I’m still on the struggle bus with this one. Similar to above; Android phone, trying to add Aqara M3 to HA so I can see the U50. Other thread & matter devices - Eve power outlets and Eve power plugs - added after I unplugged the M3 and sent HA credentials for Connect to my companion app.
My android always shows Aqara as preferred device which differs from HA. I can’t unplug the M3 though if I’m trying to add it. I tried removing the M3 as a HomeKit Device and still no luck :-/
I struggled with this too, but I finally managed to get all of it working.
I’m using native HA OS on an rpi4, have an Android phone and no other thread/matter coordinators.
Please note that the process is still buggy and some steps need to be repeated until successful. Here’s what I did:
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Install Aqara app on my phone (personally I used their products but I haven’t ever used their app)
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Setup the device using Aqara app and the Aqara code on the back of the device
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Checked the M3 hub settings in the Aqara app: click on the hub → tap the 3 dots in the uper right conner → scroll to “Network Information” and tap it-> scroll to the “Replacing a Thread Network” and tap it → make sure the preferred and current networks are the same.
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In the Aqara app go to “Profile” → “Settings” and make sure “Edge Mode” is enabled.
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This step is optional and refers to HVAC control exported via Matter, which uses the IR blaster. So, in the Aqara app open the hub options and navigate to “Air Conditioning Mode” and follow the on screen instructions to setup your blaster to control your AC unit.
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Go to your HA instance and navigate to “Devices & services” either from your PC or phone
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Configure the Homekit integration using the code on the back of the hub (along side the Aqara one). Do not use any dashes when typing the code. If no other zigbee or bluetooth device was added you’ll see only the aqara hub present there (with 3 basic entities available: Identity, Pairing Mode and Security System).
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To get thread to work, you need the companion HA app, i.e. the one that runs on your phone. Fire the companion app and navigate to “Devices and services”.
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Either click the configure button on the Thread integration or add it manually.
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Once added tap on the Thread integration → tap Configure → Send Credentials. Go back to the Thread integration and set the preferred network with the one using the Aqara hub as boarder router
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Now for Matter, either add the integration or configure it if it popped up. Upon configuring it will automatically install the HA Matter Server if the box is checked. This was my case.
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After installing it to add the hub you’ll need your Matter Third Party Code/QR code located on the back of the manual.
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Once again using your phone navigate to “Devices and services” and tap “Devices” icon on the bottom of the screen.
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Make sure your phone and hub are close together and Bluetooth is enabled on your phone.
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Now tap “Add Device” → tap “Add Matter device” → “No. It’s new” → either scan the QRCode or tap “Setup without QR-code” to do it manually. I tried this step a couple of times until success, but it finally worked.
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That’s it, your hub should now be ready to go. If you did step 5 like me, you should find that you now have a thermostat entity for your air conditioner exposed through matter.
Haven’t tried it yet, but you should be able to add other matter devices to HA in this way.
Finally, in my opinion the M3 Hub is work in progress and a totally rushed product that does not rise up to any level of exception:
- Adding IR controlled stuff does not expose any entities through any of the integrations, only the basic aircon thermostat
- The hub does not expose its very loud speaker, which many would have used as an alarm
- The Matter supported device is very limited.
- Zigbee coordinator is not exposed to HA, many would have used it as a second coordinator.
- Local control settings need to be clear, at the forefront and exposed through entities everywhere
I could go on and on, but I think everybody gets the picture. Anybody that uses HA is better off with totally skipping this product.
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Thank you Dan,
This step thru was very helpful. Banging my head against the wall for a few days to get my new M3 hub added.
Cheers
I just read this today, maybe interesting for some:
Aqara joins Works with Home Assistant - Home Assistant (home-assistant.io)
Hi everyone
Just bought the m3 before actually finding this thread 
Anyway, finding difficulty in exposing the ir blaster and speaker to HA. Already have a HA thermostat based in shaky plus ht and want to keep it but can’t connect it to the m3
Anyone got over these challenges?
Thank you
Atleast at the moment neither the siren/speaker nor any of the IR devices are exposed through Matter.
I myself would’ve loved to use the speaker as a siren for my LPG gas leak sensor for example.
I have a Logitech Harmony Hub in the lounge in addition to the Aqara M3 - so the IR blaster, although being setup, isn’t as essential to me just yet.
The only exception to IR is AC units, but I have a smart thermostat and no IR required.
Don’t want to hold any hope of this working in the future, but the new commitment that Aqara has made to the “Works with Home Assistant” cause - may mean some improvements and tighter integration in the future. But for now - I think there is no way.
Nice way to waste money then
Will try to return it then
Thanks
hello all, just got the M3 hub. I mainly got it to control my 26 or so Aqara Zigbee devices because I’m kind of tired of having to repair these devices every 2 to 3 months (both on ZHA and Z2M on the SLZB-06). Things are more stable in Z2M, but still, the Aqara tend to drop of the network after a few months.
Anyways, I exposed the hub and child devices via Matter on HA. For the most part, it was seamless after repairing to the M3 Hub.
Had a few questions, which I think are related to Matter maturity but wanted to confirm:
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All my P1 motions are not exposing the Lux entity via Matter, nor the temp sensors for other devices, nor the signal strength entity. For the most part, I never used these entities in ZHA/Z2M so its not a huge loss, but I did use the the lux sensor on a couple of my P1 motions. I presume this will eventually be exposed once Matter becomes more mainstream?
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There does not seem to be Matter support for the Aqara water leak sensor as I paired it, but nothing showed up in Matter HA.
3. Should I bother to pair my Aqara Illuminance sensors to the hub? I presume those won’t show up in matter either. I was able to add this sensor via the hub (3 press button), and not the app. It is exposed to Matter.
- Does the FP2 presence sensor support matter via the Hub. At the moment it’s exposed by home kit which is okay but I just wanted to consolidate everything to matter
Besides that, I hope my Aqara devices will now be permanently stable.
I have many mijia devices using the old mijia hub. I’m able to connect them to the m3 hub but devices are not being exposed to HA. Anyone had that issue ?
@leSourCil I had to expose the Matter door sensor from Aqara to HA (using Matter pairing code) seperately and the TVOC from Aqara doesn’t show up at all in HA. So its probably just not supported yet or something.