ring requires the use of two-factor authentication for all accounts. To turn on the two-factor authentication, they want a special refresh token. It allows you to bypass email, password, and two-factor authentication together.

Edit ~/.homebridge/config.json, inside "platforms": [ ... ] add:

All you need to do is run the following commands to get the refresh token.

If you have installed homebridge-ring globally, you can use:

ring-auth-cli

If you don’t have installed homebridge-ring globally,

npx -p ring-client-api ring-auth-cli

After then you’ll see a refresh token after entering your information in the output.

Copy the refresh token > Open up your config file using:

ring-client-API

Remove your email and password values > add refresh token: "TOKEN FROM COMMAND ABOVE" > Restart your home automation app

Then,  do the basic configuration. (Note: Do remember! You can change the username and password but keep the existing formatting and length)

{
"platforms": [
{
"platform": "Ring",
"email": "some.one@website.com",
"password": "abc123!#",

// For 2fa accounts only.  See below for details
"refreshToken": "TOKEN GENERATED FOR 2fa ACCOUNTS",

// Optional. DO NOT INCLUDE UNLESS NEEDED.
"locationIds":
["488e4800-fcde-4493-969b-d1a06f683102", "4bbed7a7-06df-4f18-b3af-291c89854d60"],
"alarmOnEntryDelay": false,
"beamDurationSeconds": 60,
"hideLightGroups": true,
"hideDoorbellSwitch": true,
"hideCameraMotionSensor": true,
"hideAlarmSirenSwitch": true,
"cameraStatusPollingSeconds": 20,
"cameraDingsPollingSeconds": 1
}
 ]
}

04. Run the plugin

Step 1: Navigate to the directory using your Homebridge plugin (Ex: homebridge-nest)

Step 2: Run the plugin using:

homebridge -D -U ./config/ -P ./

05. Bridge to HomeKit (Adding Homebridge to iOS)

Step 1: Open the Home app on your Apple Device (iPhone or iPad)

Step 2: Then, you need to tap the Home tab and + (plus) button in the top right

Step 3: Next, Tap Add Accessory

Step 4: Scan QR code in the Homebridge UI using your iPhone or you can enter the 8-digit PIN code. (If you don’t remember PIN code, you can find code in the config.json file)

06. Control device on HomeKit

Once your smart devices have been added, you can be able to tell Siri to control them. Also, you can give a name to your device. So, Siri can easily recognize your device and control it.

Step by Step guide to add Ring device to HomeKit using HOOBS

1. Plug in the Raspberry Pi

2. Connect HOOBS to your network

3. Pair HOOBS with Homekit

4. Install the Ring plugin

5. Connect the plugin to your Ring account

HOOBS offers 3 ways to get your initial setup. So, you can do your initial setup using one of the following methods.

• Download the image and image a Micro SD card yourself
• Buy just a pre-imaged Micro SD card. So, you can plug it into an existing Raspberry Pi
• Buy a pre-configured Raspberry Pi-based device directly from them

You can Get HOOBS all in one for $319.89

HOOBS can be installed on Debian 10.10, Ubuntu 20.04, or Raspberry Pi OS (any Debian). Let's see how to install HOOBS on Raspberry Pi.

01. Plugin the Raspberry Pi

Firstly, you need to unbox your Pi, and then insert the prepared MicroSD card. Now, you can power it up. Also, you can see some instructions for setting up WiFi and connecting to the UI if you have a monitor connected.

02. Connect HOOBS to your network

Once connected to the Raspberry Pi, then you need to set up HOOBS on your network. If you have used a wired Ethernet connection, HOOBS already takes care of network configuration. But, you just connect it to temporary Wi-Fi. Do following steps

• Plug the HOOBS box into an outlet
• Connect HOOBS to your router with included plug and micro USB cable
• Check for the Wi-Fi network ‘HOOBS’ on your iPhone.
• Once connected, prompted to select your Wi-Fi network
• Enter the passphrase (Note: Now, configure the HOOBS box on your network)
• Next, fire up a web browser and If you are on a Mac open your web browser to connect to the HOOBS device and then go to http://hoobs.local
• After a few minutes, you’ll get the HOOBS startup screen and then enter your username and password to create an account (You can see a box to set up an administrator account and password)

03. Pair HOOBS with HomeKit

Then, you’ll see the dashboard and as the next step, you want to add your new bridge to HomeKit before adding the ring plugin.

• You can see the QR code on the dashboard
• Go to the Apple Home app
• Add a new accessory in the Home App
• Scan the QR code with your phone camera
• Now, you can check whether add the list of hubs and bridges in the home app
• Go to the Home icon in the top left
• Then, scrolling down to Home settings
• After then, open the Hubs and Bridges section
• Finally, you can assign your HOOBS device to a room

04. Install plugins (Adding your first plugin)

You must know what accessory you want to add first. So, you can search for the Ring plugin in the plugin section.

There’re two plugins namely Accessories and Platforms

Accessories – it is a device that can be directly controlled by HomeKit. But, it needs you to add individual devices in the accessories section after installing the plugin.

Platform – It requires communication via the vendor’s web service. But, This plugin won’t require anything more to be added once configured in HOOBS

• Once connected to HomeKit, go to the HOOBS dashboard

• Click on the Plugin icon on the toolbar

• Search “Ring” plugin in the search field (Enter the accessory or brand that you’re looking for in the search bar)

• You just click on the install button (HOOBS certified logo above it)

• You can see this installed plugin under the plugin section

05. Connect the plugin to the Ring account

• Click the ‘three dots’ menu of HOOBS

• Then, you can click on the terminal

• Type the following commands and press enter :

npx -p ring-client-api ring-auth-cli

• Now, you’ll see a prompt and then enter your Ring email and password

• You’ll get a two-factor code (Enter into the prompt)

• After that, generate a long string in double quotes and copy it

• Click the plugin menu icon and then click configuration
• Now, you can paste a long string into the Refresh Token
• Finally, save changes

06. Add Ring Accessory to HomeKit

Once added to HomeKit, you want to find it under “bridges” in the Home setting

(Home icon > Home setting..> Select Home > Hubs and Bridge > Bridge > Click on the bridge > show device setting

• Add Homebrdige to iPhone
• Open the Home App on Apple Device
• Select Add accessory
• Tap can’t scan or don’t have a code
• Then, you can select your HomeBridge
• Display (uncertified Accessory)
• Select Add anywhere
• Manually enter HomeKit set up code
• Add Homebridge devices to your home

Now, you can control your Ring device with HomeKit using HOOBS.

Instead, if you own myQ devices, you may be interested in learning How to add myQ devices to Apple HomeKit . Let's see how.

Is HOOB safe?

In my opinion, as long as it’s run on a secure piece of hardware, Homebridge is safe to use. Also, HOOB is a dedicated out-of-the-box piece of kit. It should be very safe as it uses HomeKit level security. However, it’s running on your own Raspberry Pi or other device, vulnerabilities may be introduced by other programs.

Step by Step guide to add Ring Devices to HomeKit using Raspberry Pi

Before you begin – What you’ll need

• Supported Raspberry Pi Models
• A 4GB or larger SD card
• A Windows, macOS, or Linux computer with an SD reader

Let's see Steps by Step Guide to add Ring devices to HomeKit

1. Download and Flash to SD card

2. Connect to Network

3. Manage Homebridge

4. Connect to HomeKit

5. Install and configure the plugin

Here's the easy steps guide to add Ring devices into HomeKit using Raspberry Pi.

01. Download and Flash to SD card

No sign up required to use Homebridge Raspberry Pi Image (It is completely free). Raspberry Pi imager is the easiest way to flash the Homebridge Raspberry Pi Image to your SD card.

Step 01: Download the newest version of Raspberry Pi Image and open the Raspberry Pi Imager Application. Download Raspberry Pi

Step 02: Next, you need to click the choose OS button

Step 03: Scroll down and select the “other specific purpose OS” category as shown in the image bellow

Step 04: Select Homebridge, then choose the latest Homebridge image

Step 05: After then, click choose Storage and select your SD card

Step 06: Finally, click the write button

02. Connect to Network

You can connect your Pi using Ethernet or Wi-Fi. If you want to connect Raspberry Pi using Ethernet, no need to do the additional configuration. All you need to do is power on your smart device for the first time.

But, if you have decided to connect your Raspberry Pi using Wi-Fi, follow these steps

1. Power on your device (without an Ethernet cable attached)

2. Scan for new Wi-Fi network (Use your mobile phone)

3. Connect to the hotspot named Homebridge WiFi Setup

4. After a few moments open the captive portal and then you can connect the Raspberry Pi to your local Wi-Fi network.

03. Manage Homebridge

Using the Homebridge user interface, you can install, remove, update the plugin, and modify the config.json file of Homebridge. (Default username and password is both admin)

If you’re a Mac user, you want to access the user interface via http://homebridge.local. Otherwise, if you’re a Windows user, you need to find the IP address of your Raspberry Pi. Follow these steps

To find the IP address

• First, you have to log in to your router and find the “connected devices” or “dhcp client’ page
• You can use your iPhone to access http://homebridge.local (You can find the IP address under System Information once you login homebridge using the default username and password)
• You need to download the Fing app for iOS or Android to scan your network
• Once finished booting the IP address will be displayed on the attached screen, if you plug a monitor into your Raspberry Pi

04. Connect to HomeKit

Step 01: Open the Home app on your Apple device

Step 02: Tap the home tab and plus (+)

Step 03: Tap Add Accessory, then scan the QR code

If you add accessories for the first time, you may get a message saying Additional Setup Required. So then, when you add a plugin, it appears in the Home App without any permission.

You can buy Raspberry Pi via the link below,

Get Raspberry Pi for $148.94

Best Ring HomeKit Bridge supported Devices 2023

01. Ring Smart Lighting

Ring Smart Lighting is a great way to lighting up your yard with Add motion-activated sensor. You can also group Ring Smart Lights together to brighten up a small area. As well as you can make make your whole yard shine whenever one light detects motion.

KEY FEATURES

• Easy installation
• Motion Activated Notification
• Weather resistant

SPECIFICATIONS

• Power Type : 4 D-cell batteries Spotlight
• Lighting : 400 Lumens
• Motion Detection : Adjustable motion detection
• Approximate Battery Life : 1 year under normal use
• Auto Shut-off Time : Adjustable via Ring App

02. Ring Outdoor Smart Plug with Ring Bridge

You can control your existing outdoor lights or appliances from anywhere with this Outdoor Smart Plug.Aslo, you can easily connect Outdoor Smart Plug to Ring Bridge to enable customizable smart controls in the Ring app and sync with other select Ring Smart Lights, Ring doorbells, cameras, and select Alexa-enabled devices.

KEY FEATURES

• Control your existing outdoor lights
• Customizable smart controls in the Ring app

SPECIFICATIONS

• Power input: 120VAC, 60Hz
• Power output: 120 VAC, 60Hz
• Maximum loads across both outlets: 15A; ½ HP motor load, 1875 watt (resistance)
• Operating conditions: -4°F - 122°F (-20°C – 50°C)

03. Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2

Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2 is the best doorbell from Ring. This is an upgraded version of previous one. It has 3D motion detection that lets you customize motion zones so you can detect people at or near your door.

KEY FEATURES

• Two-way talk with audio
• 3D motion detection
• Bird's eye view

SPECIFICATIONS

• Video Resolution: 1536p HD+
• Field of View: 150 degrees
• Power Source: Standard doorbell, Ring plug-in adapter, or Ring hardwired transformer
• Brand: Ring
• Hub Required: No
• Integrations: Alexa
• Connectivity: Wireless

Yeah! You can enhance your experience with Ring + HomeKit. Using Ring HomeKit bridge, you can add Ring Alarm with HomeKit, Ring Door View with HomeKit, Ring Floodlight with HomeKit and more.

Now, you know how to add Ring Devices to Apple HomeKit, instead check out How to add Tuya Devices to Apple HomeKit to know more about Tuya HomeKit.

FAQs about the Ring Apple HomeKit

01. Is ring homekit compatible

The answer is still no. But, you can integrate your Ring devices to Apple HomeKit using Homebridge or Scrypted. There're many options for getting Homebridge such as HOOBS and Raspberry Pi.

02. Where is homeKit on my iphone?

You can access to the Apple HomeKit via the Home App on your iPhone or iPad, or on your Apple TV.