More and more successful services are based on a mixture of physical objects and digital services. This requires open appliance interfaces. Home Connect provides an environment for connecting applications with home appliances. Getting started requires a developer account which is created from here.

The API access to physical home appliances is at the moment limited to select partners, the API can only be tested with certain home appliance simulators.

Example Use Cases

Connected Living

Home Connect enabled home appliances can be linked to literally any other smart device in order to create new unique customer experiences. E.g. an oven can notify the user when it’s finished cooking by flashing smart light bulbs or message a smart phone that enables the user to turn it off remotely.

Smart Services

Provide the user with a full overview of their IoT devices by also integrating the remote monitoring features and information of the Home Connect enabled home appliances into the smart home app. E.g. the user can start the dishwasher remotely when the energy management system says it has enough power to run the program.

General Set Up Guidelines

Registering and Creating user accounts

An account is needed in order to use Home Connect and thus remotely control and manage home appliances via the app.

Registering and creating an account:

1. Download the Home Connect app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to a smartphone or tablet PC and install it.
2. Open the Home Connect app and let it connect to the WLAN network that is within range for the Home Connect appliance.
3. Enter first and last names, an email address (user ID) and any other details if necessary. Enter a password and confirm it.
4. A confirmation of the registration will be received, including a confirmation link, by email. Confirm the registration by clicking on the confirmation link, within 10 days.

Local WLAN requirements and router settings

Home Connect usually works with the standard WLAN settings of commercially available routers. In some cases specific settings need to be changed manually. If necessary, please check the following settings on the router. Details of the configuration settings can be found in the user manual of your router.

If you are unsure how to configure your router, use the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button on your router for easier installation. WPS automatically configures WLAN security for Wi-Fi Protected Setup-enabled network devices.

If necessary, for instance during manual setup, please heed the following tips and settings:

• Encrypt your WLAN, preferably opting for the WPA2 or at least WPA security level. Open networks are not suitable for the use of Home Connect.
• Home Connect works with the following network modes: IEEE 802.11 b, g and n. Please ensure that your router is set accordingly. Home appliances are only compatible with a 2.4 GHz band. When you connect an appliance, please set your network accordingly.
• Home Connect does not work with WLAN networks that require browser registration, i.e. entry of the user name and password via the web browser.
• You should have a stable WLAN network with good reception and Internet access.
• Switch off the “MAC Filter” on the router to prevent the MAC addresses of your home appliances and communication-enabled devices being saved.
• The use of proxies is not recommended.
• Ports 443, 8080 and 123 must be open.
• The multicast routing option must be enabled on the router to set up a link to the Home Connect appliances.

Integrating home appliance into a home network WLAN

There are two ways of integrating home appliances into the home WLAN: automatic and manual network login. If the network router has a WPS function you can automatically log in the home appliance into the network. If your router does not have a WPS function or if you unsure of this, simply log the home appliances into the home network manually.

How to integrate a home appliance into the home network

The home appliance’s Home Connect assistant display shows how to connect the appliance to the home network. Details of the required steps can also be found in the leaflet included in the delivery of the new home appliance.

Automatic network login

The Home Connect assistant tries at this point to automatically log in the home appliance via the router’s WPS function (refer to the Internet router user manual for information about WPS). If automatic login is activated the connection needs to be confirmed by holding down the router’s WPS button for two minutes. As soon as the home appliance is linked to the home network a message on appliance display confirms this.

Manual network login

Also manual activation and network login are possible. To do so, the “connect manually” option needs to be selected in the home appliance Home Connect assistant. The home appliance sets up its own WLAN network which can be accessed via the smartphone or tablet PC. Now open the WLAN settings on the mobile phone and connect it to the available Home Connect WLAN of the home appliance (password: Home Connect). The home appliance is now displayed in the Home Connect app on the smartphone or tablet PC and you can transfer the login data of the home network (WLAN) to it and thus integrate the home appliance into the home network.

Pairing home appliances with the Home Connect app

The appliances need to be linked to the WLAN and also paired with the Home Connect app in order to give it access to them.

How to pair a home appliance with the app

If the relevant home appliance is logged into the home network, you need to only connect it to the Home Connect account. Launch the Home Connect app on the mobile device and log in. Then activate the “Pair with app” function on the home appliance. As this step may vary for different home appliances, please refer to the enclosed leaflet (supplied with the home appliance). The app automatically recognizes the home appliance. Select “Add appliance” to complete the installation process.