Wyze and Apple HomeKit: An Explainer and Guide
If you're an Apple user, you know the convenience of having all your smart home devices integrated into the Apple Home app. HomeKit provides a secure and seamless way to control everything with your iPhone, iPad, or Siri. So, it's a common and frustrating question for many new owners: why doesn't my Wyze camera work with Apple HomeKit?
This guide will explain the current state of Wyze and HomeKit compatibility and explore the popular community-driven solutions that can bridge the gap between these two ecosystems.
Does Wyze Natively Support HomeKit?
Let's get the most important question out of the way first: No, Wyze does not offer official, native support for Apple HomeKit.
You cannot buy a Wyze Cam, scan a code, and have it appear in your Apple Home app. The devices are not certified by Apple and do not include the necessary software to communicate directly with the HomeKit framework.
While Wyze has occasionally mentioned exploring the possibility, there has been no official commitment or timeline for bringing native HomeKit support to their cameras. Therefore, to make them work, we must rely on unofficial methods.
The Solution: Using a "Bridge" for HomeKit Integration
The most popular and reliable way to connect Wyze cameras to HomeKit is by creating a "bridge." A bridge is a piece of software running on a device on your home network that translates the Wyze camera's video feed into a format that HomeKit can understand.
The most common platform used for this is Homebridge.
What is Homebridge?
Homebridge is a lightweight, open-source server you can run on your home network. It's designed to emulate the official Apple HomeKit API. Through a system of community-developed plugins, Homebridge can bring thousands of officially unsupported smart home devices—including Wyze cameras—into the HomeKit ecosystem.
What You Will Need:
- A Wyze Camera: Most Wyze Cam models can work, but the setup process may vary slightly.
- An Always-On Computer: This will run the Homebridge software. A Raspberry Pi is the most popular and energy-efficient choice, but you can also use an old laptop or a desktop computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux).
- The Correct Homebridge Plugin: You will need to install a specific Homebridge plugin that is designed to communicate with Wyze cameras. A popular one is
homebridge-wyze-docker. - Some Technical Comfort: While there are many excellent guides, setting up Homebridge involves some command-line work and configuration. It's a DIY project, not a plug-and-play solution.
The General Process for Connecting Wyze to HomeKit
While the exact steps depend on your host computer and the specific plugin you choose, the general workflow looks like this:
- Set Up Your Host Device: Get your Raspberry Pi or computer set up and connected to your home network.
- Install Homebridge: Follow the official Homebridge instructions to install the main software on your device.
- Install the Wyze Plugin: Using the Homebridge interface, search for and install the appropriate Wyze plugin.
- Configure the Plugin: You will need to enter your Wyze account credentials into the plugin's configuration file. This allows the plugin to log in to your account and access the camera feeds just like the official Wyze app does.
- Add Homebridge to HomeKit: The Homebridge software will generate a QR code. Open your Apple Home app, tap 'Add Accessory,' and scan this code. This will add the Homebridge bridge to your Home.
- Cameras Appear in HomeKit: Once Homebridge is added, any cameras it has successfully connected to via the plugin will automatically appear in your Apple Home app as if they were native HomeKit cameras.
What About RTSP?
For some older cameras (like the Wyze Cam v2), Wyze did offer an optional firmware that enabled RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol). This protocol provides a direct video stream URL. If you install this firmware, you can use a more generic camera plugin in Homebridge (like homebridge-camera-ffmpeg) and point it to the camera's RTSP stream URL.
However, installing the RTSP firmware is a manual process and will prevent you from receiving future over-the-air firmware updates from Wyze. For this reason, using a dedicated Wyze plugin is now the more common method.
Limitations to Be Aware Of
- No HomeKit Secure Video: This method does not support Apple's encrypted HomeKit Secure Video recording feature. You will only get live streaming and motion sensor capabilities.
- Reliability: The connection depends on the stability of the plugin, Homebridge, and Wyze's own cloud service. Updates from Wyze can sometimes temporarily break the plugin's functionality.
- Features: Not all features, like two-way audio or pan/tilt controls, may work perfectly depending on the plugin and camera model.
While it requires some setup, using Homebridge is a powerful way to bring your affordable Wyze cameras into the seamless environment of Apple HomeKit.