In short. 1Control is not compatible with Apple HomeKit: SOLO, DORY and LINK do not appear in the Home app and cannot be added to HomeKit scenes or automations. With an iPhone, though, your garage door and gate still open with Siri through Shortcuts, as well as from Apple Watch and CarPlay.
If your home is full of Apple accessories, you probably want a "HomeKit garage door opener" so the door sits in the Home app next to your lights and thermostat. Fair enough, but three different things often get mixed up: HomeKit, the Home app and Siri. This guide separates them, explains what works with 1Control and what does not, and what the route of a true HomeKit accessory involves, so you know what you are getting.
HomeKit, the Home app and Siri: three different things
- HomeKit is the framework that lets certified accessories talk to Apple devices.
- The Home app is where those accessories show up, get grouped into rooms and scenes and are automated.
- Siri is the voice assistant: it controls HomeKit accessories, but it also runs Shortcuts, which can use actions from installed apps without going through HomeKit.
1Control takes that last route. The 1Control app offers its opening action to Shortcuts, and Siri runs it with the phrase you choose. By voice the result is the same, "Hey Siri, open the garage", but the garage door will not be an accessory in the Home app.
What works with an iPhone, and what does not
| Feature | With 1Control | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Siri with a shortcut, nearby | Yes | SOLO (or DORY) |
| Siri with a shortcut, from anywhere | Yes | SOLO (or DORY) + LINK |
| 1Control app on iPhone | Yes | SOLO; for remote use, LINK as well |
| 1Control app on Apple Watch | Yes | SOLO (or DORY) |
| CarPlay | Yes | SOLO + LINK, or SOLO AUTO |
| Accessory in the Home app | No | — |
| HomeKit scenes and automations | No | — |
| IFTTT | No | — |
Alexa and Google Home work too, with SOLO or DORY and LINK, if your home is not all Apple.
Open even when you are away: SOLO + LINK
SOLO copies your compatible remote and opens from your phone; LINK connects it to the internet over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet, so you can open from anywhere. Check your remote model first. One-off purchase, no subscription.
228,00€ 179,00€ VAT included
- 1,500+ reviews on Amazon, Facebook and Trustpilot
- Secure payments
- 2-year warranty
Siri instead of HomeKit: nearby with SOLO, anywhere with LINK
1Control SOLO sits near the gate or garage, runs on batteries and copies the remote you already use. It works with more than 800 models, fixed code and rolling code: check yours on the SOLO compatibility page.
On its own, SOLO receives the shortcut over Bluetooth: Siri opens when the iPhone is within range, for example in the car outside the garage. With 1Control LINK, connected to your router over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet, the shortcut uses the data connection and Siri opens from anywhere. LINK talks to SOLO over Bluetooth and has no SIM card.
How to create the shortcut, which phrases to use and what to check if it fails are in the guide to opening your garage door with Siri.
The front door: DORY with Siri, not with HomeKit
The same rule applies to the front door. 1Control DORY is a smart lock that replaces the euro cylinder, with no drilling: it opens from the app, from a smartwatch, with Siri through Shortcuts and with the usual mechanical key. It does not appear in the Home app. Before buying, check your door with the DORY compatibility checker; the comparison with other locks is in our smart lock buyer's guide.
The native HomeKit route: what it involves
If you want the garage door in the Home app, you need HomeKit-certified accessories for garage doors and gates. That is the route of products such as Meross or Remootio, which state HomeKit support. There are usually three things to weigh up:
- They are wired to the control board, to the contact of the open button, so the motor housing has to be opened. On a gate shared with neighbours, that is often not allowed.
- They need Wi-Fi at the gate, which is often weak at the end of the garden or in an underground garage.
- To control them away from home, you need an Apple home hub, such as an Apple TV or a HomePod.
In return you get scenes and automations. With SOLO the installation stays untouched and no Wi-Fi is needed at the gate, but the entrance stays outside the Home app. It is a trade-off between integration and ease of installation.
How to choose
- You just want to open by voice or with a tap from your iPhone: SOLO and a Siri shortcut. For remote use, add LINK.
- The gate is shared or you cannot open the control board: SOLO, because it copies the remote and needs no wiring.
- You want the garage door in Home app scenes: you need a HomeKit accessory; 1Control is not one today.
- You drive in: consider CarPlay, with SOLO + LINK or SOLO AUTO, as explained in the guide to opening your gate with CarPlay.
What none of these routes does with 1Control: open by itself as you approach. The 1Control app does not track your location, so you give the command.
Frequently asked questions
Is 1Control compatible with HomeKit?
No. SOLO, DORY and LINK are not compatible with Apple HomeKit and do not appear in the Home app. With an iPhone you use the 1Control app, Siri through Shortcuts, Apple Watch and CarPlay.
Can I open my garage door with Siri without HomeKit?
Yes. With 1Control SOLO you create a shortcut with the 1Control app action and Siri runs it. Nearby it works over Bluetooth; from anywhere with LINK.
Will the garage door show up in the Home app?
No. The entrance is controlled from the 1Control app, Siri, Apple Watch and CarPlay, but it is not a Home app accessory and cannot be added to HomeKit scenes.
Do I need a HomeKit hub such as an Apple TV?
No. 1Control does not use HomeKit. To open from far away you need LINK, connected to your router over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or an Ethernet cable.
Does it work with IFTTT?
No, LINK is not compatible with IFTTT. It works with Alexa and Google Home, and with Siri through Shortcuts.
Do I need to replace my gate motor?
No. SOLO copies the remote you already use and is not wired to the control board. First check that your remote model is compatible.
The bottom line
1Control does not go through HomeKit: your garage door will not appear in the Home app. With an iPhone you still get what usually matters most, opening the garage door and gate with Siri, from your wrist and from the car: SOLO alone nearby, SOLO + LINK from anywhere. The first step: check that your remote is compatible.
For the watch, see the guide to opening your garage door with Apple Watch; for other assistants, voice assistants and gates.