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The Roborock S8 Ultra has been on my wishlist for a few months now.
But the only thing that prevented me from investing in it was the lack of native Homekit support.
About two years ago, Xiaomi did roll out partial support for Siri shortcuts, but I wanted a vacuum cleaner that I could control using Siri’s voice commands.
I knew there were third-party solutions that could help me do that.
I did some research and found a way that could actually help me use the robot vacuum with Siri as if it was natively compatible.
That is when I finally decided to get the Roborock and it has been working perfectly since my Homekit system since then.
Roborock works with HomeKit using the Homebridge-based plug-and-play solution HOOBS. Connect the device to your home network, install the Roborock plugin, configure it using your laptop, and restart the HOOBS device. Once the process is complete, you will be able to use Siri commands with your vacuum.
Use Roborock Siri Shortcuts
As of now, Homekit does not support the robot vacuum category, so Siri shortcuts are the closest you can get to native Homekit compatibility.
Using these shortcuts, you can control your Roborock vacuum with Siri’s voice commands from your phone.
However, Siri shortcuts for Roborock do have some limitations. They do not support all the features and settings available in the Roborock app such as selective room cleaning and changing the cleaning mode.
To set up Siri voice commands for your Roborock, you can follow these steps:
- Open the Mi Home app.
- Go to the Profile tab at the bottom.
- Go to Lab features and make sure the Mi Home iOS shortcut is toggled on.
- Go to the Automation tab at the bottom.
- Click the “+” on the top right.
- Select the condition “Complete manually”
- Then select the vacuum.
- Select the command “Start cleaning.”
- Click “Save.”
- Then click “Add to Siri.”
You should now be able to use Siri shortcuts to control your Roborock.
Use HOOBS If You Want More Functionality
If you are looking for complete control of your Roborock using the Home app and Siri’s voice commands, you can use Homebridge. There are two ways to do this:
- Install Homebridge on your laptop. It’s important to note that your laptop needs to remain powered on continuously. Once you shut down the laptop, you will lose the connection to Homebridge.
- Use a plug-and-play solution called HOOBS. It is a lightweight option that doesn’t require a complex installation process. It allows you to easily set up Homebridge without worrying about high energy consumption, keeping your bills in check.
I personally prefer HOOBS since I don’t want to keep my laptop turned on at all times.
Set Up HOOBS
To get started with your HOOBS device, follow these steps:
- Plug the HOOBS device into a power socket and turn it on. Wait until you see a solid red light on the device, indicating that it’s powered up and ready to go.
- Connect the HOOBS device to your Home network. You have two options: you can either connect it to your Wi-Fi network or directly wire it to your router using the ethernet cable provided in the box.
- Once the HOOBS device is successfully connected to the internet, you’ll notice a green light on the device, indicating a stable connection.
- Open your web browser and navigate to https://hoobs.local. This will take you to the HOOBS login page. To log in, simply use ‘admin’ as both your username and password.
Configure The Plugin
From the menu on the left, go to the ‘Plugins’ tab and search for the Xiaomi Roborock Vacuum plugin. Click on install.
The process will automatically begin. After installing this plugin, retrieve the Xiaomi token.
For this, follow these instructions:
Note: The Roborock should be paired to the Mi app, not the Roborock app. You should already have an account on https://account.xiaomi.com/.
- To get the token, use the Xiaomi Cloud tokens extractor tool. Download the token_extractor.exe and follow the onscreen prompts.
- You will be prompted to add your Xiaomi account email and password. Add the credentials and leave the server section blank.
- You will get the token value, copy and save it in a file to use later.
The next step is to configure the plugin. Go to the plugin tab and click on the configuration button under the plugin.
Copy and paste this code, and replace the token value, accessory name, and IP address.
"accessories": [ { "accessory": "XiaomiRoborockVacuum", "name": "Xiaomi Mi Robot Vaccum 1st Generation", "ip": "192.168.1.150", "token": "abcdef1234567890abcdef1234567890", "serviceType": "fan", "pause": false, "dock": true, "waterBox": false, "cleanword": "cleaning", "rooms": [ { "id": 16, "name": "Livingroom" }, { "id": 17, "name": "Kitchen" } ], "zones": [ { "name":"Family Room (x2)", "zone":[[25000,25000,32000,32000,2]] }, { "name":"Bedroom", "zone":[[21000,32000,24000,37000,1]] }, { "name":"Bedroom & Family Room", "zone":[ [21000,32000,24000,37000,1], [25000,25000,32000,32000,1]] } ] }],Note: The vacuum will appear on the Home app as a fan because Apple doesn’t officially support Vacuums in Homekit.
To initiate the Room Clean Mode, simply adjust the room switches in the appropriate cleaning sequence. Once done, activate the main Fan switch to kickstart the actual cleaning process.
If you prefer your robot to start cleaning right after you adjust the room switches, you can use the config parameter called “roomTimeout” to specify the waiting time in seconds before it begins (this allows you to locate and configure other rooms you want to activate or deactivate)
What Can You Do with Roborock-HomeKit Integration?
Integrating your Roborock smart vacuum with HomeKit using the Homebridge platform offers convenient control over your vacuum alongside your other Apple Home devices. Here’s what you can do:
Control Your Roborock Remotely with Siri
With this integration, you can control your Roborock vacuum using Siri and access its functionalities remotely through your phone, even when you’re away from home.
For example, before arriving at your front door after a work trip or a weekend away, you can activate the vacuum to give your house a quick clean.
Find Your Roborock
A handy feature is the ability to locate your Roborock when it’s out of charge or in an unexpected location.
Just say, “Hey Siri, Roborock S6, where are you?” and the vacuum will respond, “Hi, I am over here.”
Enhanced Navigation and Safety
Robot vacuums may struggle to recognize stairs and other elevated surfaces, posing a risk of falls.
However, using HomeKit integration, you can create a customized map for your vacuum to follow.
This ensures that it avoids high places and minimizes the chances of accidental falls. Additionally, you can set up designated no-go zones for the vacuum, further enhancing its navigation capabilities.
Cleaning Scheduling
HomeKit integration allows you to schedule cleaning times for your robot vacuum.
Moreover, you can use it to send the robot directly to specific spots where spills or tracked-in dust and dirt require immediate attention.
Power and Settings Control
You can also adjust the power and other settings of your vacuum cleaner.
Depending on your vacuum model, you can even program specific vacuum settings based on different areas of your home.
You May Also Enjoy Reading:
- Roomba Vs Samsung: Best Robot Vacuum You Can Buy Now
- Does Roomba Work With HomeKit? How To Connect
- Best HomeKit-Enabled Robot Vacuums You Can Buy Today
- Best HomeKit Air Purifier To Cleanse Your Smart Home
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Roborock work without Wi-Fi?
Yes, it can work without Wi-Fi and perform all cleaning tasks, but you will not be able to control it using your phone or tablet.
How do you name a Roborock room?
In the vacuum settings, you will see a map option. All the rooms and their names have been laid out under this setting. You can change them accordingly.
Will Roborock fall downstairs?
You can set up navigation in the app to prevent your Roborock from falling down the stairs. Some models come with Onboard cliff sensors that can prevent the robot from falling.
Can Roborock clean multiple floors?
This depends on the model of the Roborock. Some higher-end models can remember up to three different floor plans, but you will have to carry them to different floors.
