It’s time to enjoy abode peace of mind with Apple ease. Control your home with an Abode hub using the Apple Home app and Siri from your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and HomePod. Receive notifications from your Abode alarms, motion sensors, and door/window sensors, view live video from your Iota hub, organize and view your devices by room, and setup automations with other HomeKit devices all within the Apple Home app.
With the addition of Apple Home comes the addition of Siri to control your Abode devices. Tell Siri when you’re home, when you’re leaving, or when you need to arm or disarm your system. Voice control with Siri makes your Abode devices handsfree and easier to use than ever before.
Features
Arm or disarm your Abode system from the Apple Home app
Access a live stream of Iota’s built-in 1080p streaming camera directly from the Home app
Ask Siri for the status of your Abode system, or ask to arm your system
Receive alerts and trigger a HomeKit-based automation via motion events triggered by Abode motion sensors and open/close events triggered by Abode door/window sensors
Add compatible security devices to your existing groups by room
HomeKit Compatible Abode Devices
Hubs:
Iota Hub
Smart Security Hub (excluding Gen 1 Hubs)
Accessories (hub required):
Motion Sensor (purchased after December 2018)
Multi Sensor
Door/Window Sensor
Mini Door/Window Sensor
Recessed Door/Window Sensor
Slim Door/Window Sensor
Keypad 2
Water Leak Sensor
Smoke Alarm Monitor
Setup Guide
Make sure you have a Home Hub setup in the Apple Home app (such as an Apple TV or HomePod), and make sure it's on the same Wi-Fi network as your Abode system hub.
In the Abode App on your Apple or Android device, select the Menu (≡).
Tap "Integrations".
Tap "Apple HomeKit".
5. Tap “Generate HomeKit Code".
6. Copy this code, and tap "Go to Apple Home App".
7. Once in the home app, tap "+”.
8. Tap "Add Accessory".
9. Select “I Don't Have a Code or Cannot Scan”.
10. Under “Manual Code”, tap “Enter code...”.
11. Enter the code from the previous step.
12. Once your Abode hub is paired successfully, you will be able to set up your compatible devices and be able to name them inside the Apple Home app.
FAQ
Expand FAQ
Expand FAQ
What does Abode’s HomeKit certification mean?
Apple HomeKit compatibility is available for Abode’s iota and Smart Security kit solutions which means your system is now accessible & controllable through the Home app on compatible Apple devices.
What can I do with this integration?
Apple users can enroll their Abode gateway and compatible devices into the Home app. The Abode/HomeKit integration supports the ability to:
Arm or disarm their system from the Home app
Access a live stream of iota’s built-in 1080p streaming camera directly from the Home app
Ask Siri for the status of the system
Receive alerts and trigger a HomeKit-based automation via motion events triggered by Abode motion sensors and open/close events triggered by Abode door/window sensors
Add compatible security devices to their existing groups by room
Which Abode devices are HomeKit compatible?
The Iota and Security Hub are compatible with HomeKit, but the Abode Hub is not. Please refer to a comparison chart here: https://goabode.com/compare-kit
Compatible Devices include the Abode motion sensor (if purchased after December of 2018), Multi Sensor, KeyPad 2, Water Leak Sensor, Smoke Monitor, and Abode-branded door/window sensors - compatible devices will be added to the Home app when connected to your Abode gateway. Abode Cameras are not HomeKit Compatible.
Which Starter Kits are HomeKit compatible?
Both Iota and our Smart Security Kit are HomeKit certified.
How do I create rules or automations with this integration?
Once your system and sensors are enrolled into the Home app, you can use Apple’s automation engine to create smart home rules and automations that include their Abode security system or continue to use Abode’s CUE.
How does remote access with HomeKit work?
For remote access to the home through HomeKit, users must have an Apple TV (4th generation or later), HomePod, or iPad running iOS 10 or later at home.
Do I need a new gateway to get this functionality?
Any Iota or Smart Security Kit gateway user is eligible to take advantage of this integration. The only gateway that is not yet HomeKit certified is the original version of our gateway which we stopped selling in February of 2019. This gateway remains in certification with Apple and we will make it available as soon as it is approved.
When will Gen 1 be compatible?
We will not be working with Apple to make the Gen 1 fully HomeKit compatible. As this product is superseded, an updated Smart Hub (Gen 2) or Iota is required for HomeKit.
Can I arm & Disarm using Siri?
Yes, arm and disarm functionality is possible through Siri
The Abode system will not arm immediately if there is a fault, or sensor open. Requesting to arm a second time will override this, or the Abode system can be set to arm regardless of any fault or open sensor.
Can I manually capture video clips via the home app?
No, you cannot. This has to be done through the Abode App.
What about my other sensors and devices?
These will still be connected to your Abode system. We are working hard to bring full HomeKit compatibility across our entire portfolio of Abode-branded devices. We prioritized bringing HomeKit certifications to our gateways and most fundamental accessories first.
What about my Abode compatible third party devices?
This is up to the individual manufacturer. You cannot add a non HomeKit certified device to your Home app through Abode.
Can I trigger my Abode alarm using devices already paired with my HomeKit?
Unfortunately not at this time. This is a feature that Apple has not yet added so we are dependent on them to make it available. If they do enable this in the future, we will be sure to make it a supported feature with your Abode system.
Troubleshooting
Wi-Fi
Abode HomeKit accessories communicate using your gateway as a hub via Wi-Fi. Make sure you are also connected to the Wi-Fi. On your iOS device, Open Settings, tap Wi-Fi, and ensure that Wi-Fi is enabled and that you're connected to your home network.
Most routers will allow a steady connection out of the box with Abode, however there are some that may contain other software which may prevent a steady connection.
Troubleshooting steps to consider:
Replace network cable with a known working cable
Power cycle both the Gateway, and the Router, to re establish the connection
Check your router for things like VPN, firewall, QoS (Quality of Service) and other security software. Either disable these, or give Abode access to communicate through these.
If you have a mobile app for your router, find the Abode Gateway, and give network access priority (will differ for routers)
If using a managed Network Switch, Abode may need to be given priority on this device.
Firmware – we can update the firmware which may help in some instances. Please contact support@goabode.com to request a firmware update
Check that you're logged into iCloud
After you've confirmed that Wi-Fi is working, check that you're logged into iCloud and that Home is enabled for your account. Launch the Settings app, tap your iCloud profile (at the top of the screen), choose iCloud, and check that Home is toggled on.
Update to the latest software
Apple recommends that users experiencing any difficulties with their software or devices update to the latest available versions of iOS and macOS.
To do this on your iPhone or iPad, launch the Settings app, choose General, and select Software Update to check if a new version of iOS is available. On Mac, you'll need to launch System Preferences and choose Software Update.
It is also good practice to update your AppleTV and HomePod firmware as well as part of the troubleshooting process.
If you've encountered problems with HomeKit after updating your iOS or macOS software, it may be that a bug has found its way into the software release. While a further update should fix this in due course, it's worth continuing with the troubleshooting process to check some other issue isn't interfering with HomeKit.
Have you tried using a different device?
If you're struggling to interact with your Abode accessories using an iPhone, have you tried using your iPad, Mac or secondary Phone? If you find that you can control your HomeKit products using a different device, you may need to restart your device.
Ungroup HomeKit accessories in the Home app
iOS 13 brought some pretty big changes to the Home app like grouping of devices that serve more than one purpose. Although this change makes things appear a little more organized, it removes the ability to see any accessories associated to the gateway/iota camera, including the alarm control.
Since iOS 13.2 there is an easy way to separate those devices and bring things back to the way that they were in iOS 12, here's how:
Launch the Home app.
Tap on Rooms on the bottom menu bar.
Swipe to the left or right to navigate to the room that the Abode gateway is in.
Tap and hold or 3D Touch the iota gateway/camera.
Tap on the Settings Icon.
Tap on “Show as Separate Tiles".
Check if your accessories work inside the Abode App
While the Home app is great for connecting all of your HomeKit accessories together, you can also control your products using the Abode App. This can be useful when troubleshooting HomeKit. Make sure all devices are responsive and your gateway is online on the Abode app.
Abode system not arming from HomeKit
Abode natively will not arm if there is a fault present, or if a sensor is reporting active or open. Abode will report this as a warning within its own app, but HomeKit is unable to present this warning.
If you find your system is not arming via a HomeKit Automation or command, first check your Abode system for any faults, or open/active devices.
Repeating the HomeKit arming procedure you have straight away will override this, or the Abode system can be set via Direct Arm to override any warnings and open/active sensors.
Controlling your HomeKit accessories when you're not home or via mobile network
If you have issues creating automations or controlling your Abode HomeKit accessories when you're not home, follow these steps:
1. Make sure that your HomeKit Hub (HomePod, Apple TV, or iPad) is:
Connected to the Internet and on the same Wi-Fi network as your other iOS devices during set up
Updated with the latest version of tvOS or iOS
Signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID with two-factor authentication enabled
2. Make sure that your device is set up as a home hub:
For HomePod, open the Home app on your iOS device, tap , then check under Home Hubs to see if HomePod is connected.
On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Accounts > iCloud and make sure that your Apple TV shows HomeKit as Connected. If you don’t see HomeKit, then your Apple TV isn't connected as a home hub.
On your iPad, go to Settings > Home and make sure that Use this iPad as a Home Hub is turned on.
3. Restart your Apple TV, iPad, and iPhone.
4.Wait a few minutes. If you still need help, sign out of iCloud on your Apple TV, then sign back in. Go to Settings > Accounts > iCloud.
The last resort: removing and re-adding your Abode hub from HomeKit
So you've tried everything else and nothing has worked? The final step is completely removing and re-adding your home. This is the last resort option, since you'll need to individually re-pair your hub and reconfigure all of your scenes inside the Home app.
This will also require a ticket to support@goabode.com to reset the integration from the back end.
To delete and re-add your Abode hub from the HomeKit home, launch the Home app and tap on the house icon in the top-left of the screen. Then scroll all the way down to the bottom of the settings screen and tap Remove Home.
Still stuck?
If you're still not able to interact with your HomeKit devices, there may be an issue with your hardware which can't be fixed through software-based troubleshooting.
For more help setting up your HomeKit hub. If the problems still persists, please contact Abode Support at support@goabode.com.