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HomeKit

1,085 'HomeKit' stories June 2014 - January 2019
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HomeKit is Apple's home automation framework that lets you control connected accessories from your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, HomePod, and Siri.

Your home at your command.

What is HomeKit / Apple Home?

Along with several other new APIs for developers, Apple announced HomeKit in June 2014, which allows all home automation accessories/devices to work together in harmony with iOS. The API allows home automation developers to centralize all home automation without needing separate apps to access each device’s specific features. These devices include locks, lights, cameras, doors, thermostats, plugs, switches, and more.

HomeKit allows for secure pairing with devices and the ability to control individual devices. It also makes it possible to group several home automation devices into scenes that allow for easier control of any automation device in specific situations. One of the coolest features available with HomeKit is the ability to control any home automation accessory with Siri based on certain commands or scenes previously configured with these devices.

In 2016, Apple introduced a new Home app that came with a modern look, relatively easy-to-use controls, and access to accessories and scenes from anywhere on iOS 10. Apple’s new built-in Home app arrived on the iPhone’s Home screen, plus you can access a ton of functions from the Lock screen or anywhere on iOS from the new Control Center once you have a HomeKit accessory set up.

In 2018, Apple released the HomePod. It was a way to interact with your connected home devices through Siri using a standalone device.

In 2020, Apple announced that tvOS 14 would gain access to the Home app. iOS 14 is also bringing improvement to the Home app UI.

HomeKit Secure Video

With iOS 13, Apple announced HomeKit Secure Video.

Footage from home security cameras contains your most personal and sensitive data. With HomeKit Secure Video, activity detected by supported cameras is privately analyzed by your home hub using on‑device intelligence to determine if people, pets, or cars are present. When important activity is detected, you and anyone you share your Home app with will receive a rich notification that lets you view the clip right from the Lock Screen. Recorded video is available to view for ten days from the Home app. It’s securely stored for free in supported iCloud accounts and doesn’t count against your storage limit.

While the rollout has been slow, Logitech, Arlo, Netatmo, and Eufy are among the early standouts. With recent privacy issues with Ring, HomeKit Secure Video is likely to continue to grow in popularity. One key benefit with Secure Video is that it works with your existing iCloud storage (200GB and up plan), so you don’t have an extra monthly fee for storage.

HomeKit Router

HomeKit Router was also announced with iOS 13, but it wasn’t released until early 2020. The idea behind the feature is you can give granular control to smart home enabled devices to control where on the internet they can reach.

eero was the first company to roll out support in for HomeKit Router.

With Apple HomeKit, eero gives you even more protection of your HomeKit accessories and an easy way to manage what they are allowed to communicate with in your home and through the internet.

There are three levels of security Apple offers for accessories paired with HomeKit routers:

  • Restrict to Home: Most secure. Your accessory can interact only with HomeKit through your Apple devices. The accessory won’t connect to the Internet or any local devices, so any third-party services, like firmware updates, might be blocked.
  • Automatic: Default security. Your accessory can communicate with HomeKit and connections recommended by its manufacturer.
  • No Restriction: Least secure. This setting bypasses the secure router and allows your accessory to interact with any device in your network or Internet-based service.

How Do You Use HomeKit?

Homekit app

HomeKit devices can be controlled from iPad, iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and HomePod. A 4th generation Apple TV (or newer) is an essential Apple smart home device as it acts as a bridge over iCloud to allow access to your devices when away from home.

9to5Mac’s Bradley Chambers does a regular column about the “Apple Home” lifestyle in his HomeKit Weekly column.

Developer demos what will be possible with HomeKit-connected AirPlay 2 Smart TVs

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Jan 25 2019 - 4:57 am PT
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Apple surprised announced its new HomeKit and AirPlay Smart TV initiative at CES earlier this month, with the first official compatible TVs launching in the spring. As we reported last night, iOS 12.2 includes the necessary foundations to support these new features.

Developer Khaos Tian hacked the HomeKit protocol to simulate adding a smart TV accessory to the Home app. He shared some screenshots and videos of these features ‘in action’ …


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HomeKit Weekly: VOCOlinc’s FlowerBud combines a Siri-controlled diffuser with a cool mood lamp

Avatar for Zac Hall Jan 23 2019 - 9:41 am PT
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VOCOlinc is a smart home company focused on HomeKit accessories like affordable light strips and the multi-plug power strip. VOCOlinc’s lineup includes the $59 FlowerBud smart diffuser, which is the first and only diffuser that works with Apple HomeKit. FlowerBud lets you burn scented oils to make your home smell like your favorite scent, and the smart diffuser includes a built-in mood lamp. Both the diffuser and mood lamp work with HomeKit and Siri, too, which means Home app and voice control plus much more.


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Controlling iRobot’s Roomba vacuum with Siri, no HomeKit required

Avatar for Zac Hall Jan 18 2019 - 12:02 pm PT
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siri roomba

Robot vacuums remains one obvious category HomeKit should support in the future. HomeKit support would bring voice control for vacuums through Siri, app control through the Home app and Control Center, and clean up scheduling through automation — all in the same app you manage other smart home accessories.

Even without HomeKit support, you can build your own Siri control for Wi-Fi-enabled iRobot Roomba vacuums using MacStories‘ very helpful guide for connecting IFTTT (If This Then That) triggers to Apple’s Shortcuts app on iOS 12. Here’s my Siri-controlled robot vacuum experience and best practice recommendations:


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Smart Home Diary: Let’s talk automation and scenes

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Jan 16 2019 - 6:04 am PT
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smart home automation

One recurring theme I’ve seen in comments on my various Smart Home Diary pieces is the view expressed by some that a truly smart home ought to be automated. That pressing on-screen buttons on an iPhone does not equate to a smart home, only automation does.

I have some sympathy for this view. ‘Anything that can be automated should be automated’ is something of a mantra for me. But automation isn’t the whole picture, and I’d like to explain why I hold that view …


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Opinion: Should Apple follow Xiaomi, and start building more smart home devices on its own?

Avatar for Cam MacMurchy Jan 11 2019 - 8:28 am PT
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Apple’s HomeKit seemed to be the star of the show at the Consumer Electronics Show this year, with a wide range of home-based gadgets — TVs, ceiling fans, outdoor sensors, light panels, a screen-based hub, 4K security cameras, thermostats and more — making headlines.

The HomeKit ecosystem is growing, and it looks like prices may even begin inching downward as well — but that’s not enough, and not fast enough either. As Bradley Chambers wrote in an opinion piece, Apple is leaving a lot of potential on the table by relying solely on third parties to create home-based gadgets.


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Hands-on with U by Moen Smart Shower’s HomeKit integration

Avatar for Michael Steeber Jan 8 2019 - 9:38 pm PT
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Lifestyle fixture company Moen launched its U by Moen Smart Shower back in 2017 as a push into the smart home space. While the shower system originally shipped with an iOS app to allow users to customize their shower experience and save presets, HomeKit support was absent. At CES 2019, Moen announced it will be updating the fixture with not only HomeKit support, but Alexa Routines as well. We took a hands-on look at how the integration will work when it launches.


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Lutron introducing Alexa-compatible fan speed controller that works with existing fans, no HomeKit at launch

Avatar for Zac Hall Jan 8 2019 - 1:16 pm PT
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Update: Lutron has added that while HomeKit support won’t be available at launch, it does plan to add support in the future.

As part of CES 2019, Lutron has officially unveiled its new fan speed controller, a smart wall switch that replaces your basic on/off switch and works with existing ceiling fans. Fan speed controller adds smart home control that gives you remote access from Lutron’s iOS app and support for scheduling actions and automation.


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LG bringing AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support with Siri and Home app functionality to its TVs this year

Avatar for Michael Potuck Jan 7 2019 - 9:01 am PT
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Samsung was the first manufacturer to announce AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support coming to its TVs yesterday. Since then Vizio also shared that built-in support for Apple’s ecosystem will be arriving with its SmartCast TVs this year. Now, LG has confirmed its plans to integrate AirPlay 2 and HomeKit with its televisions at CES 2019.


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