One app for your home: Apple HomeKit

With Apple HomeKit, you can connect and control all your compatible HomeKit devices with only one app. Using the Home app, you can make your living space more comfortable by creating scenes like "home" or "good night" with fully automated schedules. Thanks to Siri you can also go hands-free and control your smart devices using only voice commands. Experience all the benefits of a smart home system with Apple HomeKit:

How does Apple HomeKit work?

Create Scenes

Connect your devices to the app and create different Scenes which can be controlled with just one command. For example, you can switch off the lights, turn down the thermostat and lock the doors all with a single tap. And all without having to operate each device individually.

Use from the road

Combined with Apple TV or an iPad on the same Wifi network, plus the Home app, you can use your smart devices while on the go with Apple TV acting as the central hub for all of them. This allows you to check the status of your devices from anywhere.

Use with your voice

You can control Homekit-compatible products with your voice while using Siri. Apple's voice assistant recognizes the corresponding devices and operates them on command. This allows you to switch off the lighting or the heating simply using your voice. You don't even have to be at home with Apple TV.

Automation

Take advantage of your Apple HomeKit and automate everyday routines. You can create a Scene and configure certain devices to activate or deactivate them with a trigger.

New Apple HomeKit features in iOS 11

The new version of iOS not only improves existing features of Apple HomeKit but also adds new ones. The focus of the update is location and time-related functionality:

Advanced geofencing:

This feature now allows you to create detailed location-based rules. You can now set up multiple iOS devices in a particular room, such as the living room. Your home is no longer controlled by just one device. For example, the last paired iPhone to leave the room will turn off the lights.

Location-based messages:

It is possible to link notifications to your location so that you only get messages when you're not at home.

Time delay after events:

 In iOS 11 it is now possible to create Scenes with time references. Now you have the option to switch off an automatically switched-on light (by motion detection or similar) after a certain time period, or turn the heating down half an hour after the light turns on.

Repeated events:

Another new time-related feature is recurring events which can be set to run at specific intervals. This lets you, for example, open the door to your cleaner every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

Single events:

Now you can also create individual events. This means that a light will turn on just once at 5:00 a.m. if you have to leave the house earlier than usual just the one time.

How does Apple HomeKit work?

Apple HomeKit is developed around the idea of centralizing control of smart home products from multiple vendors. This means that, rather than having numerous apps for each device, HomeKit connects each device and all of which you can control with Apple's Home app and a Wifi or Bluetooth connection. Data security is managed by end-to-end encryption, with data being stored locally on your device. Apple TV and iPad users can also use the Home app to control their smart devices while on the move. Geofencing is activated through your smartphone's GPS functionality, allowing your smart home system to be used more effectively. With Siri, you can operate your system using only voice commands.

Which brands and products are compatible with Apple HomeKit?

The range of products and brands compatible with Apple HomeKit is extensive and growing.