How do I use my Circle 2 Camera with Apple HomeKit?

• Which Circle 2 camera mounts support the Apple HomeKit integration?
• Set up Circle 2 in the Apple Home app
• Set up Circle 2 in the Home app after setting it up in the Circle app
• Using your Circle 2 in the Circle app after adding it in the Apple Home app
• What’s possible in Apple HomeKit?
• (Beta) Convert your camera to support HomeKit Secure Video
• Improving your HomeKit Secure Video connectivity experience

Which Circle 2 camera mounts support the Apple HomeKit integration?

Apple HomeKit works with the following mounts on Circle 2 at this time:

• Circle 2 with Wired Mount
• Circle 2 with Plug Mount
• Circle 2 with Window Mount

NOTE: The camera’s firmware must be updated to version 5.2.86 or later for Apple HomeKit functionality to be enabled. Read How do I update Circle’s firmware? for more information on checking and installing firmware updates. Read Can I use my Circle 2 Wire-Free with Apple HomeKit? to understand why Circle 2 Wire-Free isn’t currently listed above.

Set up Circle 2 in the Apple Home app

NOTE: Make sure to complete your Apple HomeKit setup in one attempt. If you abandon the setup process midway, you’ll need to reset your Circle 2 Camera before using it again.

1. Make sure you have access to your Quick Start Guide (QSG), which includes an Apple HomeKit setup code. If your Apple HomeKit setup code is not in the QSG or you do not have your QSG, the setup code is also printed on the back of the camera module.
   NOTE: To see this code you will need to remove the camera cover and look at laser etched markings on the back.

   

   

2. Make sure your camera is attached to the mount and plugged into a power source.
3. Launch the Apple Home app on your iOS device. Make sure that this iOS device is connected to the wireless network that you wish to add the camera to.
4. Tap Add Accessory.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your Circle 2 Camera. 

If you have already set up your Circle 2 camera in the Circle app and want to access your camera using the Apple Home app, follow these steps:

1. Tap Settings.
2. Tap Smart Home Integrations.

   

3. Tap Apple HomeKit.

   

4. Push the toggle right to prepare Circle for pairing.

   

5. Follow the steps to integrate the camera into your Apple HomeKit ecosystem.

Using your Circle 2 in the Circle app after adding it in the Apple Home app

If you set up Circle using the Apple Home app and want to access your camera using the Circle app, follow the steps below. 
NOTE: If you removed the camera from your Apple Home app, you need to reset the camera or add it back to the Apple Home app before setting up in the Circle app.

1. Open the iOS App Store and search for Logi Circle.
2. Download the Circle app.
3. Tap Set Up.
4. Tap on Apple HomeKit Enabled Circle on the Choose your Circle step.

   

5. Name your camera by typing or selecting from the on-screen list.

   

6. Tap Continue once the Welcome Home screen appears.

   

7. Create a Circle account by typing your email address and a password.
   NOTE: Existing Circle users can tap I already have an account and use their existing credentials.

What’s possible in Apple HomeKit

NOTE: The following features are detailed for cameras that have not been converted to support HomeKit Secure Video.

Once your camera is set up in the Apple Home app, you can:

• Preview and access your live view (up to two simultaneous streams).
  • If you set up the camera in the Logi Circle app, that counts for one stream. You will only have access to one additional stream from the Apple Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
    NOTE: You can have any number of simultaneous users viewing the live stream in the Circle app.
  • The Apple Watch Home application relies on the live stream from the paired device it is connected to and cannot view the live stream simultaneously with the paired device Apple Home app.
• Talk and Listen.
  • We recommend using headphones while using Talk and Listen in the Apple Home app and using the feature while you are located away from your camera to reduce the chance for feedback noise.
• Use a Home Hub to enable WAN access for Apple HomeKit so that you can view the camera live stream from outside your home network.
• If the Circle app is used to turn the camera off or put into Privacy Mode, the Apple Home app stream will be disabled.
• Enable motion detection based triggers for notifications and home automations with other products in your Apple Home ecosystem such as lights.
  NOTE: Motion detection triggers cannot be used behind glass.
• Interact with Siri (e.g.“Hey Siri, show me the home security camera?” opens the Apple Home app and takes you to your live view).

(Beta) Convert your camera to support HomeKit Secure Video

Circle 2 cameras that work with Apple HomeKit can be converted to support Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video through a special firmware update.

Click here to learn more about HomeKit Secure Video, its features, benefits and Apple’s requirements for enabling these features.

After converting your camera to support HomeKit Secure Video you will no longer be able to set up or use this camera in the Circle app on iOS, Android or Web. This also means that your Circle Safe subscription and the associated features will not work.

No video history or settings from the Circle app will be transferred over to the Home app

You will be given an option to remove the camera from the circle app towards the end of the conversion. This will also delete all recordings associated with this camera in the circle app and remove the camera from any active Circle Safe subscriptions.

If this camera is the only one associated with a Circle Safe subscription, the subscription auto-renewal will be stopped.

However, if you choose to not remove the camera at that time, any subscriptions associated with the camera will remain active and you will be charged on the renewal date until all the cameras associated with the subscription are removed from the circle account.

Checklist for getting ready to convert your camera to support HomeKit Secure Video

• The device used for setup is an iPhone/iPod touch with iOS 13.2 or later / iPad with iPadOS 13.2 or later.
• You are on the latest version of the Logi Circle iOS/iPadOS app from the App store.
  Your camera must be set up in the circle app and in the Apple Home app by following the steps above.
• Your camera does not have any pending firmware updates in the circle app. Read How do I update Circle’s firmware? for more information on checking and installing firmware updates.
• The Circle app must have access to camera details in the Home App. Go to Settings on your iOS device, then Privacy > HomeKit and enable access for the Circle app if you have disabled this previously.
• You have downloaded any videos from the circle app that you would like to store.

Converting the camera to support HomeKit Secure Video

1. Tap Settings.
2. Tap Smart Home Integrations.
3. Tap Apple HomeKit.
4. You’ll see the list of cameras that are in the Circle app and the cameras that can support Homekit.
5. Tap (Beta) Convert to support HomeKit Secure Video and follow the onscreen instructions.

   

NOTE: The camera LED states will change after the conversion. Learn more here.

Returning the camera back to work with the Circle app
In order to return the camera back to working with the circle app, you will need to contact Logitech Customer Support.

NOTE: The camera will need to be re-setup and it will no longer support HomeKit secure video.

Improving your camera’s connectivity experience with HomeKit Secure Video

After converting your camera to support HomeKit Secure Video, the Circle app will check to see if your your camera’s connectivity may be improved within the Home App and let you know if this is the case.

This involves updating the camera’s Wi-Fi connection with the Home app. To do this follow the steps below.

NOTE: This will only work on cameras that have already been converted to support HomeKit Secure Video. Do not try this on earlier versions of the camera firmware.

Getting ready

• You have an iPhone/iPod touch with iOS 13.2 or later / iPad with iPadOS 13.2 or later — this is connected to your home network and you can watch the live stream of the camera in the Home app.

Steps to optimize the connectivity experience

1. Press and hold the camera reset button and let go when you see the blinking magenta and yellow LED colors (6-9 seconds).
2. Wait for a few minutes after the camera LED is solid green.
3. Open the Home app on your mobile device on iOS 13.2 / iPadOS 13.2 or later.
4. Open the camera live view (which will say that the camera is not responding).
5. Tap the settings icon on the top left — this should bring up the settings menu for the camera.
6. Wait for a few minutes until you see the option to Update Accessory Wi-Fi Settings. Tap this.
7. Your camera should reconnect to the home network and its connectivity should be optimized for HomeKit Secure Video.