Earlier this year, iOS 18.4 brought support for Matter’s implementation of robot vacuums into HomeKit. I’ve been testing a few various models over the past few months, and SwitchBot has done a fantastic job. I’ve been using the SwitchBot K11+ for the past three months, and I am excited to talk about it this week.
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HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
Setting up with HomeKit
SwitchBot is one of the few vendors that support Matter with robot vacuums, and they do it without needing a hub. You’ll need to onboard the vac into the SwitchBot app first, and then go to the vacuum settings and look for the Matter Setup section.
Once you’re in the Matter setup, you’ll go through a slightly different process, but it works. You’ll connect to the vacuum, the app will generate a Matter code, then you’ll open the Home app, tap to add a new accessory, and use the “More option” link. You should see the vacuum icon listed on the next screen. Tap on it, and then paste in the Matter code.
Once it’s connected, pick a room, give it a name, and you’re up and running in HomeKit.
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How you’ll use the SwitchBot K11+ in HomeKit
Matter’s implementation of robot vacuums in HomeKit is pretty simple right now. You basically get start and stop controls along with a few options for suction strength and room selection. It is not a full-featured experience, but it covers the basics.
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