HomeKit Blog

iOS 13 has made some pretty big changes to the Home app, including new automation features, accessory icons and, of course, grouping of devices that serve multiple purposes. Although this change makes things seem a bit more organized, it removes the ability to quickly view information and switch devices off. Fortunately, there is an easy way to separate those devices and get things back to the way they were in iOS 12, here's how.

How to unzip accessories from the Home app

1. Launch The home app.
2. Press rooms in the menu bar below.

3. Drag to left or right to navigate to the room where the accessory is located.

   

   Source: iMore

4. Touch and hold or 3D Touch an Accessory you would like to separate.
5. Touch the button The Settings icon.

6. Touch ** Display as separate tile ".

   

   Source: iMore

How to group accessories into the Home app

1. Launch The home app.
2. Press rooms in the menu bar below.

3. Drag to left or right to navigate to the room where the accessory is located.

   

   Source: iMore

4. Touch and hold or 3D Touch an Accessory you would like to group.
5. Touch the button The Settings icon.

6. Press ** Display as a single board ".

   

   Source: iMore

Once your settings are applied, you should now see a separate sheet for each metric or feature that your HomeKit accessory offers, just as it was in iOS 12. Once your accessories are unbundled, you can set as favorites to bring them front and center on the Home screen of the Home app. Need help configuring your favorite accessories in the Home app? Check out our helpful guide and you'll be organizing your Home app as soon as possible.

Recommended accessories

Now that you know how to unpack your HomeKit accessories, you shouldn't be afraid of devices that have multiple features. If each sensor or feature is displayed separately, it gives you quick and easy access to the information that matters most to you, such as paying attention to the temperatures in the rooms in your home. Here are some of our favorite options that we can provide most impact for the buck.

Onvis SMS1 Smart Motion Sensor
($ 16 on Amazon)

Despite the name suggesting it is just a motion sensor, Onvis SMS1 also includes temperature and humidity sensors within its compact frame. This accessory uses Bluetooth connectivity to communicate directly with HomeKit, making configuration quick and easy.

Arlo Baby
($ 180 on Amazon)

Arlo Baby is one of the most capable accessories around, because it includes motion sensors, temperature, humidity and air quality, in addition to the colorful night light and, of course, a camera. The Arlo Baby is also fully portable, thanks to the built-in battery.

Room 2 Eve
($ 100 on Amazon)

Eve Room 2 is a sleek sensor with device display that lets you see the status of your home with just a glance. This sensor measures air quality, temperature and humidity and includes a built-in rechargeable battery that can last up to 6 weeks on a charge.

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What comes with an eero Secure and eero Secure + subscription?

eero Secure includes everything you need to ensure a safe online experience for everyone in your home. eero Secure and Secure + come with the possibility to create family profiles for each member of your home. A profile includes assigning all the devices to a family member, allowing the possibility to interrupt access to the application on the Internet or to an appointment. Safe filters can also be applied to all devices, which prevent access to inappropriate sites and content.

Although not under parental control, ad blocking also comes with both Secure eero levels. Because all of these options apply at the router level, it is a simple switching alternative, without having to track everyone's devices to configure everything. Also, eero Secure scans your traffic for any suspicious activity and, if something is found, it will automatically block it.

For something more, eero Secure + comes with all the features of the core service, but also adds free subscriptions to some of the most popular security-related applications and handy services like VPNs. eero Secure + comes in at $ 7 more than eero Secure, but the included applications and VPN are well worth the extra costs.

What applications do I have access to with Secure +?

eero Secure + comes with three applications designed to protect your family's privacy and data. First of all, it's a VPN service through encrypt.me, which works with up to five accounts. This allows you to use public Wi-Fi, but still keeps your traffic under lock and key.

Also included is a five-member subscription to 1Password, one of the best password managers. Not only does this great app store all your passwords in one central place, it also keeps an eye out for any duplicates and violations to let you know if you need to change things.

Finally, anti-virus protection is included through Malwarebytes. This antivirus client can be installed on up to three devices, which cover phones, tablets and personal computers.

Does encrypt.me work on all my devices?

Yes! encrypt.me works on iOS, Android, macOS and Windows. Because the Secure + eero service includes five accounts, which cover multiple devices per account, it can cover everyone in your family.

Are there any limitations?

Not! The included encrypt.me VPN subscription offers unlimited access to data and devices on your account. The included accounts work just like a standard encrypt.me account, which is usually $ 9.99 alone.

Also, if you are concerned about the VPN, setting up the included VPN service happens outside of the eero application. Most VPN applications have a step on how to configure it if you need a little extra help