Bringing Home Assistant to Your Car with Apple CarPlay.
Introduction:
For those immersed in the world of Home Assistant and equipped with an iPhone, the integration of Apple CarPlay into your vehicle opens up a realm of possibilities. Now, you can seamlessly bring Home Assistant into your car, enabling control over your smart home devices on the go. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the setup process and explore the functionalities of Home Assistant on Apple CarPlay.
Initial Setup:
Before diving into the setup, ensure that you have the latest version of the Home Assistant app installed on your iPhone (version 2024.1 or later). Once confirmed, follow these steps:
- Add the Home Assistant app to your list of Apple CarPlay settings on your phone.
- Connect your phone to your car.
- Enable Siri on your phone if prompted, as it’s integral to accessing Apple CarPlay.
Exploring Home Assistant CarPlay Functionality:
With Home Assistant accessible via Apple CarPlay, you gain control over various aspects of your smart home directly from your car’s dashboard. Let’s delve into the functionalities:
- Control by Home Assistant Areas:
Easily navigate through different areas of your home, such as rooms, and view the devices within each area. - Control by Home Assistant Domains:
Access different entity types or domains, such as lights and switches, to control specific devices. - One-Click Actions:
Utilize the Actions tab to trigger predefined actions with a simple press of a button. These actions can control anything within Home Assistant, offering convenient automation options.
Creating Actions:
To create custom actions tailored to your needs, follow these steps:
- Use the Home Assistant app on your iPhone to access Settings > Companion App > Actions.
- Create a new action, giving it a descriptive name and configuring settings such as availability for Apple Watch or CarPlay.
- Save the action and ensure it’s associated with the appropriate Home Assistant instance.
Creating Automations:
You need to link your custom actions to Home Assistant automations so that the when you press the button in your car it does what you want it to do. You use a specific event trigger called “ios.action_fired”. Take a look at my YouTube video and links in the description for more details!
Multiple Home Assistant Instances:
If you have access to multiple Home Assistant instances, utilize the Servers tab to switch between them seamlessly. This feature allows you to control devices across different locations or homes fairly easily, although it would be nice to be able to have actions from different instances on the same page.
Conclusion:
With Home Assistant integrated into Apple CarPlay, you have the power to control your smart home from the convenience of your vehicle. Whether you’re arriving home and want to open the garage door or need to adjust the thermostat while on the road, Home Assistant on CarPlay offers unparalleled flexibility and convenience. Explore the possibilities, create custom actions, and extend the home automation experience to your car! Stay tuned for future updates and enhancements, as Home Assistant continues to evolve its CarPlay functionality. Don’t forget to subscribe to the channel for more insightful guides and tips. Until next time, drive safely and happy automating!