What is HomeKit? | The Basics of Building a Smart Home With Apple's HomeKit
Video Overview & Insights
This is the basics of HomeKit. HomeKit is Apple's smart home platform that allows you to control your smart home devices from any of your Apple products. Create automations, scenes, or even share your smart home with family. In this video we'll cover all the basics:
UPDATE: Watch the updated (2025) Apple Home 101 Series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSyPtAY5VFr1NF_OgtaNoV67cT2YynuOr
Thanks for watching! If you have any HomeKit questions, drop them below or hit me up on Instagram @ShaneCreates and I'll do my best to help!
UPDATE: Watch the updated Apple Home 101 Series here (2025 update): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSyPtAY5VFr1NF_OgtaNoV67cT2YynuOr
0:00 Introduction
I have Apple TV 4K. The Home app doesn’t seem to be aware of it. There is no indication of what I should do next to make use of any of the features. So far I’m totally unimpressed. It doesn’t just work
0:56 HomeKit 101 Series
1:30 Overview
Hi, how do I connect 2.4G devices to a 5G router? Most devices on Amazon are 2.4G. Thanx.
2:13 WHAT IS HOMEKIT?
3:42 HomeKit Privacy
I'm impressed how many devices do you have. P.S. I see now after 4 years, Apple has also introduced Thread support into Apple TV and rumors are going on that new hub will be released by the end of 2025.
4:54 HOMEKIT HUBS
6:13 TYPES OF HOMEKIT DEVICES
Sir how would I get a smart outlet to turn on when my nest 4th gen thermostat matter edition turns on and then turn off when my hvac turns off? Thank you.
6:57 Bridge Devices
8:02 Bluetooth Devices
Is there a way where you can have multi automations using HomeKit . At the moment have automation using Aqara for night notifications and then Apple home for when we are away from the home
8:43 Wifi Devices
9:30 Thread Devices
So I'm confused. I have an Ipad and Iphone. I still need a bridge hub to use the Hue bulbs? I have a small place and my current smart bulb system works fine. Not sure how they actually connect but they do work with siri shortcuts. Been using treatlife smart plugs and feit bulbs.
All I really want to do is have my lighting transition from daylight temperature during the day to warm white at night automatically. PS I do have a bulb socket splitter because smart bulbs tend to be on the lower power side so I have two one hundred watt equivalent bulbs in each socket controlled by a smart plug. I have no idea if two of these bulbs near each other will cause interference.
10:44 USING THE HOME APP
11:00 Adding a New Accessory
Thank you so much for putting me on!
11:26 The Home & Rooms Tabs
12:10 Create a Scene
Hey, great info video! I’m wondering what you use as a smart screen you had on the wall to utilize the HomeKit app? Thanks!
13:17 Create an Automation
15:17 The Power of HomeKit
Hi Shane!
Great channel and content! I’m glued!!!!
Have you ever reviewed SONOFF products? Especially the Presence Sensor? They obviously a cheaper accessory and know you get what you pay for but being more at the budget end is this something you have reviewed in the past for newbies starting out with HK?
Resources:
List of HomeKit Accessories: https://www.apple.com/ios/home/accessories/
I dont understand. If I run Home Kit on my iPhone and I leave, doesnt that shut down my HomeKit for the people still at home?
The Home App: https://www.apple.com/ios/home/
Apple Privacy: https://www.apple.com/privacy/features/
What if you have no home kit products
'Privacy By Design' Article: https://link.medium.com/4nAaz811Qcb
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Over 2 minutes in and I don't know what homekit is. Unacceptable.
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I thought google home was much better because it supported more devices, but they have done NOTHING to their app in over 4 years I have had it. They dont even have automations other than time and sun. I hate google home.
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Thank you :)
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🎥 HomeKit 101: Getting Started
How can I make my HomePod mini to respond only for me or 2 persons? Thank you!
https://geni.us/GettingStarted
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V nice information. I have started with some smart switches and plugs and they are different manufacturers. Was looking on information to put them all under one app.
🎥 Starting a HomeKit Smart Home From Scratch!
https://youtu.be/YI3RDqhnjIU
I can tell you what Homekit isn’t… It isn’t supporting gradient light strips??? Come on it’s 2024!! I’m deeply disappointed.
🎥Smart Apartment Setup: HomeKit Edition
https://youtu.be/UKqxmP7aYqo
Great video! I wish my automations worked like that. I tried so many things and my phone just doesn't seem to notice when I leave home because the things just won't turn off when I leave. So annoying!
🎥 Top 10 Siri Commands for HomeKit (That You May Not Know)
https://youtu.be/__ASYvFvr3I
If you get hoobs for Apple Home can you delete the apps to all the devices since they’ll by in the Home app?
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HomeKit products that I use and recommend:
Great video, but it would have been helpful to include a section on Z-Wave integration. After years of people buying Z-Wave smart switches, It's by far the most common type of protocol in homes. It's not even close. Perhaps another video?
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How do I share the VOCOlinc plugs in app with my wife so she can control them with her phone? When I try to send an invitation it says it cannot send
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@ShaneCreates Hey love your work. I am trying to automate my apartment that I sometimes Airbnb. I want it so that HomeKit will turn off A/Cs via Sensibo remote when Aqara sensors detect doors and windows to rooms are left open. I think I succeeded. However if guests turn on the A/Cs when the sensors were already open to begin with it doesn’t seem to work. I would prefer to have it so that If the sensors are open they A/Cs will not turn on,
and then if they are opened while the A/Cs are on they will turn off with a delay. I’d love if you could do a video on this, I’m sure so many other people will find it useful as well.
Thanks
#HomeKit #SmartHome #AppleHomeKit
Clear explanation of the basics of HK! Great job. Question: what model is the device seen on the wall running the home app (early in the vid)?
More User Perspectives
Hey Shane, Great info for an Apple Home newbie. I have used many smart home devices in the past but am looking at the Kasa KS200 smart switch which is Apple Home compatible. If I understood your video correctly, I don't need a HomeKit hub to have Siri control it if I am at home. Is that correct? The video implies that I would only need the hub if I want to control it from somewhere else. IOW, if my phone is on my home WiFi, then Siri will work. Do I have that right?
@ticktock11yShane, Is there a way to get an Echo Clock to work with HomeKit?
@LarryCullenIs iOS 17 for HomePod available I have developer beta and my HomePods won’t update in a new subscriber to you
@toddjasinski5014Man thank you so much for this video. I am very new to smart homes and I needed this tutorial to wrap my head around concepts such as automation and scenes. I've watched other videos but nothing really takes you through a flow of adding a device, adding a new scene and creating a new automation from scratch. Really appreciate this video man🙏
@cyrilstephen5646You have a very bad white noise in your microphone.
@abhimanyusinghbhati1896Here's hoping you will migrate to Home Assistant and skip the crapple stuff!
@rogerjakobssonvery good explain
@terencewu228Do you have to have a iPhone to use home kit? I have a MacBook
@LTULOfficialThank you for such a great explanation for a newbie like me.
@mfanizzi66This was fantastic. Excellent, simple laid out so easy for newbies like me!
@my3sneezeswhat a legendary video! Thank you!
@joshuabenton3785Can an iPhone 12 or 13 be used as a Home Kit hub?
@axxiom20001Help! I am trying to have the Apple Music app open and start a playlist when I connect to my trucks Bluetooth. I can’t figure it out. Someone please help. I have the iPhone 14 pro max.
@8052MikeyDGreat video helped me alot. What is the model of the screen on the wall
@VishalPatel-uc2jsSadly I bought 24 Door/Window Sensors. I installed the first on my three outside doors. Only one of them would actually work.The sensor and magnetic are lligned up per the instructions. I also have a Cove alarm system on the same doors. The molding around the two doors that don't work aren't anything crazy and are within the limits per the instructions. As a result I am retiring sensors, switching and a hub to Amazon as this company is not was is what is claimed. I'm a very tech person so my experience will not only kill me from using the product but also your channel.
@dennypowell3902Shane. I was using Controller for home kit per your video and I somehow accidentally deleted my Home. It disappeared from MAC phone and iPad. I recreated it (took hours) and my Mac and iPad still do not find and home and I just get an error message or a stuck blue screen. I tried deleting the app. Logging out and back into iCloud. I even reset my iPad and started over. Same problem. I am besidfemyself as I made great progress with your video on Hoops to connect my ring devices and was in process of creating some notification alerts for temperature sensors on Controller when this happened. Apple is no help, I am not sure they even support this app. Canyon help?
@danecoyerShane, this is a great video. It's very helpful, you included a lot of basic information in a relatively short amount of time. I look forward to watching your remaining videos on the subject. Thank you very much.
My HomeKit structure needs a complete redesign. I didn't really know what I was doing or how it would evolve when I initially set it up.
Shane, I have finally decided, after a long procrastination period to plunge into the Smart Home arena. My question simply is this, and I think you touched on it briefly, "Do I and my wife have to set up independently on our iPhones or how can we set up together? After we set up how can we give access to our son who lives close by (by the way he is an Android guy and not Apple)?
@cb58016So Shane enjoy your videos and have a question so your saying that my iPad could be the hub but how do I input my ring and Alexa to the home kit
@georgeB683-n7xShane - You’re videos have been a great help with learning home automation. Thanks for all the knowledge sharing, great content! Question about scenes: I have a scene set for a mood in a room and not sure what to do when I’m done. My scene is for yoga so it dims lights, turns on a salt lamp (smart outlet), real zen like :). When I’m done with yoga and want lights at full brightness again and salt lamp off what’s the best way to return to that default? Do I need a scene for the default scenario? I thought I might be able to turn the scene off but that doesn’t do the trick. What’s the proper way to do that?
@espring375when a non apple app asked for location can it work with turned off?
@Stevestevestevesteve-q3mHave you tried using Netimo weather stations in Homekit?
@Stevestevestevesteve-q3mHello 👋 can you help me get my arlo connected
@michellepineda5468Thank you! So many tech content producers assume most people have a basic understanding of the tech gadget or topic they’re featuring. I’m a 58 year old who just decided to get up to speed with all things tech. I’m learning ChatGPT, LiDAR technology, Smart Homes and everything under the smart home umbrella. Thanks to the YouTube and TikTok algorithm I’m being fed a constant diet of all things tech, that’s how you showed up.
Thank you!