Apple HomeKit lets you control your Abode system from the Apple Home app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and HomePod, and via Siri voice commands. Arm and disarm your system, receive security alerts, view live camera footage from your Iota Hub, and include Abode sensors in HomeKit automations alongside your other Apple-connected devices.
Compatible kits and devices
HomeKit is available with the Iota Kit and Smart Security Kit. The original Smart Security Kit Hub (Gen 1, sold before February 2019), and the Security Hub are not HomeKit compatible.
Device | HomeKit compatible? |
Iota Hub | Yes |
Smart Security Hub (Gen 2) | Yes |
Abode Security Hub | No |
Smart Security Hub (Gen 1, pre-Feb 2019) | No |
Abode Cameras | No, cameras are not HomeKit compatible, with the exception of the onboard Iota camera |
Motion Sensor (purchased after December 2018) | Yes |
Multi Sensor | Yes |
Mini Door/Window Sensor | Yes |
Recessed Door/Window Sensor | Yes |
Slim Strip Door/Window Sensor | Yes |
Keypad 2 | Yes |
Water Leak Sensor | Yes |
Smoke Alarm Monitor | Yes |
Third-party devices | Only if HomeKit-certified by their own manufacturer |
! | NOTE Motion Sensors purchased before December 2018 are not HomeKit compatible. If you are unsure when your sensor was purchased, check the Apple Home app. If it does not appear in the Apple Home app after pairing, it is likely a pre-2018 unit. |
What you can do with HomeKit
• Arm or disarm your Abode system from the Apple Home app
• Ask Siri to arm your system, disarm it, or check its status
• Receive alerts from Abode motion sensors and door/window sensors as HomeKit notifications
• Access a live 1080p stream from your Iota Hub camera in the Home app
• Trigger HomeKit automations based on Abode sensor events
• Organize Abode devices into rooms alongside your other HomeKit accessories
! | NOTE You cannot trigger your Abode alarm using devices already paired to HomeKit. Apple has not yet enabled this capability. Clip capture must be done through the Abode app, not the Apple Home app. |
Before you start
You need an Apple Home Hub set up before you can use Abode with HomeKit. A Home Hub provides remote access and enables automations when you are away from home.
Apple Home Hub option | How to confirm it is set up |
HomePod or HomePod mini | Open the Apple Home app, tap the settings icon, and check under Home Hubs to confirm it shows as Connected |
Apple TV (4th generation or later) | Go to Settings, then Accounts, then iCloud. HomeKit should show as Connected. If it does not, your Apple TV is not set up as a Home Hub. |
iPad (iOS 10 or later) | Go to Settings, then Home, and confirm that Use this iPad as a Home Hub is turned on |
✓ | TIP Your Apple Home Hub must be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Abode Hub. Confirm this before starting the setup process. |
Connecting Abode to Apple HomeKit
1. Open the Abode app and tap the Menu icon.
2. Tap "Integrations".
3. Tap "Apple HomeKit".
4. Tap "Generate HomeKit Code". A unique pairing code will appear.
5. Copy the code, then tap "Go to Apple Home App".
6. In the Apple Home app, tap the + button, then tap "Add Accessory".
7. Select "I Don't Have a Code or Cannot Scan".
8. Under Manual Code, tap "Enter code..." and enter the code you copied from the Abode app.
9. Once your Abode Hub is paired successfully, your compatible devices will appear in the Home app. Name them and assign them to rooms as you like.
✓ | TIP After pairing, open the Apple Home app and check that your Abode Hub and sensors appear in your Home. You can then group them into rooms, set up automations, and add them to scenes alongside your other HomeKit accessories. |
Arming and disarming with Siri
Once connected, you can ask Siri to arm or disarm your Abode system. For example: "Hey Siri, I'm leaving home" or "Hey Siri, arm my security system."
! | NOTE If your system does not arm immediately after a Siri command, there may be an active fault or an open sensor. Abode will not arm if any sensor is reporting open. Repeating the arm command a second time will override this, or you can set your system to Direct Arm in the Abode app under Menu, System Settings, Arm Fault Type. |
Using HomeKit automations with Abode
Once your Abode Hub and sensors are enrolled in the Apple Home app, you can use Apple's automation engine to create rules that include your Abode devices. For example:
• Trigger a HomeKit scene when an Abode door sensor opens
• Arm your Abode system when your last iPhone leaves home
• Turn on HomeKit lights when an Abode motion sensor detects movement
You can continue using Abode's own CUE automation engine at the same time. The two systems run independently and do not interfere with each other.
Displaying Abode devices as separate tiles in the Home app
From iOS 13 onward, the Apple Home app groups devices that serve more than one purpose, which can hide individual Abode accessories associated with your Hub. If you cannot see all your Abode devices in the Home app, follow these steps to separate them:
1. Open the Apple Home app.
2. Tap "Rooms" in the bottom menu bar.
3. Swipe to the room that contains your Abode Hub.
4. Press and hold (or 3D Touch) the Iota Hub or camera tile.
5. Tap the Settings icon, then tap "Show as Separate Tiles".
Your Abode devices will now display individually, giving you full access to each sensor and accessory.
Troubleshooting
Check your Wi-Fi connection first
Abode HomeKit accessories communicate through your Hub via Wi-Fi. Before trying any other troubleshooting steps, confirm your Hub is connected to your home network.
• Replace the network cable between your Hub and router with a known working cable
• Power cycle your Hub and router to re-establish the connection
• Check your router settings for VPN, firewall, QoS (Quality of Service), or other security software that may be blocking Abode. Either disable these or grant Abode permission to communicate through them.
• If you use a mobile app for your router, find the Abode Hub in the connected devices list and give it network priority
• If you use a managed network switch, make sure Abode has been given priority on that device
Check your iCloud and Home settings
1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap your name at the top, then tap iCloud.
3. Confirm that Home is toggled on.
Update to the latest software
Apple recommends updating to the latest iOS, macOS, tvOS, and HomePod firmware when troubleshooting HomeKit issues.
• On iPhone or iPad: go to Settings, then General, then Software Update
• On Mac: go to System Preferences (or System Settings), then Software Update
• On Apple TV and HomePod: updates install automatically when signed in to iCloud, or check Settings manually
Try a different Apple device
If Abode HomeKit accessories are not responding on your iPhone, try controlling them from an iPad, Mac, or another phone. If a different device works correctly, restart the original device and try again.
Abode system not arming from HomeKit
If your system will not arm via a HomeKit command or automation, check the Abode app first for any active faults or open/active sensors. HomeKit cannot display Abode fault warnings, so an arm request will silently fail if a fault is present.
• Open the Abode app and check the Dashboard for any faults
• Close or resolve any open sensors or active faults
• Retry the HomeKit arm command. A second request will override any remaining fault warning
• Alternatively, set your system to Direct Arm in Abode app, Menu, System Settings, Arm Fault Type - this bypasses fault warnings entirely
Issues controlling Abode from outside your home
If HomeKit automations or remote control of Abode accessories are not working when you are away from home, check the following:
1. Confirm your Apple Home Hub (HomePod, Apple TV, or iPad) is powered on, connected to the internet, and on the same Wi-Fi network as your Abode Hub.
2. Confirm your Home Hub is running the latest firmware.
3. Confirm you are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID on all devices, with two-factor authentication enabled.
4. Restart your Apple TV, HomePod, iPad, and iPhone.
5. Wait a few minutes and try again.
6. If the problem persists on Apple TV, sign out of iCloud on the Apple TV (Settings, Accounts, iCloud) and sign back in.
Removing and re-adding your Abode Hub from HomeKit
If all other troubleshooting steps have failed, you can remove and re-add your Abode Hub from HomeKit. This is a last resort: you will need to re-pair your Hub and reconfigure all of your HomeKit scenes.
1. Open the Apple Home app.
2. Tap the house icon in the top-left corner.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the settings screen and tap Remove Home.
4. Re-pair your Abode Hub using the setup steps at the top of this article.
Still not working?
If none of the steps above resolve your issue, there may be a hardware problem that requires support assistance. Contact the Abode support team at support@goabode.com with a description of the issue and what troubleshooting steps you have already tried.