How to Add Any Xiaomi Devices to Apple HomeKit
Anyone else a huge fan of Xiaomi Home devices? Because I am the biggest fan of Xiaomi Home. The only issue is that it is incompatible with Apple HomeKit. Since I am also an iPhone user, Xiaomi HomeKit compatibility was important to me. I discovered some of the best methods to add Xiaomi to HomeKit and tried them out. Let me explain each and every one of them.
Best Methods to Add Xiaomi to HomeKit
- AddtoHomeKit [My Personal Favourite]
- ATH Bridge [Recommended Device Solution]
- HOOBS
- HomeBridge
AddtoHomeKit [My Pick]
In my humble opinion, this is the best third-party solution to add Xiaomi devices to Apple HomeKit. The AddtoHomeKit solution gives two options, you can go with the web solution or even the app solution. This software solution gives you all the necessary plugins and step guides to create a flawless Xiaomi HomeKit integration.
See step guide for AddtoHomeKit.
My Favourite Aspects of AddtoHomeKit
- A huge variety of ecosystems we can choose from to AddtoHomeKit.
- Both app and web solutions are available.
- Both with installation support and without installation support are available.
- Provides plugins and step guides within the same place.
- Easy and requires low to no time and effort.
This is by far the easiest and least time-consuming solution I have ever tried out.
See the step guides to add Xiaomi to HomeKit.
What Can You Achieve with Xiaomi HomeKit Devices?
- Xiaomi Camera - Enhance home security with Xiaomi HomeKit camera, automating recording and notifications through HomeKit routines and scenes.
- Xiaomi Lamp - Use HomeKit to control Xiaomi HomeKit smart lamps, adjusting brightness and colour to create personalized lighting environments.
- Xiaomi Fan - Automate Xiaomi fans to maintain ideal temperature using HomeKit’s seamless integration for schedules and automation.
- Xiaomi Gateway - Centralize control of Xiaomi smart devices through the HomeKit gateway, enabling cross-device automation and voice control.
- Xiaomi Bulb - Customize lighting with Xiaomi HomeKit bulbs, using HomeKit to set colours, intensity and schedules effortlessly.
- Xiaomi Air Purifier - Use HomeKit to automate Xiaomi air purifiers, ensuring consistent air quality with scene-based control and automation.
- Mi HomeKit Air Purifier - Integrate Xiaomi air purifiers into HomeKit for scheduled operation and real-time monitoring to improve your home’s air quality.
Comparison Between Xiaomi, HomeKit, Alexa and Home Assistant
| Category | Xiaomi App | Xiaomi HomeKit | Xiaomi Alexa | Xiaomi Home Assistant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of Use | User-friendly, device-specific control. | Intuitive for Apple users, supports scenes. | Voice commands for convenience. | Advanced setup, customizable automations. |
| Automation | Basic routines within the app. | Advanced scenes and automation options. | Routines via Alexa app, voice triggered. | Highly flexible, supports complex workflows. |
| Compatibility | Limited to Xiaomi ecosystem. | Apple ecosystem integration. | Works with Alexa-enabled devices. | Supports a wide range of smart devices. |
| Voice Control | Not available natively. | Through Siri. | Supported via Alexa. | Requires integration via Assistant plugins. |
| Customizability | Limited to in-app settings. | Scene-based customizations. | Predefined routines, some limitations. | Fully customizable with extensive options. |
| Scalability | Good for small setups. | Works well with Apple HomeKit devices. | Scales with Alexa-enabled devices. | Best for large mixed ecosystems. |
| Privacy | Moderate, reliant on Xiaomi’s servers. | High, follows Apple’s privacy standards. | Data linked with Amazon servers. | Varies, depends on cloud or local setup. |
| Limitations | Confined to Xiaomi only devices. | Requires iOS and HomeKit compatible devices. | Alexa dependency, fewer device integrations. | Learning curve and manual configurations. |
Other Methods to Add Xiaomi to Apple HomeKit
So, I tried three other methods as well, this included 2 hardware solutions as well and another software solution.
Let me explain,
ATH Bridge [Recommended Device Solution]
The ATH Bridge is an easy, affordable device solution to add Xiaomi devices to Apple HomeKit. The ATH Bridge is a specially compiled and pre-flashed server which is designed to allow you to add Xiaomi to Apple HomeKit.
A few of my favourite features of the ATH Bridge are:
- Allows you to add any device to Apple HomeKit.
- Budget friendly, and it was in my opinion, actually worth the money.
- Effortless set up process.
- Small and compact, it fits right in any home!
HOOBS
HOOBS or the HomeBridge Out of the Box solution is also another amazing method to create a Xiaomi HomeKit Intergration. Well, not just Xiaomi integrations but it allows you to add Geeni camera to HomeKit as well! HOOBS is an improved version of HomeBridge, and it adds some amazing features such as pre-built images, it also includes a fully assembled Raspberry Pi. Another fantastic update is that the Raspberry Pi comes with a copy of the HOOBS HomeBridge server pre-installed on a microSD card.
See step guide for HOOBS.
HomeBridge
To simply put it in words, HomeBridge is a lightweight NodeJS server that emulates the iOS HomeKit API. It is an open-source software that supports a huge variety of plugins. The only issue is you will need a bit of complex coding experience for this.
See step guide for HomeBridge.
Step Guides to Operate the Above Solutions
How to Operate AddtoHomeKit for Xiaomi HomeKit
- Go to the AddtoHomeKit official website.
- Select the Xiaomi ecosystem.
- You will be redirected to the next page, select your preferred solution.
- Afterwards, you must select the Operating System.
- Install the HomeBridge Plugin.
- Tap on the AddtoHomeKit.
- Follow the instructions provided and enjoy!
How to Operate HOOBS for Xiaomi HomeKit
- Prepare your Network:
- Visit the HOOBS Website:
- Boot up HOOBS:
- Access HOOBS Dashboard:
- Access HOOBS Configuration:
- Install Xiaomi Plugin:
- Configure the Xiaomi Plugin:
Make sure you have a stable WiFi network available, both your iOS device and HOOBS to the same Wi-Fi network.
You must flash the HOOBS image onto a microSD card using appropriate software (eg: BalenaEtcher or Raspberry Pi Image). Now, insert the microSD into the Raspberry Pi. Acquire and install HOOBS.
After the installation of HOOBS. Connect your Raspberry Pi to power and wait for HOOBS to boot up. HOOBS will appear as a Wi-Fi network namely “hoobs.local”, connect your device to this network.
Visit http://hoobs.local. And follow the on-screen instructions to complete the initial setup of HOOBS. You would most likely need to set up your admin account and connect HOOBS to your Wi-Fi network.
After completing the setup, you will be directed to the HOOBS dashboard where you can manage plugins and configure devices.
In the HOOBS dashboard, click on “Plugins” in the sidebar. Search for “Xiaomi” in the Plugins Marketplace. Click “Install”.
Add Xiaomi Devices to HomeKit.
Not only Xiaomi HomeKit, you can also integrate Aladdin Connect HomeKit using HOOBS.
How to Operate HomeBridge for Xiaomi HomeKit
- Install HomeBridge
- Add the Xiaomi Plugin
- Obtain Device Token
- Configure Plugin
- Restart HomeBridge
- Pair with HomeKit
Set up HomeBridge on a compatible device like a Raspberry Pi, or your Computer.
Use the HomeBrigde UI or terminal to install the Xiaomi plugin homebridge-miot or similar. A plugin that is specific to your devices.
Retrieve your Xiaomi device token using tools like the Mi Home App or third-party scripts.
Edit the HomeBridge configuration file config.json with the device token, IP address and plugin settings.
Restart HomeBridge to load the Xiaomi plugin.
Open the Home app, scan the HomeBridge QR code, and enjoy Xiaomi devices in HomeKit.
Xiaomi Smart Home Hub 2
The Xiaomi Smart Home Hub 2 allows you to add Xiaomi devices to HomeKit as well. The Xiaomi Smart Home Hub 2 is a sleek and powerful gateway designed to unify the smart home experience. It supports Zigbee 3.0, Bluetooth Mesh and Wi-Fi. This hub bridges the gap between Xiaomi and HomeKit which makes it an amazing choice for you. This hub is also Matter compatible which allows it to work with ecosystems like Apple HomeKit, Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
I personally have not used the Xiaomi Smart Home Hub 2 but I heard that it is pretty good and has great connectivity as well.
Key Features
- Matter Compatibility - Easily integrate Matter-certified devices.
- Multi-Protocol Support – Zigbee 3.0, Bluetooth, Bluetooth Mesh and Wi-Fi ensure compatibility with a wide range of devices.
- Apple HomeKit Integration – Xiaomi ecosystem can be directly managed through the Apple Home app on iOS.
- Fast Response Time - Zigbee 3.0 ensures low latency device communication and stable connections.
- Automation Ready – Create complex automation routines using the Xiaomi Home app, connecting sensors, lights and more.
Matter Compatible Xiaomi Devices
- Xiaomi Smart Home Hub 2
- Aqara Hub M3
- Xiaomi Smart Door Lock
- Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier
- Xiaomi Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Xiaomi TV Home Assistant Integration
The xiaomi_tv integration allows you to control the Xiaomi TV. The Xiaomi TV integration only supports Xiaomi TVs running MIUI.
Make sure that the TV is connected to the internet, and that the Home Assistant instance is on the same network.
To add a TV to your installation, you have to add the following to your configuration.yaml After changing the configuration.yaml file, restart Home Assistant and the changes will be applied. You will be able to see the integrate in the page under Settings > Devices & Services. The entities will be listed on the intergration card itself and also on the Entities tab.
# Example configuration.yaml entry media_player: - platform: xiaomi_tv
If the host in the configuration file is not set, the local TVs will automatically be discovered.
To manually add a TV, use the following configuration:
# Example configuration.yaml entry media_player: - platform: xiaomi_tv host: YOUR_TV_IP name: YOUR_TV_NAME
Controlling Xiaomi with Alexa
One of the best advantages of Alexa and its platform is that it cloud-based, making the integration with other apps and services so much easier. All you have to do is develop a “Skill” that will interpret commands and that is it!
How to Control Xiaomi with Alexa
- Visit the MI Home app on your iOS/ Android.
- In case you have not already, configure every device you own after logging in.
- Launch the Alexa app on your mobile device or visit Alexa Amazon to access the Alexa web interface.
- Navigate to the Devices section after selecting one of the options.
- Turn on Your Digital Home Skills.
- Locate and set up the My Home skill.
- To grant permission, log in using your Mi Home login credentials and follow the instructions.
- That's all!
Create Custom Routines
- Navigate to More located in the Alexa app’s lower left corner.
- Select Workouts.
- Tap the + button located in the top-right corner of the screen.
- Give your routine a name so you can recognize it later on in the menu.
- Assign a trigger that will initiate the action in the When field. It could be a sound, a voice command, actions of a sensor, activity that was previously recirded by another device or a specific moment in time.
- Select Add Action. There will be a long list of options.
Example of time-based trigger: Select TimeTable. The routine’s action date will then be set up as “10:00am XNUMX.
What More to Do with Xiaomi Alexa Devices?
- Automate Lighting - Use Xiaomi Mi Motion-Activated Night Light 2 with Alexa to create routines for automatic on/off, brightness and colour adjustments.
- Smart Bulbs – Control Xiaomi Smart Bulbs via Alexa to regulate intensity, colour, or stimulate presence when travelling.
- Energy Efficiency – Transform regular devices into smart ones with Refoss Smart Plugs, automating power usage for convenience and savings.
- Air Quality Automation – Schedule Xiaomi air purifiers or humidifiers to operate at specific times, ensuring optimal indoor air quality
- Enhanced Security – Integrate Xiaomi Basic Camera Privacy with Alexa routines and sensors for custom, automated security setups.
- Temperature Control – Pair Xiaomi Smart Convector Heater 1S with a temperature sensor and Alexa to maintain ideal room conditions automatically.
- Effortless Cleaning – Program Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 Ultra to clean when you are away, avoiding noise and maximizing efficiency.
- Sensor-Based Workflows – Automate lighting, heating or cooling using Xiaomi sensors like motion or temperature, creating smart routines with Alexa.
These are basically what I did with the Xiaomi Alexa integration, there might be more benefits of creating a Xiaomi Alexa integration. If anyone is wondering, yes, I use Alexa Echo Dots instead of HomePods! I have also created an Alexa HomeKit and an Alexa Echo Dot HomeKit integration.
Editor's Pick
I would definitely go for AddtoHomeKit because it is an easy, affordable way to add any device to HomeKit. Also, not to mention how easy the process is! The AddtoHomeKit solution is game changer! I hope this article helped you with your Xiaomi HomeKit integration!
FAQs
Yes! However, it requires iOS 11.0 or later/watchOS 6.0 or later.
Yes, some devices such as the Xiaomi Smart Speaker IR are compatible with Siri and HomeKit. However, most Xiaomi products do not support Siri and HomeKit. For this, you can use third-party solutions such as AddtoHomeKit to create a Xiaomi HomeKit integration.
Yes! Like most ecosystems, Xiaomi has its own voice assistant too. Mi AI is Xiaomi’s voice assistant. It is similar to other popular voice assistants such as Siri, Alexa, Cortana, and Google Assistant.
To add Xiaomi to Home Assistant, follow these steps:
- Visit your Home Assistant instance.
- Go to Settings > Devices & Services.
- In the bottom right corner, select the Add Integration button.
- From the list, select Xiaomi Miio.
- Follow the instructions on screen to complete the setup.
It mostly depends on the model, but there are many Xiaomi smart devices that work well with Alexa and some that work with HomeKit and Siri as well.
Most of the Xiaomi Miio devices are compatible with configurations using the Home Assistant UI. However, the Xiaomi device tracker and Xiaomi IR Remote are not compatible.
