PairVaultGuides
Can you pair a HomeKit device without the QR code?
Yes. The QR code is just the eight-digit setup code in a scannable wrapper. If you have the number, you can type it in by hand. Here is how, and when it is your only option.
2 min read
Yes. The QR code and the eight-digit number are the same thing. The QR, which
starts X-HM://, just packs the setup code, the accessory type and a short ID
into something your camera can read in one go. Type the digits and you get the
same result.
Entering the code by hand
- In the Home app, tap the plus button, then Add Accessory.
- Tap More options under the camera view.
- Pick your accessory from the list of nearby devices.
- Enter the eight-digit code,
XXX-XX-XXX. It is printed on the accessory, the box, or the manual, usually right next to the QR code or the HomeKit logo.
That is the whole difference. A QR scan skips step 3, because the code points at one specific accessory. Typing means you choose it from the list yourself. Everything after that is identical.
When there is no QR code to begin with
Plenty of older HomeKit accessories never had one. Up to around 2019 the norm was an eight-digit number printed with the HomeKit logo, and sometimes an NFC tag you could tap instead. Those pair fine. You just always typed the code. If your accessory has an NFC tag, holding the phone against it does the same job as a scan.
What you cannot do
Pair with nothing. The setup code is a shared secret the accessory checks during pairing, so there is no bypass and no “skip this” button. If you have neither the QR nor the number, you need to recover the code before you can add the device.
If the QR will not scan but you have the number, typing it is the fix. If typing does not work either, something else is wrong, and the pairing checklist is the place to start.