Skip to content

Blog ·

Which smart shades are compatible with Apple Home?

Motionblinds connects to Apple Home through Eve Motionblinds motors with Matter and Thread technology or through the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge for standard motors. Both options work locally and support control through Apple Home and Siri.

Read in less than a minute 

What's new? 

  • Motionblinds works with Apple Home through two connection options — Matter and Thread through Eve Motionblinds, and Matter through the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge — both work locally without relying on the cloud 
  • Eve Motionblinds motors connect directly to Apple Home over a local Thread network using Thread border routers such as Apple TV or HomePod — no Motionblinds bridge is required 
  • The Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge connects standard motors to Apple Home with QR code setup, with no account or registration required 

What you need to know 

  • Apple Home only supports Matter — unlike other platforms, Apple Home has no connection option through a cloud-based Wi-Fi bridge 
  • Eve Motionblinds with built-in Matter and Thread: scan the Matter QR code in the Apple Home app — Apple Home communicates locally over Thread for fast, secure and reliable control 
  • Standard Motionblinds motors (Bluetooth or 433 MHz): connect them through the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge by scanning the QR code — no account or registration is required, and the bridge operates entirely offline 
  • Eve Motionblinds requires a HomePod or Apple TV as a Thread border router — these devices also enable remote access when you are away from home 
  • Standard motors using the Matter bridge require a Matter controller — any HomePod, Apple TV or compatible hub will work 
  • Once connected, Apple Home and Siri support opening, closing, percentage positioning, scenes and time-based automations, including sunrise and sunset triggers 
  • First-generation Eve Motionblinds motors with HomeKit firmware can be upgraded to Matter wirelessly 

Key takeaways 

  • This article is for homeowners who use Apple Home or Siri and want to know exactly how Motionblinds integrates with them. There are two connection options — both based on Matter, both operating locally — and the choice depends on whether you choose Eve Motionblinds or standard motors with a Matter bridge. 
  • Apple Home is the most privacy-focused of the major smart home platforms, and Matter is a natural fit for this approach. Both Motionblinds connection options for Apple Home provide local control after setup without relying on the cloud. 

Why Apple Home users expect a different kind of integration

Apple Home appeals to homeowners who care about privacy, reliability and tight platform integration. They expect devices to work within the Apple ecosystem without requiring separate accounts, cloud logins or third-party services running in the background. 

Matter is the reason Motionblinds now connects seamlessly to Apple Home. The protocol was designed specifically for this kind of direct, local cross-platform compatibility — and Apple Home has fully embraced it. For Motionblinds, this means two clearly defined ways to connect to the Apple ecosystem, both local, both requiring no account at the Apple Home level, and both supporting Siri control. 

Velika spletna EVE MotionblindsMelbourne 0600  2

Option 1 — Eve Motionblinds: Matter and Thread, the fastest local connection

Eve Motionblinds motors have Matter and Thread technology built directly into the motor. No Motionblinds bridge is required. To connect to Apple Home, open the Apple Home app, select Add Accessory and scan the Matter QR code on the motor — the shade appears immediately in Apple Home and can be assigned to a room. 

Apple Home communicates with Eve Motionblinds locally over Thread. A HomePod or Apple TV acts as a Thread border router, manages the local network connection and enables remote access when you are away from home. Because control takes place locally over Thread rather than through the cloud, response is fast, and the system continues to run local automations and schedules during internet outages. 

Thread also uses significantly less energy than Wi-Fi, extending the battery life of Eve Motionblinds motors between charges. For Apple Home users building a local-first, privacy-focused smart home, this is the most capable and future-ready option. 

Apple mejni usmerjevalnik Thread motor MatterThread

Option 2 — Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge: standard motors, full Apple Home compatibility

Standard Motionblinds motors using Bluetooth or 433 MHz radio technology connect to Apple Home through the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge. The motors must first be set up in the Motionblinds Matter Bridge app, then added to Apple Home by entering the Matter pairing code from the bridge app into Apple Home. 

The Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge operates entirely offline — schedules and local automations remain active even without an internet connection. A Matter controller is required: any HomePod or Apple TV will work. This option gives owners of existing standard motors full Apple Home and Siri compatibility without replacing their motors. 

Please note that older Motionblinds Wi-Fi bridges without Matter do not support Apple Home — Matter is the only supported way to integrate with Apple Home, either through Eve Motionblinds or the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge.  

Apple povezovalna naprava Matter radijski motor

What Apple Home and Siri can actually control

The Apple Home and Siri control experience is the same with both connection options. Voice commands open, close or set any shade to a specific position: "Hey Siri, open the living room shades," "Hey Siri, close all the shades," "Hey Siri, set the bedroom shade to 50 percent." 

Apple Home scenes bring multiple devices together under a single tap or voice command. A "Good Morning" scene can raise all the shades in the house, turn on the lights and adjust the thermostat at the same time. A "Movie Night" scene can close the living room shades, dim the lights and set the temperature — all triggered by a single phrase. 

Apple Home automations support schedules, sunrise and sunset triggers, and automations linked to sensors, lighting or heating devices. Scheduling shades to close during peak sunlight hours reduces solar heat gain and can reduce the need for cooling. Opening shades to make use of natural daylight reduces reliance on artificial lighting. 

Velika spletna EVE Motionblinds naprave 4 (1)

Choosing the right option

For new installations, Eve Motionblinds is the better choice — Thread delivers the fastest local response, the longest battery life and the simplest integration, with no additional bridge hardware beyond the HomePod or Apple TV already present in most Apple Home setups. The Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge is the practical choice for homeowners with existing standard motors who want full Apple Home compatibility without replacing their hardware. 

Important note: existing Motionblinds Bluetooth and 433 MHz motors can gain Apple Home compatibility by adding the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge. First-generation Eve Motionblinds motors with the original HomeKit firmware can be upgraded to Matter wirelessly — full instructions are available at support.motionblinds.com/upgrade-to-matter. 

Check compatible hubs with a Thread border router at motionblinds.com/smart-connectivity/hubs, explore all connectivity options at motionblinds.com/smart-connectivity and find a retailer at motionblinds.com/stores.  

Velika spletna EVE Motionblinds

Frequently asked questions - Which smart shades are compatible with Apple Home?

Yes. Eve Motionblinds with Matter and Thread technology connects directly to Apple Home. Bluetooth and 433 MHz Motionblinds motors connect to Apple Home through the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge. Both options use Matter and operate locally. 

Open the Apple Home app, select Add Accessory and scan the Matter QR code — on the motor for Eve Motionblinds. The shade appears in Apple Home immediately and can be assigned to a room. Standard motors must first be set up in the Motionblinds Matter Bridge app. Then add this bridge to Apple Home by entering the Matter pairing code from the bridge app into Apple Home.

Eve Motionblinds motors require a HomePod or Apple TV because these devices act as Thread border routers and enable remote access. Standard motors using the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge need any Matter controller — a HomePod or Apple TV will work.

Yes — Eve Motionblinds motors with built-in Matter and Thread do not require any Motionblinds bridge. Other Motionblinds motors require the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge for Apple Home compatibility. 

No. The older Wi-Fi bridge does not support Apple Home. Apple Home requires Matter, which is supported only by Eve Motionblinds motors and Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge devices 

Yes. Siri supports commands such as "open the shades," "close the shades" and "set the shades to 50 percent." Shades can be controlled individually, by room or as part of an Apple Home scene.

Yes. Apple Home supports sunrise and sunset automations, schedules and automations triggered by sensors, lighting or heating devices. Motionblinds can be included in any Apple Home automation.

Existing Bluetooth and 433 MHz motors can gain Apple Home compatibility by adding the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge. First-generation Eve Motionblinds motors with HomeKit firmware can be upgraded to Matter wirelessly — instructions are available at support.motionblinds.com/upgrade-to-matter.

Yes. Both Eve Motionblinds and the Motionblinds Matter Wi-Fi Bridge operate locally — schedules and local automations continue to work during internet outages. Siri voice commands require an active internet connection.

Still have questions?

Source: Motionblinds

Read also: