How to Create a Security Alarm With HomePod and HomeKit
If you’re tired of expensive home security system fees and have a HomePod in your home, you’ll be happy to know that it’s possible to go DIY thanks to HomeKit automation.
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In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to create an alarm scene in the Home app on iOS and how to turn that into an automation to help secure your home.
What You Need to Get Started
Along with a HomePod or HomePod mini already set up in your home, you’ll need a few other things before you canput Apple HomeKit devices to good use with automation—one of which is a sensor that will act as a trigger for your alarm.
Compatible accessory types include door and window sensors, motion sensors, and cameras. HomeKit-enabled door and window sensors (sometimes referred to as contact sensors) are excellent for monitoring the entrances in your home as they attach directly to an entry point, typically via a peel-and-stick adhesive.
HomeKit motion sensors provide coverage of larger open areas, such as living rooms or kitchens, by detecting activity within or around your home. There are plenty of HomeKit motion sensor options on the market, but if you are up for the challenge, you canmake a DIY motion sensor for Apple HomeKitthat will work for an alarm.
HomeKit cameras, like motion sensors, can spot someone lurking around your home and are best suited for the outdoors. Most HomeKit cameras expose a motion sensor accessory to the Home app, which you can then use for your alarm automation.
Finally, you’ll also need an active subscription to Apple Music. It might sound a little odd initially, but Apple’s subscription service unlocks the ability to play tracks through your HomePod via Home app automation. Thankfully, Apple’s streaming library is home to tons of different alarm sounds and sirens, which work great for a DIY security system.
Step 1: Create a Scene to Sound the Alarm
While you can skip directly to creating an alarm automation, you’ll want to create two scenes in the Home app to make the entire process easier. The first scene that you create will play the alarm sound of your choice through your HomePod.
After launching the Home app on your iOS device, tap the+near the top-right corner of your screen. Next, tapAdd Scene, then tapCustom. Provide a name for your scene, then tapAdd Accessories. Now tap your HomePod (or HomePods if you have multiple), followed byDone.
Screenshot by Christopher Close - no attribution
On the next screen, tapPlay Audio, thenChoose Audio. Now tapApple Music, then use the search field to find an alarm sound. If you need some help tracking down a sound, try searching for sirens, alarms, and horns.
When you find a suitable sound, tap the+icon to add it to your scene. From here, you can fine-tune your automation by toggling theRepeatoption, which will play your alarm sound indefinitely, and you can tapSet Custom Volumeto have it play at your desired level. To save your scene, tap theback arrowfollowed byDone.
Step 2: Create a Scene to Turn Off the Alarm
In the event that your alarm sounds, you’ll want an easy way for everyone in the home to shut it off (if youallow others to control your Apple HomeKit accessories.) While you can always ask Siri on your HomePod to stop your new alarm with your voice, you can also make a HomeKit scene that will turn it off with a tap in the Home app.
Just like we did for creating an alarm scene, start by tapping the+button in the Home app followed byCustom. Give your alarm off scene a name, then tapAdd Accessories.
Next, tap your HomePod, thenDone. On the next screen, tap your HomePod to set it toPauseand then tapDoneto save your scene.
Step 3: Create Your Alarm Automation
Now it’s time to create your alarm automation in the Home app. Start by tapping+, then tapAdd Automation. Now tapA Sensor Detects Somethingfollowed by the sensor that you wish to trigger your alarm.
Next, tap eitherOpensorDetects Motion, depending on your HomeKit sensor type. To customize your automation, you can use the additional options at the bottom of your screen.
TapTimeto set when your alarm is active. The Home app provides presets such asDuring the dayandAt night, but you can dial in the times if they don’t fit your schedule by tappingSpecific times.
To put your new security alarm on autopilot, tapPeopleto base your automation on the presence of people in your home. The presence options utilize the location data from the iPhones of those within your household. Options includeWhen somebody is home,When I am home,When nobody is home, andWhen I am not home.
When you are done customizing your automation and are ready to proceed, tapNext.Now tap the name of your alarm scene, followed byNext. Before finishing your automation, test it to see how it sounds via your HomePod by tapping theTest This Automation. If everything looks and sounds good, tapDoneto save your automation.
Smart Security With Your HomePod
While it may initially sound a little daunting, creating a DIY security system with your HomePod and the Home app is an excellent option for securing your home. By creating an alarm scene and using automation, you can ditch the standard security system fees while still providing a way to scare off intruders and get everyone’s attention in the home.
Thanks to its deep integration within the iOS ecosystem, creating a DIY security system with the HomePod is just one of the many advantages of using Apple HomeKit over other smart home ecosystems.
Find out more about Apple’s smart home ecosystem and why you’ll want to dive in.
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