Taking control
Set up devices and sort access from Siri or the Control Centre
The number of HomeKit-supported devices is growing all the time – with lights, security cameras and door locks to name just a few.
However, what’s available varies by country. To find out about the different categories, makes and models in the UK, go to bit.ly/hkacc.
To set up a HomeKit-compatible accessory, sign in to iCloud (in Settings) with your Apple ID and turn on iCloud Keychain. Then, open the Home app and tap Add Accessory (or +). When you see the accessory appear on screen, tap it. When asked if you want to ‘Add accessory to Network’, tap Allow. Use your iPhone or iPad’s camera to scan the eight-digit HomeKit code or the QR code on the device. (If you have an iPhone 7 or later running iOS 11, and your smart home device has a sideways, Wi-Fi-like icon on it, simply hold your iPhone near the accessory.) lights down low and adjusting the volume on your HomePod when you want to listen to some music. The Home app also allows you to group devices together, so you could turn all your downstairs lights off at the same time.
Scenes do have limitations, though. They’re not automatic, so you still have to activate them yourself, and they tend to work best with devices, such as lights and thermostats, that have a simple On/Off switch. If you want to take your smart home further, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and take a look at the Automations feature in the Home app.
Home is where the hub is
If you look at the Home app on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll see an icon at the bottom of the Next, add information – including name, location and type – tap Next, then Done.
Once you’ve added accessories, you can create rooms, zones and scenes. Note that some accessories, such as Philips Hue lighting sets, require additional steps in their companion app to ensure they have the latest firmware installed.
You can control accessories quickly and easily using Siri or Control Centre. If accessing them from Control Centre, note that you can only see the first nine that you’ve marked as favourites in the Home app; if you have more than nine favourites there, reorder them to ensure the nine you want to appear in Control Centre are listed first: tap Home in the bottom bar, tap Edit, drag the accessories into your desired order and then tap Done. screen labelled Automations. Automations only work if you have another Apple device set up to act as a home hub. You can use an Apple TV (current or 4th generation), or most iPads that are capable of running iOS 11, but this is where Apple’s HomePod really comes in.
Once your home hub is set up, you can then create automations that provide far greater control than simple scenes. You can start by scheduling your automations for a particular time of day, so that your heating and lights automatically turn on or off at the right time, without you needing to activate those scenes yourself. Automations can also be set to trigger in response to a particular event, such as a motion sensor that detects a window opening and then turns on all the lights so that your security camera can catch the culprit.
The latest version of the Home app adds a number of new features, such as the ability to monitor the location of your iPhone – and those of other family members – and trigger automations whenever people arrive or leave home. Imagine having your lights, heating, kettle and music starting up automatically as soon as you get home in the evening. Additionally, you can use geofencing to set a perimeter distance, so that the heating comes on when you’re a mile away from home, making sure everything is warm and cosy by the time you actually walk in through the door.