WHO THIS IS FOR

If you’ve just bought a smart plug, bulb, sensor, lock, thermostat, or similar, and you want it inside the Apple Home app so you can control it, automate it, and share it with your household.

BEFORE YOU START (DO THIS FIRST)

1. Make sure the accessory has power (battery inserted / plugged in) and is turned on.

2. Keep your iPhone/iPad close to the accessory during pairing (same room is best).

3. If the brand requires a hub/bridge (some do), set that up first in the manufacturer’s app.

4. Find the setup code:

   • HomeKit: often an 8-digit code + QR label

   • Matter: usually a QR code (and sometimes a numeric code)

STEP-BY-STEP: ADD A DEVICE IN APPLE HOME

1. Open the HOME app on your iPhone or iPad.

2. Tap the + (ADD) button (top right).

3. Tap ADD ACCESSORY.

4. Scan the setup code (HomeKit or Matter) with your camera.

   • If scanning won’t work, choose the option to enter the code manually.

5. When the accessory appears, tap it.

   • If you see a prompt like “Add Accessory to Network”, tap ALLOW.

6. Assign the basics:

   • ROOM (where it lives)

   • NAME (make it sensible for automations)

   • ICON (optional, but nice for quick scanning)

7. Tap CONTINUE, then DONE.

QUICK TIPS THAT SAVE TIME LATER

1. Name it like you’ll talk to Siri and build automations:

   • “Hall Motion”, “Kitchen Plug”, “Landing Light”

2. Put it in the right room now. Room fixes later are easy, but it’s still busywork.

3. If it’s a sensor, check it shows the right tiles (motion / contact / temperature / light level) before you walk away.

MATTER NOTE (IF IT’S BEEN SET UP IN ANOTHER APP)

If your Matter device was previously paired elsewhere, Apple Home may need you to use “More options” during Add Accessory so it can find and claim the device correctly.

TROUBLESHOOTING

1. “CAN’T SCAN THE CODE”

• Wipe the label (seriously — fingerprints matter)

• Increase light / reduce glare

• Use “Enter Code Manually” instead

2. “ACCESSORY NOT FOUND”

• Move your phone closer (within a couple of metres)

• Power-cycle the accessory

• Check the accessory is in pairing mode (manufacturer instructions)

3. “ALREADY ADDED / CAN’T ADD” (COMMON WITH MATTER)

• Factory reset the accessory and try again

• If it was added in a different ecosystem/app, remove it there first, then re-add in Apple Home

4. “IT ADDED, BUT IT’S NOT RESPONDING”

• This is usually network/Thread border router/hub territory rather than pairing. (I’ll do a dedicated “No Response” troubleshooting flow separately.)