subhan.io

getting started with homebridge on raspberry pi

before you begin, it helps to have some basic technical knowledge - you don’t need to know how to code or anything but some troubleshooting skills would be useful if you have issues. this tutorial will walk you through setting up homebridge on a raspberry pi. while you can install it on other devices i recommend the raspberry pi as its the easiest. note that homebridge is mainly designed for apple device users. if you're an android user, you might have better luck with home assistant

what you need

  • raspberry pi (any recent model works - i've been using the raspberry pi 4 for the last 5 years and had no issues)
  • microsd card (at least 8gb recommended)
  • laptop or desktop computer with an sd card reader
  • internet connection

step 1. download the homebridge raspberry pi image

go to the official guide here: homebridge raspberry pi image setup

download the image and follow the instructions on that page to flash it to your microsd card.

step 2. set up your raspberry pi

  • insert the microsd card into the raspberry pi
  • connect it to power
  • connect to your network using either ethernet or wifi (wifi can be configured in the setup tool)

step 3. access the homebridge ui

after a few minutes, open a browser on your laptop and go to http://homebridge.local or use the ip address of your pi.

you should see the homebridge web interface.

step 4. finish configuration

  • create an admin account
  • install plugins for your devices
  • generate the qr code and scan it with the home app on your iphone or ipad

step 5. finding plugins

homebridge needs plugins to connect with your smart home devices. here's how to find the right ones:

  • go to the plugins tab in the homebridge ui
  • search for your device brand name in the search box
  • choose plugins with the most downloads for better reliability
  • follow the plugin's setup instructions

searching the brand name in the plugins section usually works - i go with the one with the most downloads to be safe.

my specific setup

i use govee lights on my desk and floor lamp and tp link bulbs in my lamps which keeps things simple. this combination gives me reliable control without overcomplicated setups. links for my specific products can be found at https://subhan.io/setup

you now have a working homebridge setup on a raspberry pi. from here you can explore plugins for smart devices, customize your setup, and bring unsupported accessories into apple homekit. enjoy!