Want to start using Apple's HomeKit home automation for iPhone and iPad? Here's everything you need to know!
Just getting started with HomeKit or recently purchased your first HomeKit-enabled accessory? Awesome! You've just bought into one of the most secure, most easy-to-use connected home platforms — especially if you're using an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad. Now, while Apple's take on the connected home is designed to be simple and secure, it can still be a little daunting. That's why we've put together this guide: to give you all the information you'll need (and then some!) to set up and use HomeKit-enabled accessories and apps.
Don't worry, you'll be controlling your home with Siri and the iOS Home app in no time!
How HomeKit works
What the heck is HomeKit and how does it work? Fair question. When you buy a connected home accessory that works with Apple HomeKit, you're buying a product that's been tested by Apple for both security and functionality. HomeKit is a framework that connects your home automation products and lets you control them with your voice, via Siri, and your taps, via the Home app for iOS.
Here's an example: Say you buy Elgato's Eve Room, a HomeKit-enabled product that monitors a room's air quality, temperature, and humidity. After you perform an initial setup process, Apple's HomeKit framework securely connects the accessory to your iOS devices and lets you access its sensors (air quality, temperature, and humidity) in HomeKit-enabled apps and via Siri.
You can learn more about how HomeKit operates here:
Should you use HomeKit?
HomeKit has improved quite a bit since its introduction in 2014; at this point I can absolutely recommend going all-in on a HomeKit-enabled home.
Serenity Caldwell's original thoughts on HomeKit
After four months with HomeKit, I can say that while I love it, it's definitely not perfect: HomeKit accessories only just started arriving in 2015, and the framework is just two years old. As such, there are still plenty of bugs to be fixed and kinks to work out in the system. Siri doesn't always work; Bluetooth-based accessories can't update without a device nearby to check their status; and Wi-Fi based accessories all require different bridges—which leads to a lot of bridges in your network room.
Would I use HomeKit to run my door locks? Not yet—it's still a little too finicky for my taste. But for lights, plugs, and thermostats, the service is great. When HomeKit does work, it's downright magical, and when it doesn't, well... the accessories I mentioned above also all have manual control options. So it doesn't outright break anything; you just go back to living in the status quo switch world of before. Four months in, I have around 85 percent reliability with my HomeKit devices, and I'm only seeing Siri's response rate and connectivity increase as time goes on.
Is HomeKit worth it if you're willing to suffer the occasional early adopter bug? Absolutely. Considering that you can pick up a HomeKit-enabled plug for just $30 to start your collection, there's no huge monetary buy-in; Apple's emphasis on the security aspect also elevates the home automation service above fellow competitors like Wink and WeMo. And recent support from longtime home automation players like Philips Hue makes it even easier to drop some cash to play in the HomeKit ecosystem.
Ultimately, it'll still be a few years before I think we'll see HomeKit really grab mass attention, but it's a ripe playground for early adoption and experimentation. Scenes let you set up complex actions, triggerable by a phrase to Siri; Triggers offer even more control, letting you set up action- and time-based events so that you have to do as little fiddling with switches and Siri as possible.
For me, HomeKit is a blast—even with the occasional bug or two—and I can't wait to see where it's going in the future.
HomeKit accessories: What's available and our reviews
Looking for HomeKit-enabled accessories to add to your home? Wondering if that newly announced smart dishwasher is a good choice? Find out which accessories work with Apple HomeKit and our reviews of some of the best HomeKit-enabled accessories on the market.
- Here are all the HomeKit devices you can buy
- Perfect HomeKit gifts for everyone you know!
- Best HomeKit Accessories for renters
- Automate your Christmas lights with Siri and HomeKit!
- Review: Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat
- Review: Philips Hue Lights
How to set up your HomeKit accessories
Once you've gotten a HomeKit accessory or two, you'll want to set them up with your house. Here's our complete guide to hooking your accessories up to HomeKit; adding rooms, zones, and scenes; and sharing your HomeKit access with guests and family members.
- How to set up your accessories with HomeKit
- How to set your favorite scenes and accessories in Home app
- How to adjust notifications and status for your HomeKit accessories
- How to add rooms, zones, and scenes to your HomeKit house
- How to add users to your HomeKit home
How to control your HomeKit accessories with apps and Siri
The best part of Apple's HomeKit framework is being able to control all your apps in one place. Here's how you can use Siri and third-party apps to truly become the master of your HomeKit house.
- How to use Siri with your HomeKit accessories
- The Home app is the program Apple should have shipped with HomeKit
How to access your HomeKit accessories outside of your home
Want to change your lights while you're on vacation? Here's what you need to know about HomeKit and remote access.
Troubleshooting HomeKit
Having trouble setting up your HomeKit system? Here's our full list of troubleshooting tips and recommendations.
- How to transfer your old Hue lights to your new HomeKit bridge
- How to troubleshoot your HomeKit accessories
More helpful HomeKit links
If you still have questions about HomeKit or want to chat with some fellow HomeKit owners, check out our HomeKit forums and our other HomeKit articles!
Reader comments
HomeKit: The ultimate guide to Apple home automation
"Apple's emphasis on the security aspect also elevates the home automation service above fellow competitors like Wink and WeMo."
How is HomeKit more secure than Belkins WeMo offerings?
Read Rene's explainer linked above for more detail, but it essentially requires encrypted Wi-Fi or Bluetooth transmissions for any home data.
Nice NES collection.
Have read every one of your home kit blogs. By far the best resource I have found on the subject. Someone who is truly leading / bleeding edge helping the rest of us to not make as many mistakes. Thanks
I have most of those NES games! ;-)
I think it's great that the Mobile Nations sites bring a quirky humor to their photo shoots! There was an Android Central article that had a Virtual Boy in the background of the pic for absolutely no reason (That's something I don't have!) I love it! Makes me wonder what will be next! :-D
Hey, I am just getting into HomeKit. I have a question. Do you have any 'scenes' set up that have both philips hue lights and lutron switches involved? I have the philips lights and i want to add a string of christmas lights with the lutron plug-in dimmer. If i say "hey siri, set the movie scene" will she change the hue lights and the lutron? Is this something you have tried? I've been reading your posts and it sort of seems like it will work. but i'm a little skeptical yet. Thanks for your help!
I can't find the answer to these issues I have with HomeKit:
1. Is there an away mode/scene to simulate someone in the house? I can't find any randomization feature, and Google searches about "HomeKit" and "away" yield results talking about the Apple TV or iPad allowing out-of-home access to HomeKit.
2. How well can Bluetooth low-energy HomeKit devices (as opposed to WiFi connected HomeKit devices) connect and work, especially if you have many that are more than 100 feet away or separated by walls? I see this as a major issue if you want to deploy HomeKit devices more than a small radius away from your Apple TV.