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Matter Standard | Add Matter Devices to Apple HomeKit

February 5, 2025 8 min read

Ever thought of adding any smart home devices to HomeKit? But don’t know how? Don’t worry! You can bring your smart home devices to Apple HomeKit now. Surprise! Matter has emerged as a gamechanger. Let’s explore the next generation of smart home protocol: Matter smart home standard.

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Quick Answer : Apple Home supports Matter, so you can add compatible Matter smart devices directly to the Home app. Simply scan the device’s Matter QR code or enter its setup code to connect it.

Matter is a common-language standard that helps smart home devices from different brands work together across different ecosystems. It improves compatibility between devices and includes built-in security. Matter devices can also be controlled locally without requiring an internet connection.

How to add Matter devices to Apple HomeKit?

You'll need to have matter-enabled devices to add any smart home devices to Apple HomeKit with Matter. Then, follow these steps to add Matter devices to the Apple Home app:

Update the app to the latest version.
Tap the + button (Near the top right corner of your screen).
Tap add accessory.
Scan your device's Matter pairing code using your camera.
The app automatically detects Matter devices.
Tap Add to Home.
Follow the on-screen instructions to add the Matter device to your home.

The biggest promise is making smart devices work with each other across platforms and ecosystems.

For consumers, Matter offers:

Interoperability: Smart devices from different manufacturers can seamlessly work together.
Simplicity: Setting up and controlling Matter-enabled devices is easy.
Security: Matter incorporates advanced security technologies to protect your devices.

For manufacturers, Matter offers:

Innovation: Matter encourages innovation in the smart home industry.
Compatibility: Manufacturers can create devices that are compatible with a wide range of smart home ecosystems.
Flexibility: Matter is open-source and royalty-free standard. It allows providers the freedom to innovate and develop new products.

Now, you've learned what it is and why it's a big deal. Let's see how Matter works?

How does Matter protocol work?

Matter devices use the IP protocol to communicate with each other. Matter devices can communicate with each other. Even if they use different wireless protocols such as Zigbee or Wi-Fi.

Matter uses different wireless technologies:

Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi is widely available on computers and smartphones. It facilitates wireless connectivity between Matter devices. It can also enable internet connectivity if needed.
Ethernet: It is a wired connection. Also, it offers similar advantages to Wi-Fi. It can be used for Matter device communication.
Thread: Thread is a low-power smart home protocol like Zigbee. It forms a mesh network among devices. Also, Thread is particularly suitable for battery-powered devices.

Also, ATH Bridge, and HOOBS are some Matter alternatives. You can use Matter devices with the Apple Home app and Siri to control your smart home. The Matter controller is fully compatible with Apple HomeKit.

There are many Matter compatible devices from leading brands. Let's dive further.

Which Smart Home Platforms Support Matter

There are many Matter products available on the market now. These products include Smart thermostats, Smart Locks, Smart Light bulbs, and Smart speakers.

What Matter-Enabled Devices Are Available

Light bulbs and light switches.
Plugs and outlets.
Smart Locks.
Thermostats and other HVAC controllers.
Blinds and shades.
Sensors (motion, contact).
Televisions and streaming video players.
Smart Bridges.
Robot vacuums.
Cameras and video doorbells.

Matter Smart Locks

Yale Assure Lock SL.
Aqara Smart Lock U100.

Matter Smart Plugs

Eve Energy Thread smart plug.
Meross Matter Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini.
Onvis Matter Smart Plug (EU and US).
Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug.

Matter Smart Switch

Matter smart switch support has expanded significantly since the standard launched. Current options include:

Eve Light Switch.
Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi 600W Dimmer (2nd gen).
Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi 15A Switch (2nd gen).
All Leviton Decora smart Wi-Fi second-gen devices.

Matter Smart Lights

Govee LED Light Strip M1
Linkind A19 light bulbs.
Sengled Smart WiFi LED A19 Bulb
Nanoleaf Matter Smart Holiday String Lights
Nanoleaf Matter Essentials BR30 Light Bulb (Thread).
All Wiz Lighting products manufactures since Q2 2021.
Connected by Wiz products (i.e Philips Smart Lighting).
Yeelight Cube Smart Lamp.
Yeelight Pro Smart Lighting Series.

Matter Smart Thermostat

Google Nest Thermostat

Matter Smart Sensors

Matter Bridges

What do I need to use Matter devices?

Matter Commissioner: Used to connect the Matter devices to a Matter Controller. Ex: Alexa App, Google Home App, Apple Home App.
Matter Controller: Hub for controlling the Matter devices.
Matter Devices: Smart home devices that support Matter.

You can add and control Matter devices using the Matter controller. If you want to add and control Matter devices.

The primary role of a Matter controller:

Facilitate device onboarding.
Manage communications.
Control devices and automation.
Enable remote access if configured.

Which Smart Home Platforms Support Matter?

The four major smart home platforms support Matter such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, and Samsung SmartThings. You can utilize their respective apps to manage your Matter devices efficiently.

You can control the same set of Matter devices using multiple platforms. Also, it allows for flexibility and compatibility. It's worth noting that Matter is not limited to the big four platforms. It supports:

Platform owners: Apple, Google, and Amazon.

Major manufacturers: Samsung and LG.

Other platforms, like Home Assistant.

Some other participating brands include:

ADT	Assa Abloy/Yale	Belkin	Bosch
D-Link	Ecobee	Eve	Facebook
Haier	Honor	Huawei	Ikea
iRobot	Kwikset	Leviton	LG.
Lifx	Logitech	Lutron	Nanoleaf
Netatmo	Oppo	Panasonic	Schlage
Sengled	Signify (Philips Hue)	Somfy	Tesla
Velux	Vivint	Wyze Labs	Xiaomi

Smart Home apps that support Matter

Here's a quick overview of Matter support across different smart home platforms:

Amazon Alexa: Matter support

You can add your smart home devices to Alexa with Matter. Also, you don’t need a separate hub or smart home skill. You can control Matter smart home devices with Matter-enabled Amazon Echo devices.

With Matter's connectivity protocol:

Alexa can control your device locally.
Reduce latency and improve reliability.

You can connect your device by

Saying, "Alexa, discover my device."
Adding the devices to the Alexa App.

Matter-enabler smart home app: Amazon Alexa App (Android and iOS)

Google Nest and Google Home: Matter Support

Matter devices are designed to work seamlessly with each other. So, you can add your Matter devices to Google Home seamlessly. All Google Nest smart speakers and displays can act as Matter controllers.

Eve app	Aqara App
SwitchBot app	TP-Link Tapo app
Tuya Smart Life app	Wiser App

The following Google devices can work as hubs for Matter:

Speakers: Google Home Mini, Google Home, Nest Mini, Nest Audio.
Display: Nest Hub (1st Gen), Nest Hub (2nd Gen), Nest Hub Max.
Wi-Fi routers: Nest Wi-Fi Pro (Wi-Fi 6E).

The following Google devices can act as Thread Border routers:

Displays: Nest Hub (2nd Gen), Nest Hub Max.
Wi-Fi routers: Nest Wi-Fi Pro (Wi-Fi 6E).

Matter-enabled smart home app: Google Home App (Android and iOS).

Apple Home Matter support

Apple Home added Matter support in iOS 16.1. So, you can add your Matter smart home devices to Apple HomeKit.

Update: Apple ended support for the previous version of Apple Home on February 10, 2026. Apple Home now uses the updated Home architecture, which supports newer features such as guest access, robot vacuums, and Activity History.

Thread-enabled Apple home hubs:

Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet.
Apple TV 4K (2nd generation).
HomePod (2nd generation).
HomePod mini.

Any Apple Home hub can control standard Matter accessories, but Thread-based accessories specifically need a Thread Border Router. Only some Apple Home hubs can act as a Thread Border Router

For the latest compatibility details, check Apple’s official guide for Thread-enabled home hubs.

Matter certified Apple’s operating systems:

watchOS
iPadOS, macOS
TvOS
HomePod software

Matter-enabled smart home app: Apple Home App (running iOS 16.1 or newer).

Also, the Apple Home app and Siri voice assistant support Matter. Existing HomeKit APIs will work with Matter-enabled devices automatically.

Samsung SmartThings: Matter support

SmartThings added Matter support in October 2022. The SmartThings apps for iOS and Android are now Matter-compatible.

The following SmartThings devices can act as Matter controllers:

Samsung's v2 SmartThings hub.
Samsung’s v3 SmartThings hub.
SmartThings Station.

The following SmartThings devices can act as Thread-border routers.

Samsung’s v3 SmartThings hub.
Aeotec SmartThings hub.
SmartThings Station.

Matter-enabler smart home app: Samsung SmartThings app (Android and iOS).

Will your existing Smart Home devices work with Matter? This is a frequently asked question by many users. Let’s see.

Will older devices work with Matter?

Many existing devices have already announced their support for Matter. It depends on their hardware capabilities. Also, a Matter controller is essential for adding Matter devices within your smart home.

These smart home devices have the potential to be compatible with Matter

Fairly new devices using Wi-Fi or Thread (through software updates or bridges).
Major brands such as Amazon, Google Nest, and Samsung SmartThings.
Nanoleaf smart lighting maker has also announced Matter support for both current and future devices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Matter is revolutionizing the smart home industry. It provides a unified standard for device interoperability. You can add any smart home device to Apple HomeKit with the Matter protocol.

Also, it enables seamless communication between different brands and platforms. Matter prioritizes privacy and security. So, It can ensure a safe and secure smart home experience.

FAQs about Matter Apple Home

Matter is a smart home standard that helps compatible devices from different brands work together. It is supported by major platforms such as Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and SmartThings.

Yes. Apple Home supports Matter, so compatible Matter accessories can be added to the Home app and controlled alongside your other Apple Home devices.

Open the Home app and select Add Accessory. Scan the Matter QR code or enter the setup code provided with your device, then follow the on-screen steps to finish adding it to your home.

Not always. An iPhone running iOS 18 or later can add and control most Matter accessories without a home hub, though Thread-based accessories need an iPhone 15 Pro or later for hub-free control. Apple still recommends a home hub for the best experience.

Matter can work over Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Thread. The connection type depends on the device. Thread is commonly used by low-power smart home accessories, while other Matter devices may connect through Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Matter focuses on compatibility between different smart home brands and platforms. Zigbee is a wireless networking technology commonly used by low-power smart devices. Zigbee devices can also connect to a Matter ecosystem through a compatible bridge.

Some existing smart devices can gain Matter support through a software update or a compatible bridge. This depends on the device and manufacturer, so check the product's latest compatibility information before setting it up.

Yes. Matter supports multi-admin, which allows compatible devices to work with more than one supported smart home platform. For example, the same device may be shared between Apple Home and another Matter-compatible ecosystem.

Look for the Matter logo on the product, packaging, or manufacturer's specifications. Matter-certified devices normally include a QR code or numeric setup code that you can use during setup.

No. Once added, a Matter accessory works like a native HomeKit accessory in Apple Home. It appears in the Home app, works with Siri and Control Center, and can be included in scenes and automations.