So i have this settings page I am confused about - do I select the first or second option?

I have aqra fp300 and mini switches

https://preview.redd.it/tphs1gagzc2h1.png?width=1103&format=png&auto=webp&s=15eab71f52772a13757fc5add62672ce3a06e3e6

Hi, I just bought an Aqara Camera Hub G350 and I’m trying to understand how to automate the physical lens retract/privacy behavior.

Please: G350 only, not G3/E1 examples.

My setup:
G350 added first in the Aqara app
Then added to Apple HomeKit through the Aqara app
Aqara hub also added to Apple Home as a Matter hub

What I want:
When someone arrives home → lenses physically retract/tilt away
When everyone leaves → camera turns back on

Inside the G350 scene/automation UI, I did NOT find any dedicated action such as:
Privacy On
Privacy Protection
Privacy Mode
Sleep
lens retract/barrier action

The only relevant Aqara scene action I found is:
Turn off camera for Camera Hub G350

So my current assumption is that the physical lens retract/privacy behavior is tied to Turn off camera.

I created Aqara scenes:
Camera Off → Turn off camera
Camera On → Turn on camera

Then I exported those scenes to Apple Home and plan to trigger them from Apple Home automations.

My questions:
- Is Turn off camera actually the intended way to trigger the G350 physical lens retract/privacy behavior?
- Should I only trigger the exported Aqara scenes from Apple Home?
- Should I avoid using the separate HomeKit accessory state like System Off?
- Are Aqara state and HomeKit/HKSV state separate/asynchronous on this camera?

- Has anyone validated this exact setup on the G350? Or any useful tips on this?

Thanks guys!

So I’m relocating and had to rush to get an apartment, definitely want to setup some security and recording in the apartment building to be able to see packages and so on while away from home.

I want a camera that works with HomeKit , doesn’t require drilling ( and with my line of work I may relocate quite often so cams with adhesive may be cumbersome at some point.

I see that ring has peephole cams , and even aftermarket brackets that clamp on the door ( and even one that has a indoor hardwire option)

From what I see the aqara cams are good but seems like there’s no similar functionality that works well for rentals.

Anyone else been ima. Similar situation and how did you go about it ?

Here is the deal - I want to place an Aqara P2 sensor in my mailbox so that I can be notified when new mail arrives.

I already have M3, G410, and 2 HomePods as thread routers. And I was impressed that M3 holds the connection with P2 from the 5th floor to the 1st floor in a concrete building, while it loses connection at the ground floor.

I ordered an M100 to see if it will extend the signal, but still unsure where I can place it legally in the building.

I have two design issues that I recommended Aqara resolve:

1. Temperature setting range Is 5º. I use the scheduling feature and prefer my heat set to 73º and my cool to 78º but the W200 won’t permit that. Heat and cool temperatures need to be at least 5º apart. So if you wanted a constant temperature of 75º, whether it be heat or cool modes, you cannot schedule that.
2. Temperature range of 2º between when W200 turns on HVAC and then turns off when temperature is reached. So if your temperature is set for 75º for cooling it won’t turn on A/C until 76º is reached, then it cools until 74º is reached. I would prefer that the user have a choice of 1º or 2º range. Aqara stated they did 2º for energy efficiency but that could be my choice, right?

I have several products light switches, doorbell 410, u400 locks, g5 camera hub. Apple home set up with new 4k Apple TV as hubs. Is it beneficial to also add devices to the Aqara hubs that I have. I can see all devices in each app but not all devices are tied to an Aqara hubs

I’ve been having trouble getting the IKEA temperature and humidity center to link with the Aqara app. I set it up in HomeKit first. But I believe that it needs to be in the app so the W-2 hundred can use it to determine average temperatures. Does anyone have a solution for this or suggestions? Thank you.

The G400 PoE doorbell has finally landed in Australia so I jumped on the launch offer straight away.

It arrived a few days ago, and I have got it installed and thought I’d share my experience in the hope that it helps others, and see if others can help me.

My first issue was network connectivity. I have a Cisco 48 port PoE switch which does not play well with Aqara products. To get my G5 Pro PoE cameras to work, I had to manually set the ports to 10Mb half duplex, or the cameras would not connect to the network. When I tried to connect the G400 doorbell, of course it did not work out of the box. I manually set the ports to 10Mb half duplex, but it still wouldn’t connect. After a bit of research, someone mentioned problems with STP. I changed the STP setting for the port to Edge and it finally connected to the network.

I then paired the doorbell with the Aqara app which was fairly painless. When I pressed the doorbell button, it would automatically come to the phone call as an audio call. There was no video attached which was a bit disappointing. I thought that maybe the HomeKit would work better. When I tried to add the G400 to my Apple Home app, it would not work. Eventually as a last resort, I reset the G400 by holding the reset button for 10 seconds. This allowed the Home app to add it immediately, but it was then gone from the Aqara app - I guess you can only have one or the other, not both.

Now, when I press the doorbell, I get a notification that the button has been pressed, which I need to tap on. This then brings up the camera and I need to press talk to respond. I’d prefer it to come up as a call like it did in the Aqara app. Is that possible?

I know the Schlage Encode Plus gets great reviews. That’s why I bought one and used it for about two years. I haven’t used smart locks from other brands, so I can’t really compare, but honestly, those two years left me wondering why it has such a good reputation.

My Schlage Encode Plus suddenly stopped working. I had been using it for about two years, but since it was still under warranty, Schlage sent me a replacement Encode Plus. I have a dog, and on weekdays, a dog walker takes him out for walks. At first, I was managing access using a schedule, but since the battery drained quickly with a Wi-Fi connection, I switched to a Thread connection. Unfortunately, that meant I could no longer use the access management schedule.

I reported this malfunction to Schlage, and when they told me it would take 7 to 10 days for a replacement to arrive, I snapped back, “Is that really the best a company that makes safety-critical products can do?” I hadn’t been using the various features offered by the Schlage Home App, but I’d been telling myself that it had a good reputation, was reliable, and wouldn’t break. However, after this incident, I’m honestly thinking of switching from the Schlage Encode Plus to another brand. I own a few Aqara products, so I’m considering Aqara—do you have any recommendations?

My home uses Apple HomeKit, and I own a HomePod Mini and an Aqara M3 Hub. For my doorbell, I use the Aqara Doorbell Camera G400.

It would be helpful if you could also let me know the pros and cons of the products you recommend, as well as what you like and dislike about them.

Thank you!

Edit as of 5-18-26 @ 3:26 am.

Thanks, everyone! I’m going to start by checking out all the products you recommended. That was a huge help. I might ask more questions if I run into anything else, so please keep me in mind!

Am I an idiot?

The lock will unlock when I approach my front door, but it doesn’t lock when I leave nor does it lock when I’m done entering the house.

I thought the way this worked was like one of those sliding doors in Star Trek, or how my car doors work. No manual interaction necessary.

Walk towards door, it unlocks. As soon as door is closed, locks.

Does it not autolock (other than via setting the timer)???

Run down on what I’ve done so far: I just installed my Aqara smart lock U400. I connected it to my Apple Home. I do not want to use the Anqara app (because I don’t want to have to use more than one app), so I haven’t done anything with that. I update the lock’s software on the lock via Apple Home. I updated my iPhone’s software. I do not own a “bridge” nor do I use Matter.

iPhone. Anqara lock. Apple Home app. That’s all I’m using here.

Hi all. I'm having an issue with my U200 lock after it being replaced for the same issue - and was wondering whether anybody was having the same problem - being a little wary of the same issue happening with two locks.

It is currently calibrated and set to auto lock when the door is shut - this all works fine. However, we tend to unlock the door manually both from the inside knob and the outside via our key. After working fine for months originally (although the replacement barely lasted a couple of months before showing up this issue), I was finding that after the lock automatically locked itself, it had a huge amount of resistance when trying to unlock it via the knob or key, making it a real struggle to unlock the door manually.

This issue did not occur if we locked the lock manually - only when it locked automatically. And we re-calibrated both locks, reset them, re-calibrated, all to no avail.

Confusingly, unlocking it manually from the inside - it appears you can sometimes get it unlock manually normally if you turn the lock the other way first - the U200 almost slightly clicks when you do this (I can confirm that this feeling is from the Aqara unit, and not the actual lock in the door). This indicates that the auto-lock function doesn't appear to be correctly "finishing" its lock process, despite the actual door still locking. But as I previously mentioned, I have re-calibrated the lock both manually and automatically, and have experienced the same result since the fault started occurring - on both locks.

The lock of the door is a simple turn bolt - no real mechanism in it (doesn't click into place or anything - it just slides with the turning of the barrel).

With the first lock, I contacted Aqara, who made me go through a lot of troubleshooting steps and send logs, as they said they hadn't yet come across the issue, before concluding I needed to go back to the seller to get a replacement.

However, as this is the second lock that has exhibited the issue, I just wanted to see whether anyone else had a similar issue with the U200?

I have been August lock user for almost 9
Years and have used multiple generations of these lock even with random issue with Bluetooth as it was Bluetooth lock one thing is 100% perfect for this is that this lock was reliable and I have not even a single issue of it did not auto lock the door automatically.

So after these many years I finally decided to switch the best lock top featured from well established brand Aqara. I want my lock to the 100% reliable as this is the last smart device I want to fail on me. Unfortunately this lock have given me hard time in just 3 days.

First issue I started to get is lock repeatedly fail to lock completely and only latch half. It’s pain because on matter connection via Apple TV it shows as locked on my Apple home. The only way this is half latched only is aqara app. I tried to calibrate many times but it randomly fails to lock completely. There is no blockage and lock can be easily lock unlock without any friction. I check the cable if it doesn’t block anyway way but it is not.

Second issue I found is that reviewers have praising the UWB performance but it have already failed on me few times. I have UWB on for every angle approach but still it failed me on straight approach. And it take second attempt to open.

Third issue I found is that if I go out of door and turn back immediately if I remember something to get it UWB doesn’t unlock. I need to go away few feet and approach again to trigger the door unlock.

Overall I am not quite happy with the performance as it doesn’t seems like a reliable lock at this price point.