# HomeKit

Source: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/homekit
Skill: hig-technologies
Snapshot: 2025-02-02

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<!-- hig-doctor:attribution -->
> **Source**: Apple Inc. Canonical content at https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/homekit.
> This file is a structured index of that content, snapshot 2025-02-02.
> Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc.; this repository provides organization and cross-referencing for AI agent consumption only.

# HomeKit

  * Help people set up, name, and organize their accessories

  * Allow fine-grained accessory configuration and control

  * Provide access to custom accessory features

  * Show people how to create powerful, hands-free automations

  * Provide support

## Terminology and layout

**Acknowledge the hierarchical model that HomeKit uses.**

**Make it easy for people to find an accessory’s related HomeKit details.**

**Recognize that people can have more than one home.**

**Don’t present duplicate home settings.**

## Setup

**Use the system-provided setup flow to give people a familiar experience.**

**Provide context to explain why you need access to people’s Home data.**

**Don’t require people to create an account or supply personal information.**

**Honor people’s setup choices.**

**Carefully consider how and when to provide a custom accessory setup experience.**

### Help people choose useful names

**Suggest service names that suit your accessory.**

**Check that the names people provide follow HomeKit naming rules.**

  * Use only alphanumeric, space, and apostrophe characters.

  * Start and end with an alphabetic or numeric character.

  * Don’t include emojis.

**Help people avoid creating names that include location information.**

## Siri interactions

**Present example voice commands to demonstrate using Siri to control accessories during setup.**

**After setup, consider teaching people about more complex Siri commands.**

**Recommend that people create zones and service groups, if they make sense for your accessory.**

**Offer shortcuts only for accessory-specific functionality that HomeKit doesn’t support.**

**If your app supports both HomeKit and shortcuts, help people understand the difference between these types of voice control.**

## Custom functionality

**Be clear about what people can do in your app and when they might want to use the Home app.**

**Defer to HomeKit if your database differs from the HomeKit database.**

**Ask permission to update the HomeKit database when people make changes in your app.**

### Cameras

**Don’t block camera images.**

**Show a microphone button only if the camera supports bidirectional audio.**

## Using HomeKit icons

**Use only Apple-provided icons.**

### Styles

#### Custom color HomeKit icon

**Position the HomeKit icon consistently with other technology icons.**

**Use the HomeKit icon noninteractively.**

**Don’t use the HomeKit icon within text or as a replacement for the word HomeKit.**

**Pair the icon with the name _HomeKit_ correctly.**

## Referring to HomeKit

**Emphasize your app over HomeKit.**

**Adhere to Apple’s trademark guidelines.**

  * Use Apple product names in singular form only; do not make Apple product names possessive.

  * Don’t translate Apple, Apple Home, HomeKit, or any other Apple trademark.

  * Don’t use category descriptors. For example, say iPad, not tablet.

  * Don’t indicate any kind of sponsorship, partnership, or endorsement from Apple.

  * Attribute Apple, HomeKit, and all other Apple trademarks with the correct credit lines wherever legal information appears within your app.

  * Refer to Apple devices and operating systems only in technical specifications or compatibility descriptions.

### Referencing HomeKit and the Home app

**Use correct capitalization when using the term _HomeKit_.**

**Don’t use the name _HomeKit_ as a descriptor.**

**Don’t suggest that HomeKit is performing an action or function.**

**Use the name _Apple_ with the name _HomeKit_ , if desired.**

**Use the name _HomeKit_ for setup, configuration, and instructions, if desired.**

**Use the app name _Apple Home_ whenever referring specifically to the app.**

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For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/homekit