To set up a HomeKit or Matter accessory, confirm it is compatible with Apple Home, add it in the Home app on an iPhone or iPad, then create and test a scene or automation. A home hub is not required for every accessory or basic setup: whether you need one depends on the protocol and features you want, such as remote control, sharing, or automations.
Before you add an accessory
Check the product packaging or manufacturer’s documentation for explicit compatibility with Apple Home, HomeKit, or Matter. These are supported accessory routes in Apple’s Home app; a device that works with another smart-home platform is not automatically compatible with Apple Home.
- Follow the accessory’s manual for any required manufacturer app, firmware update, bridge, or other hardware.
- Connect the accessory to power, turn it on, and make sure it has network connectivity. Apple recommends using an iPhone or iPad with current software and Bluetooth enabled. Keep the iPhone or iPad, existing accessories, and any home hub on the same Wi-Fi network while adding the device.
- Keep the accessory’s setup code or QR code available. Matter accessories use a Matter setup code.
For Apple’s current steps and prerequisites, see Set up accessories with Home on iPhone.
Add the accessory in the Home app
- Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap Home, then Add Accessory. Depending on the app version, you may also start from the Add button.
- Scan the accessory’s QR code when prompted, or enter its Apple Home setup code. For a Matter accessory, follow the prompt to scan or enter its Matter setup code.
- Follow the onscreen instructions. Name the accessory and assign it to a room. The name can also be used when you control the accessory with Siri.
If the accessory requires a manufacturer app, bridge, or update, complete that step as directed in its manual. Apple’s pairing flow and the maker’s setup requirements can both matter.
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Decide whether you need a home hub
A home hub can enable remote control while you are away, sharing control of the home, and automations. Apple says HomePod mini and HomePod become hubs during setup; Apple TV becomes a hub when added to a room. You do not need to buy or configure a hub simply to add every HomeKit accessory.
Requirements vary with the accessory’s protocol and the feature you want. Matter setup requires a home hub in Apple’s cited iPhone guide. Thread has additional, model- and software-dependent requirements: Apple describes local pairing and management on supported Thread-enabled iPhones, while Thread features may require a Thread-enabled hub. For Thread accessories, Apple identifies Apple TV 4K, HomePod (2nd generation), HomePod mini, or a compatible third-party Thread border router as options in its setup guidance. Check Apple’s current instructions and the specific accessory’s documentation before relying on a particular device or feature.
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- Remote Control: To enable HomeKit remote control, you need a HomePod, an Apple TV 4K, Apple TV HD, or an iPad. Set any of these Apple devices in your house as a HomeKit bridge and connect it to your home 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. Keep in mind that once your HomeKit bridge is set up, it has to be kept online. If it is powered off or disconnected from the Wi-Fi, it will fail to respond when you intend to control the device remotely.
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Apple says a Thread-enabled hub is required for running automations, receiving notifications, and controlling Thread accessories while away. That does not mean every accessory requires a hub for every kind of use; distinguish local pairing or control from the hub-supported functions you want. See Apple’s accessory setup guide and home hub guidance for current requirements.
Create a scene to control accessories together
A scene sets chosen accessories to coordinated states, such as switching on selected lights or adjusting a thermostat. It is a saved set of actions you can start yourself, rather than a rule that waits for a trigger.
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- In Home, tap Add Scene.
- Choose a suggested scene or create a custom one, then give it a clear name.
- Select the accessories to include and set each one to the desired state.
- Test the scene, then save it.
On iPhone, the first accessory you select determines the scene’s room assignment. Apple explains scenes in Create scenes and automations with the Home app.
Create an automation that responds to a trigger
An automation runs an action when a selected condition occurs. Apple’s iPhone guide describes triggers based on arrival or departure, time, accessory control, and sensor detection. The available choices depend on the devices and settings in your home.
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- In Home, tap Add Automation.
- Choose a trigger, such as a time, a person arriving or leaving, an accessory being controlled, or a sensor detecting activity.
- Choose the accessories or scene that should respond, then set the desired states.
- Review the automation, save it, and test that the trigger produces the intended result.
A location-based automation depends on location-sharing settings. Apple’s steps and trigger options are in Create scenes and automations with the Home app.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Edit, disable, or remove an automation
Open the Automation tab in Home to manage existing automations. Select one to change its schedule, trigger, or responding accessories; you can also test it, disable it, or delete it. If an automation stops matching your routine, check its trigger and the states it applies before rebuilding it.
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If an accessory will not pair
When Home cannot add a device, work through the setup conditions before resetting anything:
- Confirm the exact model is compatible with Apple Home, HomeKit, or Matter.
- Check that the accessory is powered on, connected to the network, and within reliable range of the Wi-Fi connection.
- Make sure Bluetooth is enabled and the iPhone or iPad, existing accessories, and home hub are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- Install current software and follow the maker’s instructions for required apps, firmware, bridges, or setup steps.
- If it was paired previously, reset it only as directed by the manufacturer.
Apple’s troubleshooting checklist is If you can’t add a smart home accessory to the Home app.
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