How It Works
From a tap in the app to a device changing state.
IoTiq is built from three parts working together: the IoTiq app you use, Home Assistant running on a small computer in your home or business with the IoTiq Connector installed, and your devices. Here’s what happens between them — and which parts use the internet.
The Three Parts
App, Home Assistant, devices.
Each layer has one job. None of them depend on a call centre to function.
IoTiq App
View device state, trigger scenes and build automations from your phone or a browser. The app talks to IoTiq’s cloud, which passes signed commands to the Connector in your home.
Home Assistant + IoTiq Connector
Home Assistant connects to your Zigbee, Matter and Wi-Fi devices, holds device pairings and runs local automations. The IoTiq Connector links it to the app over a secure outbound connection.
Devices
Sensors, plugs, lights, locks and thermostats — each one paired to Home Assistant, reporting state changes back as they happen.
Local vs. Cloud
What runs locally, and what uses the cloud.
Device control and automations run in Home Assistant on your local network. The IoTiq app itself is cloud-connected: device states, activity history and commands pass through IoTiq’s servers so you can use the app from anywhere.
Runs locally
- Device pairing, discovery and control
- Automation triggers and actions
- State reporting between devices and Home Assistant
- Home Assistant’s own app and dashboard on your Wi-Fi
Uses the internet
- The IoTiq app, at home or away (device states, activity and commands sync through IoTiq’s cloud)
- Push notifications and mobile alerts
- Software and firmware updates
- IoTiq Intelligence (optional AI features), only if you turn it on
If your internet connection drops, automations in Home Assistant and control through Home Assistant on your Wi-Fi keep working. The IoTiq app, mobile alerts and AI features are unavailable until the connection is restored.
A Typical Sequence
What happens when a sensor detects motion.
A paired motion sensor detects movement and reports the change to Home Assistant over Zigbee, Matter or Wi-Fi.
Home Assistant checks the event against your local automations — for example, “if motion in the hallway after sunset, turn on the hallway light.”
If a match is found, Home Assistant sends the corresponding command straight to the target device, without waiting on an internet round trip.
The Connector sends the updated state to IoTiq’s cloud, so the app shows it wherever you are.
If the automation includes a notification, it is sent over the internet to your phone.
FAQ
Common questions.
What hardware do I need?+
A computer running Home Assistant (for example a Home Assistant Green) with the IoTiq Connector installed — we can supply and set this up. Zigbee devices also need a Zigbee coordinator, and Matter-over-Thread devices a Thread Border Router. Check a device’s protocol on our Compatible Devices page.
What happens if Home Assistant loses power or restarts?
Device pairings and automations are stored locally in Home Assistant and persist through a restart. Automations resume once it finishes booting, and the Connector reconnects to the app automatically.
Can I use IoTiq without an internet connection at all?
Home Assistant’s local control and automations work without internet once devices are paired. The IoTiq app, remote access, mobile alerts, AI features and updates require a connection.
Does every device support every step in this sequence?
It depends on the device’s capabilities and its compatibility status. See the status badge and notes for each model on the Compatible Devices page.
Next
See which devices this works with today.
Every device is labelled with an honest compatibility status — no guesswork.