How to use HomeKit with your eero Network

This article explains how eero, a HomeKit-enabled router, provides a secure way to use connected devices in a home network. It discusses the potential risks of adding devices to a network and how eero addresses them by firewalling HomeKit-enabled accessories to prevent communication with unauthorized services or devices on the internet. The article also provides instructions on how to activate HomeKit via the eero app, add a device, and disable HomeKit.

What is HomeKit and How Can I Use it with my eeros?

Many of the connected devices we have in our homes, like light bulbs, thermostats, plugs, and door locks, only need access to a limited set of internet services in order to function. However, once you add a device to your home network, the device can access any other device in your home, as well as any website or service on the internet, without your permission or knowledge. With unrestricted access, a single device flaw puts your entire home at risk—that changes with eero as a HomeKit-enabled router.

eero will firewall each of your supported HomeKit-enabled accessories, preventing them from communicating with other WiFi devices connected to your home network, and from unauthorized services on the internet. HomeKit accessories are automatically given permissions based only on what they need:

Restrict to Home: Most secure. Your device can interact only with HomeKit through your Apple devices. The device won't connect to the Internet or any local devices so any third-party services, like firmware updates, might be blocked.
Automatic: Default security. The router allows the accessory to connect to an automatically updated list of manufacturer approved Internet services and local devices.
No Restriction: Least secure. This setting bypasses the secure router and allows your device to interact with any device in your network or Internet- based service.

If you would like to add your eeros to HomeKit you must have the following:

eero App 3.1.0 or later
Your network must be in NAT mode. This feature will not work if your network is in Bridge Mode
Your phone must be connected to your eero network
Your iPhone/iPad is updated to iOS 14+
You have a Home Hub in your Home that is also running iOS 13.2+. (You may use a Home Pod running iOS 13.2 or later, and HomeKit accessories, an Apple TV 4K, an Apple TV HD, or an iPad as your Home Hub.
Once you have verified that you have one of the above please follow the instructions below to access HomeKit via your eero App
Note: eero Pro 6E and eero 6+ do not support Apple Home Kit, and we have no plans to offer Apple Home Kit’s router functionality on eero Pro 6 E and eero 6+. We will continue to fully support other Apple Home Kit features

How to Activate HomeKit

Open the eero app and tap Discover at the bottom of the screen
Tap Apple HomeKit
Tap Set up HomeKit at the bottom of the screen
Read through the text on the page then tap Setup HomeKit
You will get a pop up letting you know "eero" Would Like to Access Your Home Data. If you would like to proceed tap Allow

How to access HomeKit once it has been Activated

Open the eero app and tap Discover at the bottom of the screen
Tap Apple HomeKit
From this screen you may view the eeros setup with HomeKit

How to Add a Device

Open the eero app and tap the the blue + in the top right of the screen
Tap Add a Device
Tap HomeKit Accessory
Choose which Home you would like the device added to
Follow the onscreen HomeKit instructions

How to Disable HomeKit

Open the eero app and tap Discover at the bottom of the screen
Tap Apple HomeKit
Tap Disable HomeKit at the bottom of the page
You will get a pop up letting you know "You're about to disable HomeKit This is permanent and Cannot be undone".
Tap Disable
The next screen will notify you HomeKit has been disabled
Tap Okay to exit

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