Apple publishes list of supported Siri voice commands for controlling HomeKit appliances

HomeKit diagram 001

Apple has refreshed a support article detailing setting up and using HomeKit-enabled accessories with a list of supported Siri voice commands to control your HomeKit hardware locally or remotely, through your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

After pairing a HomeKit-enabled accessory to an iOS device, you can use Siri commands to turn your home appliance on or off, adjust its settings and more, using just your voice.

Apple-provided examples include:

  • “Turn on the lights”
  • “Turn off the lights”
  • “Dim the lights”
  • “Set the brightness to 50%”
  • “Set the temperature to 68 degrees.”
  • “Turn on the coffee maker.”

If you set up homes, zones, rooms, or scenes, you can use also the following commands:

  • “Turn on the upstairs lights.”
  • “Turn off Chloe’s light.”
  • “Turn down the kitchen lights”
  • “Dim the lights in the dining room to 50%.”
  • “Make the living room lights the brightest.”
  • “Set the Tahoe house to 72 degrees.”
  • “Set the thermostat downstairs to 70.”
  • “Turn on the printer in the office.”
  • “Set up for a party, Siri.”
  • “Set the dinner scene.”
  • “Set my bedtime scene.”

Grouping HomeKit accessories into scenes, rooms and homes allows you to, say, open the garage door, turn on the lights and adjust the living room temperature with a single Siri command. These groups are set up within a third-party app for your HomeKit accessory. Sone apps might not have this option.

HomeKit teaser 001

Apple notes that these spoken HomeKit commands won’t work while your iOS device is locked. This is likely for security purposes to ensure no one can steal your iPhone to unlock your door with Siri.

“For example, you’ll need to unlock your device before you can use Siri to unlock your door,” notes the support document.

Using Siri commands with HomeKit accessories requires that you have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on in Settings on your iOS device.

Using Siri commands to remotely control your accessories requires a third-generation Apple TV or later with software version 7.0 or later, or a dedicated HomeKit hub. You must be singed into iCloud with the same Apple ID on your iOS device and Apple TV to remotely control your accessories via Siri.

Source: Apple