Back at WWDC 2020, Apple announced several additional features that would come as part of iOS 14 for HomeKit. With one of those features enabling the HomePod to act as a doorbell chime when paired with a HomeKit Doorbell, but until now was not available. But with the release of iOS 14 Beta 3, users can enable this feature within the Home app settings.
The doorbell chime notification for HomePod works in the same way as any other wireless chime. When the HomeKit enabled Doorbell is pressed, the HomePod will play a chime along with a graphic on the top of the HomePod.
Ding dong #HomeKitdoorbell chime on the #HomePod with #iOS14beta3 and #HomeKit pic.twitter.com/JEBJnhiqIV
— Homekit Authority (@followhomekit) July 22, 2020
To HomePod doorbell chimes , you need the following hardware, software and steps;
- HomePod running iOS 14 beta 3
- iPad or iPhone running iOS 14 Beta 3
- Enable chime on HomePod within the HomeKit doorbell settings in the Home app
- Enable the chime doorbell feature within the HomePod settings.
Besides doorbell chimes for HomePod, HomeKit Secure Video doorbells and cameras will get facial recognition. So when facial recognition is used with an HKSV doorbell and HomeKit detects a known face. The HomePod will announce the name of the person at the door.
However, based on my testing the facial recognition feature does not appear to be fully working, plus I don’t have a HomeKit Secure Video enabled Doorbell available to me I can test. However, this all could change soon with HomeKit enable doorbell season about to kick off.
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Jon, are you expecting the HomePod doorbell feature to only work with proper Homekit Doorbell or might it work with a simple Homekit enabled button / switch?
I suspect it’s only going to work with a device identified as a doorbell. I am sure someone in the Homebridge community might be to find a way around this though as it’s not linked to HomeKit Secure Video
Any idea if this works with the Arlo Audio Doorbell? It supports Homekit but would be interested if any one has tried it.
Not tried it but it should work
This ws there before Beta 3, I had it working through most of iOS/TVos 14 betas.
And now I feel like an idiot… as I was thinking 14.2 beta 3 😀
No worries, we all make mistakes
We all make mistakes
Hello, my friend has netatmo doorbell connected to home and homepod chimes when somebody press the button. But it is very quiet and can be barely heard. Is it some way to make it more louder? Thanks for your answer