The Missing Piece for a Smarter Apple Home
Controller for HomeKit 8.1 introduces States - a powerful new way to define your own logic and bring true flexibility to your workflows. Just in time for the holidays, this update adds one more gift under the Christmas tree for your Apple Home. Alongside broader thermostat support and stability improvements, Version 8.1 unlocks entirely new automation patterns that simply weren’t possible before.
Highlights
States: Create virtual states and use them across multiple workflows - as start events, conditions, steps or stop events. Control them via Shortcuts or URLs and build logic that matches real life.
Expanded Thermostat Control: Thermostat Control now supports even more devices, including the popular Aqara Thermostat. Comfort control just got easier.
Improved Stability & Fixes: Fixed issues with setting color temperatures in scenes, improved issue display when switching homes, updated localizations and various behind-the-scenes improvements.
States: The Missing Piece
States are virtual switches stored on your Controller Hub. They don’t represent a physical device - they represent logic. Presence, modes, overrides, schedules, exceptions - States let you define what actually matters in your home and reuse it everywhere.
Once created, a State can be used consistently across all workflows: trigger them, check them, change them or stop workflows based on them.
Track who’s home and trigger the right workflows automatically
Activate a global Vacation Mode to pause workflows while you’re away
Temporarily mute motion sensors while cleaning or via button
Enable manual modes like Do Not Disturb or Movie Time
Run workflows once per day, week, month - or any custom interval
Enable Guest Mode to disable workflows in specific rooms
Connect Anything - Even Outside Apple Home
States integrate seamlessly with Shortcuts and can be switched on, off or toggled directly using a dedicated action - no workarounds required.
Every State also includes ready-to-use URLs for external control. You can copy them from the State’s context menu and trigger States from services like:
IFTTT
Webhooks
SmartThings
any other service capable of calling a URL
Sync presence from a third-party system, trigger Vacation Mode from a calendar or toggle a State using a button outside Apple Home.
If it can run a Shortcut or open a URL, it can control a State.
Built on the Controller Hub
States are stored and managed on your Controller Hub, ensuring reliability and instant availability across all workflows. To create and use States, you need a device acting as a Controller Hub and Controller Plus.
More Comfort, Less Friction
Alongside States, Controller 8.1 expands Thermostat Control to more devices and improves overall stability - making everyday control smoother and more reliable.