How to Manage Apple HomeKit Notifications for Your Smart Home Accessories

Keep an eye on what's happening with your accessories using notifications. We'll show you how to set them up.

Notifications are vital for keeping an eye on your smart home, and the Apple Home app makes it easy to monitor your accessories at all times. With just a few simple steps, you can set up camera notifications, HomePod safety alerts, and more. We'll show you everything you need to know.

You'll need a few things before getting started with Home App notifications. As always, you must ensure that your iPhone, Apple Home Hub, and HomeKit accessories are up-to-date. If you need some help with your devices, check out our guide on how to update your Apple HomeKit accessories.

You'll also need a set up Apple Home Hub —either a HomePod or Apple TV. A Home Hub unlocks remote out-of-home alerts for your accessories.

Of course, you'll also need a compatible smart home accessory, such as a camera, sensor, lock, HomePod, or window blind. Unfortunately, notifications for thermostats, smart plugs, and lights are not supported.

To manage notification settings for smart door locks, sensors, and window blinds, launch the Home App. Tap the More... button, then Home Settings.

Next, tap the type of accessory you wish to manage by tapping Blinds & Windows, Doors, Locks, or Sensors. Now, tap the name of your device.

Enable notifications by tapping the Activity Notifications toggle. To set when notifications are active, tap Time, then select Any time, During the day, At night, or Specific times.

Next, tap People to set notifications based on the location of those within your home. You can choose between Off, When somebody is home, When I am home, When nobody is home, or When I am not home.

Like accessories, camera and doorbell notification settings are in the Home app. However, cameras and doorbells offer a few extra settings that mainly apply to HomeKit Secure Video features.

In the Home App, tap the More... button, then Home Settings. Now tap Cameras & Doorbells, then tap the name of your device.

To turn on notifications, tap the toggle next to Activity Notifications, then select the Time or People options to determine when alerts are active.

Next, tap A Clip is Recorded, Any Motion is Detected, or Specific Motion is Detected. Finally, choose event types by tapping People Are Detected, Animals Are Detected, Vehicles Are Detected, or Packages Are Detected.

Additional notification options are also available below activity alerts. These include Status Change Notifications, Notify When Camera Goes Offline, Allow Snapshots in Notifications, and Doorbell Notifications.

HomePod Safety Alerts utilize sound recognition to determine if an alarm sound is active in your home. If your HomePod picks up an alarm, it will notify all your devices and those of others in your home.

To set up HomePod Safety Alerts, launch the Home App, then tap the More... button at the top of your screen. Next, tap Home Settings, followed by Safety & Security.

Now tap Sound Recognition and the toggle next to Smoke & CO Alarm. Finally, tap the toggle for your HomePod to enable the feature.

With Sound Recognition enabled you'll see a new Check In option and toggles for those you share your home with. Check In allows you to listen in through your HomePod or view a camera inside your home during a safety event.

Apple's Home app Intercom feature allows for quick audio message sharing between those within your home. Intercom messages will play back through your iOS devices, Apple Watch, and HomePod, and users can direct messages to specific people, devices, or rooms.

To manage Intercom notifications in the Home App, start by tapping the More... button. Next, tap Home Settings, then Intercom.

From here, choose when to receive Intercom notifications by tapping Never, When I'm Home, or Anywhere. You can also decide who can receive Intercom messages and which HomePods can play them back by tapping the remaining toggles.

With notifications enabled for your accessories, you'll always know the status of your smart home. By enabling camera notifications, you'll see the instant that someone is snooping around your house, and with HomePod Safety Alerts, you can rest easy when you are out and about.

After graduating with a BAS in Technology Administration, Christopher has been covering Apple HomeKit and the smart home industry for various sites including iMore and HomeKit Hero since 2018. Whether it is installing smart light switches, testing the latest door locks, or automating his households daily routines, Christopher has done it all.