How to fix ‘HomeKit devices won’t connect’ problems

Source: How to fix ‘HomeKit devices won’t connect’ problems

Apple’s HomeKit standard provides a network to connect all of your home automation products so they can talk to each other – and to your Apple devices. With the Home app, users can remotely turn on lights, interact with accessories, and schedule automations from their iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

But if HomeKit isn’t behaving like it should and you’re getting the dreaded “No Response” message, what can you do? In this article, we’ve broken down all the steps you can take to get your HomeKit accessory started and back online.

Start with the basics: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Most HomeKit accessories communicate using either Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. If these aren’t enabled on your device, you won’t be able to interact with your HomeKit bulbs and smart plugs.

Open Settings, tap Wi-Fi and make sure Wi-Fi is on and you’re connected to your home network. Return to the Settings main menu, then tap Bluetooth and check if it’s enabled as well.

If everything looks like it should be working, it’s also worth checking to see if your wireless network is down. Launch the Safari app and try loading a website like Google or Macworld.

If your home internet connection is poor, it could be affecting HomeKit and you may need to troubleshoot using the method recommended by your internet service provider. Usually, restarting your hub or router is a good place to start.

Check if you are signed in to iCloud

After confirming that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are working properly, verify that you are signed in to iCloud and that Home is enabled for your account. Launch the Settings app, tap your iCloud profile (at the top of the screen), select iCloud and make sure Home is on.

Update to the latest software

Apple recommends that users who are having problems with their software or their devices update to the latest available versions of iOS and macOS.

To do this on your iPhone or iPad, launch the Settings app, select General, then Software Update to check if a new version of iOS is available. On Mac, you need to launch System Preferences and select Software Update.

If you encountered problems with HomeKit after updating your iOS or macOS software, an error may have crept into the software version. While another update should fix this in due course, it’s worth continuing with the troubleshooting process to verify that another issue isn’t affecting HomeKit.

Have you tried using a different device?

If you’re having trouble interacting with your accessories on an iPhone, have you tried your iPad or Apple TV? If you find that you can control your HomeKit products with another device, you may need to erase and restore your iPhone — or whatever device is having trouble interacting with your accessory.

Make sure your device is backed up with iCloud or iTunes, then launch the Settings app, choose Reset, then choose Erase All Content and Settings. If your device is completely erased, you can restore it from your backup and this may fix your HomeKit issue.

Check if your accessory works in the manufacturer’s app

While the Home app is great for connecting all of your HomeKit accessories together, you can also use the manufacturer’s app to control your products. This can be useful when troubleshooting HomeKit.

For example, if you’re having trouble controlling some of your Hue bulbs, launch the Philips Hue app and see if you can interact with your lights there. If you can, the problem is more likely with HomeKit and your iCloud account than with the accessory itself.

If this is the case, two tricks might prove helpful. First, restart your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to see if this brings HomeKit back online. When dealing with iCloud issues, it can also be a good idea to log out and back in to your iCloud account. You can do this in the Settings app: tap your iCloud profile at the top of the screen, scroll down and select Sign Out.

However, if you are unable to interact with your accessory in the manufacturer’s app, the next step is to reset your hardware.

Reset your hardware

How you do this depends on the type of accessory you are dealing with. Therefore, check the manufacturer’s instructions.

Hue owners, for example, would need to restart their Philips Hue bridge to see if that brings the lightbulbs back online. You can do this by unplugging the bridge and plugging it back in a few moments later, or by pressing the reset button on the back of the bridge.

Last resort: remove and re-add your home

So you’ve tried everything else and nothing worked? The final step is to completely remove and re-add your home. It’s really a last resort, as you’ll have to re-pair your accessories one at a time and reconfigure all of your scenes in the Home app.

To delete and re-add your HomeKit home, launch the Home app and tap the home 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 screen.

Returning to the Home app allows you to begin the tedious process of adding your HomeKit accessories again, one at a time.

Still stuck?

If you still can’t interact with your HomeKit devices, there may be an issue with your hardware that software-based troubleshooting can’t resolve. We recommend that you contact the manufacturer for further assistance, which may include returning your accessory if it is covered under warranty.

Alternatively, if you’re able to interact with your accessory in the manufacturer’s app and feel that HomeKit is the problem, make an appointment at your local Genius bar and see if Apple can provide further assistance.

Now that your accessories are working again, you can add more devices. Read our roundups of the best HomeKit security cameras and the best HomeKit smart lights for detailed buying advice.

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