How to Set Up Homebridge

Last Updated: June 29, 2021

Homebridge is an easy way to use non-Homekit sensors or switches with Homekit. It breaks the gap and installs a bridge between your Homekit and a Raspberry Pi with some software. You don't need to know how to program, but it's good to know a little about how Linux and Bash work.

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Setting Up the Hardware

1
Download the image link and copy it with Etcher to the microSD card.
2
Insert the SD card into the Pi.

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3
Connect the Raspberry Pi to a monitor.
4
Power up the Raspberry Pi and login with:
- Login: "Pi"
- Password: "Raspberry"
- Type:
  sudo raspi-config
5
Change the following settings:
- Under Locale, change your timezone and keyboard layout if necessary.
- Under Network Options, set your wifi or LAN configurations.
- Under Interfacing Options, set SSH to enabled.
6
Apply changes by typing sudo reboot into the Terminal.
7
Connect your laptop or PC to the Raspberry Pi. Make a SSH connection by typing the following into a Terminal:
8
Update Raspbian and install Node.js. Paste the following into the Terminal or Bash:
9
Login to the Raspberry Pi again using SSH.

Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Installing and Configuring Homebridge on the Raspberry Pi

1
Install all dependencies necessary for Homebridge by typing the following into the Terminal:
```
sudo apt-get update && 
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_7.x | sudo -E bash - && 
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs && 
sudo apt-get install gcc-4.9 g++-4.9 && 
sudo apt-get update && 
sudo reboot
```
2
Install Homebridge using the following command:
```
sudo apt-get install libavahi-compat-libdnssd-dev && 
sudo npm install -g --unsafe-perm homebridge hap-nodejs node-gyp && 
cd /usr/lib/node_modules/homebridge/ && 
sudo npm install --unsafe-perm bignum && 
cd /usr/lib/node_modules/hap-nodejs/node_modules/mdns && 
sudo node-gyp BUILDTYPE=Release rebuild && 
mkdir ~/.homebridge && 
nano ~/.homebridge/config.json
```
3
Copy and paste the Homebridge configuration from this source into the above window.
4
Press Ctrl+X.
5
Save changes using Y.
6
Open the environment file for homebridge using:
```
sudo nano /etc/default/homebridge
```
7
Enable autostart by pasting this source file into the Terminal.
8
Save your changes with the following keystrokes: Ctrl+X then Y.
9
Find the homebridge path by typing:
```
which homebridge
```
- Be sure to write this path down!

Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

Configuring Your Path and Credentials to Autostart Homebridge

1
Open the systemd service file for Homebridge by typing:
```
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/homebridge.service
```
2
Paste the default homebridge service configuration into the Terminal.
3
Change the command that appears afterExecStart= to the line that was printed with the command which homebridge.
4
Change user=homebridge to user=pi.
5
Test your Homebridge configuration by typing homebridge into the Terminal.
- If you see a QR Code similar to the one in the image below, your installation works!
6
Terminate Homebridge with Ctrl+X.
7
Activate autostart by typing the following into the Terminal:
```
sudo mkdir /var/lib/homebridge && 
sudo cp ~/.homebridge/config.json /var/lib/homebridge/ && 
sudo cp -r ~/.homebridge/persist /var/lib/homebridge && 
sudo chmod -R 0777 /var/lib/homebridge && 
sudo passwd root && 
systemctl daemon-reload && 
systemctl enable homebridge && 
systemctl start homebridge && 
sudo systemctl -l status homebridge
```
- If the above command prints out a green dot and: "Active: active (running)" you successfully installed homebridge and you can try to connect your personal iOS Home App.

Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Configuring Your iOS Device

1
Open the Home app on your iOS device.
2
Press the + sign to add a device.
3
In the menu that pops up, tap "Add Accessory".
4
Tap on "Don't Have a Code or Can't Scan?".
5
Under "Manual Code", tap "Enter Code".
6
Enter "031-45-154". This is the default code.

Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Adding Accessories and Platforms

1
Install any connector from this npm package list to add an IoT device.

2

Install the connector with:

 sudo npm i homebridge-{packagename}

This is a sample for netatmo devices:
```
 npm install -g homebridge-netatmo
```

3
Configure the connector with:
```
 sudo nano /var/lib/homebridge/config.json
```
- Be sure to read the help of the npm site/connector for configurations as they are different for every device.

4

Apply configuration changes by restarting the Raspberry Pi:

 
systemctl daemon-reload && 
systemctl start homebridge && 
sudo systemctl -l status homebridge

Warnings

Using your homebridge with default code and passwords is dangerous. Be sure to do the following:
- Change your user password. See the Raspberry Pi documentation on changing your password for more details.
- Setup an SSH login on your computer. Refer to the Raspberry Pi documentation on setting up a certificated ssh login for more details.
- Change your configuration by typing the following into the terminal.
  sudo nano /var/lib/homebridge/config.json
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