KS205 - No “Display as” in Apple Homekit, Why?
Just like the Kasa outlet plugs, I would really LOVE the firmware to be updated on the KS205 to support “Display As” in HomeKit. Not everyone is using this switch as a light. It could be controlling a ceiling fan, or an outlet, a bathroom ventilation fan, or any other 120v wired device, etc.
Why doesn't Kasa update the firmware to support this? Their outlet plugs do, I don't get it.
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Morning @Riley_S, just checking in. Any updates? Thanks!
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Morning @Riley_S, just checking back in to see if your team has any updates. Thanks!
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Hey @TimH83,
From the sounds of it, we were spot on in our estimation that it is a feature that was added via a specific homekit feature and was a specific feature developed by Apple to allow developers to pass this type of information. There is no capability yet to pass additional device types alongside Matter Communications, as there is with HomeKit.
We are still seeing additional device types developed and configured for Matter, so I think it would make sense for the alliance to wait on developing the feature until after the majority of device types are available. Until then, this type of feature is a platform-specific feature and will look at both the communication type and device to determine what the available "Display As" options are.
I have made sure to pass the feedback along that the feature would be more than appreciated if it is possible to be added later. Something to keep in mind is the fact that all the major smart home manufacturers and platforms are involved with the protocol development. This likely means that all companies will have a hand in providing needed features and instructions, but it also means that the overall development and release of more advanced features will take significantly longer.
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I am not buying it. I have a KASA KP125M matter smart plug that I can set as a FAN in HomeKit so why can't a Wall Switch, KS205, be set as a fan??
.
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@Riley_S , thanks for the follow up. See above, another community member provided their MATTER enabled plugs that have the functionality I've been asking about. Something still doesn't jive in your response vs. what clearly is doable based upon your own product offerings functionality. Mind providing a clearer explanation? / How does your matter plugs function as desired but your matter wall switches do not?
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Hey @TimH83,
From what I have been able to infer from our dev team, along with the experience I have had with using devices in Alexa, Google and Home Assistant(which have simialr features): when the device is not a HomeKit device, the device will use the default 'display as' options that Apple provides for that type of device. This means that as a Matter plug, it would only be subject to the device types set by Apple for smart plugs- which probably happen to align with what you are looking for with plugs, but not for switches.
For HomeKit devices, there are extra attributes that may be used by device makers to communicate recommended device types for the platform.
From a few other threads, it sounds as though the Matter implementation of Apple Home has not received any updates recently but there are suspicions that we could see an update to the Apple Home platform with the coming iOS 18 update.
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Good Afternoon @Riley_S!
Thanks for getting back with us. For starters, here's hoping that iOS 18 has some new enhancements. I'm assuming someone in your development team is already running iOS 18 Beta for testing and ensuring no conflicting compatibility issues with your existing product offerings. While I'm no beta tester, could you have one of your guys check to see if this is an enhancement that was added?
Also, if you are saying Apple is dictating how your device is recognized, then would it be safe to assume that your development team has a contact at Apple to define how your company wants your devices to display? And if so, can you all make the request to apple?
Looking at some of your competitors offerings like Lutron, I'm being told through some Reddit forms that their switches do have the 'Display As' function on their matter switch devices. This leads me to believe that it might be (hopefully) as simple as an outreach from TP-Link to Apple to enhance this?
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Could it be that this is coded as a LIGHT switch not just a switch? All kinds of things can be hooked to a wall switch.
My HomeKit icon for KASA, the chandelier for ceiling fan, and being a "light" it doesn't show up in HomeKit climate. Or is it that my ceiling fan now identifies as a light, mind of its own.
The old wemo, granted it was not matter and it appears it doesn't matter to the KASA matter engineers. Sorry I couldn't help myself.
Thanks
Bill
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@Riley_S hope you're well. Following back up on any updates. So I made some progress on my end and spoke with Apple direction on two occasions (called them and in store). According to apple, they relay the device selection options (display as) based up how Kasa tells therm as it relates to compatibility. Any chance we can escalate further?
thanks!
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