topic Re: Apple HomeKit in Arlo Ultra

Does anyone know how to link up the Arlo Ultra to Apple home app

Josueacosta302 — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 17:30:10 GMT

Does anyone know how to link up the Arlo Ultra to Apple home app

Re: Apple HomeKit

JamesC — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 17:31:05 GMT

Josueacosta30,

Follow the instructions in this knowledge base article to link your Ultra system to HomeKit:

How do I connect my Arlo camera to Apple HomeKit?

JamesC

Re: Apple HomeKit

robpickering — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:02:31 GMT

I've attempted the instructions at that KB. When I go to Settings > Devices > and then select my Hub, there is no "HomeKit" choice. I have an Arlo Ultra, a x5000 base station, and running firmware 1.14.0.10.

Re: Apple HomeKit

Josueacosta302 — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 17:36:03 GMT

Yeah same here I’ve also attempted with no luck

Re: Apple HomeKit

JamesC — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 18:47:24 GMT

The development team is currently investigating this issue. I will provide an update when I have more information.

JamesC

Re: Apple HomeKit

JamesC — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 18:54:13 GMT

For those experiencing this issue. Do you have the latest version of the iOS Arlo mobile app downloaded and installed from the app store?

The latest version can be found here: Arlo Mobile App

JamesC

Re: Apple HomeKit

robpickering — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 19:31:10 GMT

Yes.

I got my cameras last night, set up my hub, upgraded the firmware in my hub (Model VMB5000r5, running 1.14.0.10), and downloaded the Arlo app from the iOS App Store (version 2.10), the hub had firmware upgrades for both of my cameras (Ultras) and I did that as well (firmware 1.070.41).

-Rob

Re: Apple HomeKit

bnewcome — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 02:47:51 GMT

I had the same problem and found a previous thread that fixed it. Summary below:

1) Update the firmware on your base staton. Once it’s all done, you may not have the HomeKit selection to click on in the app.
2) Remove the base station from the app.
3) Add the base station again.
4) All fixed.

To be clear this means that someone should look into the root cause but this should get y’all up and running. Let me know if it doesn’t work!

Re: Apple HomeKit

robpickering — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 04:15:13 GMT

I performed these steps.

As soon as I removed the existing Hub, I was prompted to grant the Arlo app access to my HomeKit information.

Unfortunately, this step also wipes all of your configurations and cameras.

Since the cameras were previously paired with the "old" base station, you'll have to manually pair them.

This proved to most likely be more trouble than it was worth. I now have two dead cameras until I can get a ladder out to manually sync the cameras back to the base station.

-Rob

Re: Apple HomeKit

robpickering — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 18:21:13 GMT

FWIW, after re-synching the cameras manually to the hub, after re-adding it, the HomeKit option showed up and the cameras do appear in my Home app. They do NOT support the HomeKit secure recording, but otherwise work fine.

Re: Apple HomeKit

bnewcome — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 20:30:46 GMT

As a follow up note, I saw a comment from Arlo stating that they do not have any plans to include HomeKit Secure Video at any point in the future. The Director of Product stated in this link on October 22:

Yes, Arlo Ultra is the next product to be certified for HomeKit. Our goal is to have that completed by Q4 of this year. Arlo does not currently plan to support Apple HomeKit Secure Video, but we will support a range of other features that will enable Arlo cameras to participate in the HomeKit ecosystem

It makes sense from a business perspective, but it's also a little upsetting if someone wanted to do both. Just an FYI.

Can’t add VMB5000 to HomeKit

Retired_Member — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 23:50:18 GMT

Case Description
I have an Arlo Ultra 4K system (VMB5000r4) with 3 x Ultra 4K cameras (VMC5040). I am unable to add the smart hub to HomeKit. When I go into settings and select “HomeKit Setup” a window appears with the message “Discovering your Device, Please wait”. The screen stays like this and doesn’t update. I have reset the whole system to factory settings and tried again; as well as completely reset up HomeKit from scratch but the same results occur. (My system didn’t come with a HomeKit accessory code). My hub has the latest firmware installed, and the cameras do also.

Case Description

I have an Arlo Ultra 4K system (VMB5000r4) with 3 x Ultra 4K cameras (VMC5040). I am unable to add the smart hub to HomeKit. When I go into settings and select “HomeKit Setup” a window appears with the message “Discovering your Device, Please wait”. The screen stays like this and doesn’t update. I have reset the whole system to factory settings and tried again; as well as completely reset up HomeKit from scratch but the same results occur. (My system didn’t come with a HomeKit accessory code). My hub has the latest firmware installed, and the cameras do also.

Re: Apple HomeKit

Bwelker — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 00:10:00 GMT

So Arlo doesn’t have 100% code coverage on tests I guess.

Re: Apple HomeKit

Retired_Member — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 22:26:38 GMT

With the new update 2.11 for the Arlo app release a day ago and all the correct firmware updates, the Arlo app will still not recognised Apple HomeKit. Arlo what is going on?

Re: Does anyone know how to link up the Arlo Ultra to Apple home app

GaryAllen — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 01:53:53 GMT

I have 2 base stations and only one will connect to home kit, the experience when connected was pretty bad that I have not even looked since... corrupt or no video....

Re: Does anyone know how to link up the Arlo Ultra to Apple home app

robpickering — Sat, 23 Nov 2019 03:09:59 GMT

It appears that the HomeKit compatibility is only for the latest firmware AND for base stations that have not previously had any cameras set up on them...

If you've got an existing base station, you need to detach all of your devices from the base station (which will cause them to reset and have to be completely set up as new). Once you've detached all cameras, reboot your base station, upon first entering into the app for that base station, it'll prompt you to grant access to your "Home" (HomeKit). Then set up your cameras and everything will "work".

Re: Does anyone know how to link up the Arlo Ultra to Apple home app

digitaldias — Sat, 23 Nov 2019 07:48:24 GMT

Same result here, installed the Arlo, got no homekit button in hub settings, so I removed the device from the app, and re-added it (and the cameras). Now I have HomeKit enabled, however I get an error message stating "the configration code is wrong" (translated from Norwegian)

Not the best first-time experience

Re: Apple HomeKit

John__F — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 23:13:46 GMT

still no luck connecting to homekit. NZ based model VMB5000r4 base station + 3 ultra cams

have tried countless resets, restarts and updates of all hardware iPhone, Apple TV, ultra base station, cameras. Still hangs on "discovering devices" screen when selecting homekit setup in arlo app. made contact with arlo support several weeks ago and sent logs from iPhone but haven't heard anything back..

anyone had any luck connecting as of December?