Ecobee Exposes Smart Security System to Apple Home
Ecobee has expanded its Apple Home integration by allowing the Smart Security system to be controlled through the Home app. If you have a Smart Security subscription and either a SmartThermostat Premium or Enhanced, your thermostat can act as the hub for the security system once it is linked to Apple Home.
SECURITY CONTROLS IN APPLE HOME
Members of your Apple Home can now view the current security state and arm or disarm the system directly in the Apple Home app. They can also use Siri voice control for arming and disarming, see Activity Alerts in the Home app, and create automations that respond to system states or alerts.
ARMING STATES
Arming modes appear within the thermostat’s detail screen in the Apple Home app. The state names differ slightly from the ecobee app:
| Ecobee app | Apple Home app |
|---|---|
| Arm Away | Away |
| Arm Stay | Home |
| Disarm | Off |
Any changes made in one app will be reflected in the other. Note that the Sleep mode is not an option in Apple Home, as is found to be the case with Abode’s alarm systems.
USING THE SYSTEM IN THE HOME APP
To control the system in the Apple Home app, tap on your thermostat device and look below the temperature and climate controls, where the Home, Away, and Off security modes are displayed. From there, simply select the desired arm state.
AUTOMATIONS
Automations can be created in the Apple Home app under the Automation tab. For example, you could set lights to flash red during an Activity Alert while the siren is sounding, schedule Arm Stay at 10 pm each night, or schedule Disarm at 7 am each morning. To run these automations, an Apple Home hub such as a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV is required.
SIRI VOICE CONTROL
Siri can be used on iPhone, iPad, SmartThermostat Premium, HomePod, or HomePod mini to control the system, although disarming is restricted to iPhone or iPad for security, as Apple requires user authentication. Example commands include “Hey Siri, set the security system to armed”, “Hey Siri, set the security system to stay”, and “Hey Siri, set the security system to disarmed”.
SYSTEM SETTINGS
System settings, such as which devices participate in each arm state, entry and exit delays, siren options, and professional monitoring, remain managed through the ecobee app.
ENTRY AND EXIT DELAYS
- Exit delay: If arming is initiated in the Home app, the arm state changes immediately. The ecobee app will display the exit delay countdown. If initiated in the ecobee app, the countdown shows before both apps update to the new arm state.
- Entry delay: The Home app will show the arm state until the delay expires, after which it displays an Activity Alert or Disarm. The ecobee app shows the countdown until the delay expires.
ACTIVITY ALERTS
If the system is armed and an intrusion or safety event occurs, a siren will sound through compatible ecobee devices if this has been configured. Incident details will appear in the ecobee app, while the Apple Home app shows only a high level view. Both the ecobee and Apple Home apps will send Critical Alert notifications, and any automations set to trigger during an alert, such as flashing lights, will also run.
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Your thermostat must be online for changes via Apple Home, Siri, or automations to update correctly
- The thermostat must also be online for Activity Alerts to be generated
For many users, the missing piece of Ecobee’s HomeKit integration has been access to its Smart Security features. This update closes that gap by making the system visible and controllable within Apple Home, putting it on the same level as other HomeKit-compatible security systems. The approach still keeps detailed configuration inside the Ecobee app, but for day-to-day arming, disarming, and automation, Apple Home can now handle the essentials. You can check out our video of the Ecobee SmartCamera below, or read the full written review HERE.
