When you think of a smarthome platform, Apple HomeKit quickly comes to mind. Like Google Home, it is the on your iPhone or iPad the gathering place to control your smarthome. Fortunately, adding new devices to the Home app is child’s play. In this 101, we explain how it works.
As more and more appliances get smarter, chances are you already have one or more smarthome devices in your home by now, such as a smart dishwasher or lamp. You control these through manufacturers’ separate apps, as well as through an app such as Apple HomeKit.
Adding devices to Apple HomeKit
You use HomeKit on your iPhone or iPad through the Home app. Useful to know is that you can only add devices to the app if they are compatible with Apple’s smarthome software. You can find this information on the product packaging or on the manufacturer’s website.
To add a device on your Apple device, open the Home app and press the plus sign in the upper-right corner. Tap New accessory. Your device’s camera will now open, allowing you to scan the QR code on the product. For an iPhone 7 or newer, you can also hold the device close to your phone until a wireless icon appears.
You also control Apple HomeKit via Siri on a HomePod. (Image: Apple)
When the accessory appears on the screen, add it to your HomeKit network. Then you can add the device to a room. This can also be done at a later time. Once set up, you can control the device from the Home app or by asking Siri.
Also create rooms in the Home app on iPhone
Creating a room in Apple’s Home app on the iPhone or iPad is useful for keeping track, especially when the number of HomeKit devices in the home adds up. You create a room by tapping the plus sign and choosing Add Room. Give the room a clear name, such as “Living Room” or “Bedroom. Add a background image if necessary. Then tap Save.
To assign a HomeKit device to a room, tap the added accessory and open Settings at the bottom right of the screen. Under Room, select the room of your choice. Do this for all your devices and you’ll have a clearer overview of the smart products in your home.
