Mac Homekit

Question

Level 1

12 points

Mac Homekit

Can I really use Homekit with just a Mac?

I have a Mac (Big Sur) and a Homekit device (an Onvis SMS1 sensor). Can I get the Mac to talk to the sensor?

In one place, I read "You don't need anything else, and you don't need a hub." and in another I read "You need an iOS device." I do not have an iPhone or iPad or anything, and I'm not going to buy one. I was under the impression that I could pair my Homekit-compatible sensor with the Home app on my Mac and run it from there. So I went out and bought this sensor. But I can't find anything in the Home app that seems to let me add any devices or anything. All I can do is select wallpapers. (And the wallpaper in my house is not even physically changing when I do that!)

Seriously, did I just misunderstand when I bought a Homekit sensor? The only Apple document I have found seems to say that you can't connect anything to your Mac unless you have an iPhone/iPad.

Posted on Jun 7, 2021 6:15 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

woodmeister50

Level 7

20,497 points

Jun 10, 2021 8:28 AM in response to Chris Stacy

You need to use WiFi for Home Kit devices. In addition,

some devices require an iOS app for the device for initial

set up. This may or may not be the case with your device.

I have one of those "smart" AC units and I can monitor some

things on my Mac with the Home app but it tells me it needs

an upgrade to be able to control it and the only way to do that

is with the AC companies iOS app which won't even let let me

log in to initiate the update.

Reply

Answer 2

babowa

Level 9

78,429 points

Jun 7, 2021 6:24 PM in response to Chris Stacy

Unfortunately, it is an iOS run app which means iPads, iPhones, etc. - not Macs.

https://www.apple.com/ios/home/

https://www.macrumors.com/guide/homekit/

Edit:

Although, checking a bit further, there seems to be at least one app in the Mac app store called "controller for homekit" which is available for Macs. You can check that one out to see if it will do what you need. I don't know anything about it except having just found it.

Reply

Answer 3

Chris Stacy Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 9, 2021 8:50 PM in response to babowa

I think we're talking about two different things. I am referring to the "Home" app that is a standard part of Big Sur. (I didn't downoad anything; it was sitting in the Dock out of the box.) When I open it, it says it is for controlling Homekit devices and has options to configure groups of them into e.g. Rooms, access other people's houses (apparently) and so on. And it also has links to the Apple Store to purchase Homekit devices. Some documentation I read said that you do not need a Homekit hub, nor an Apple TV, or anything else in order to use it. You're supposed to, as far as I can understand, be able to do everything directly from the Mac.

So I bought a Homekit sensor, turned on Bluetooth on the Mac, launched "Home", and turned on the sensor. Nothing happened. I expected things to somehow ask to pair (probably involving the camera on the Mac and the barcode sticker on the sensor). But nothing happened. And I don't see any manual "Add Device" commands or anything like that.

Then I read some Apple Support page that says: Turn on the Mac like I did, then get out your iPhone/iPad in order to accomplish pairing, .... and I am going. "My iWhatnow?"

But you're saying something about downloading something from the app store that hasn't been referenced anywhere, and that you are not familiar with the "Home" app on the Mac.

Thanks, though!

Reply

Answer 4

Chris Stacy Author

Level 1

12 points

Jun 9, 2021 11:20 AM in response to babowa

What does the Home app on he Mac do? That's the app that I used.

Thanks!

Reply

Answer 5

babowa

Level 9

78,429 points

Jun 9, 2021 11:37 AM in response to Chris Stacy

Sorry, I cannot give you an answer since I have never installed or used it. You'd have to contact the developer - I could not find a description of the app's features in the app store.

Reply

Answer 6

babowa

Level 9

78,429 points

Jun 9, 2021 9:43 PM in response to Chris Stacy

I misunderstood you then - thought you had downloaded an app. But, I am not familiar with that either, so I still can't help - sorry. Hopefully someone will chime in!

Reply

Mac Homekit

Similar questions