How to Set Up Your Aqara Motion Sensor

Beginner 10-15 minutes

The Aqara Motion Sensor is a compact, battery-powered Zigbee motion detector that pairs with your Aqara Hub to enable motion-triggered automations. It features a built-in light level sensor and is ideal for basic motion detection tasks like turning on lights when you enter a room.

What You Will Need

  • Aqara Motion Sensor
  • Aqara Hub (M2, M3, or Camera Hub G3) already set up on your network
  • Aqara Home app installed on your smartphone (iOS or Android)
  • CR2450 coin cell battery (included)
  • Included magnetic mount and adhesive pad

Preparing the Sensor

  1. Remove the sensor from its packaging.
  2. Pull the plastic battery isolation tab to activate the CR2450 battery.
  3. A small LED on the front of the sensor will flash once to confirm power.

Pairing with Your Aqara Hub

  1. Open the Aqara Home app on your smartphone.
  2. Tap the + icon in the upper-right corner.
  3. Select Motion Sensor from the device list, or scan the QR code on the packaging.
  4. Choose the Aqara Hub you want to pair with.
  5. Press and hold the reset button on the back of the sensor for 5 seconds until the LED flashes rapidly, entering pairing mode.
  6. Wait for the app to discover and connect the sensor.
  7. Assign it to a room and give it a descriptive name.

Mounting and Positioning

The Aqara Motion Sensor uses a passive infrared (PIR) detector with a range of approximately 7 meters and a 170-degree horizontal detection angle. Proper placement is key to reliable performance:

  1. Attach the adhesive pad to the magnetic mount base.
  2. Peel the backing and press the mount firmly to the wall, ceiling, or shelf at your desired location.
  3. Place the sensor on the magnetic mount. The magnet lets you adjust the angle easily.

Placement tips:

  • Mount at a height of 1.2 to 2.1 meters for optimal detection of people walking through the space.
  • Face the sensor toward the area of expected movement, such as a doorway or hallway.
  • Avoid placing the sensor near heat sources like radiators, ovens, or sunny windows to reduce false triggers.
  • PIR sensors do not detect motion through glass, so do not mount behind a window.

Understanding the Cooldown Period

The standard Aqara Motion Sensor has a fixed cooldown period of approximately 60 seconds after detecting motion. During this time, the sensor will not report new motion events. This is an important difference from the Motion Sensor P1, which offers adjustable timeout settings. Keep this in mind when designing automations — if you need faster re-triggering, consider the P1 model instead.

Creating Motion Automations

  1. Go to the Automations tab in the Aqara Home app.
  2. Tap + to create a new automation.
  3. Select Motion Sensor as the trigger and choose "Motion detected."
  4. Add actions such as turning on a light, activating a scene, or sending a notification.
  5. Add time conditions if desired — for example, only trigger between 10 PM and 6 AM for nighttime hallway lighting.
  6. Save the automation.

For turning lights off automatically, create a separate automation triggered by "No motion for X minutes" from the same sensor. Set the time duration based on how long you typically spend in the space.

Using the Built-in Light Sensor

The motion sensor includes a lux (light level) sensor that measures ambient brightness. You can use this as a condition in your automations to prevent lights from turning on when the room is already bright:

  • In your motion automation, add a condition: "Light level is below X lux."
  • A value of 15 to 30 lux works well for triggering lights only when a room is dim or dark.
  • This prevents unnecessary energy use during daytime when natural light is sufficient.

Practical Ideas

  • Turn on closet or pantry lights automatically when the door opens and motion is detected.
  • Activate a nightlight scene in the bathroom when motion is detected after dark.
  • Send security notifications when motion is detected in areas that should be unoccupied.
  • Combine with an Aqara Smart Plug to turn on a floor fan when you enter a room.

Tips

  • The CR2450 battery lasts approximately two years with typical use.
  • If the sensor seems unreliable, check its Zigbee signal strength in the app and consider moving it closer to the hub or adding a Zigbee router device nearby.
  • Clean the sensor's lens periodically with a soft, dry cloth to maintain detection accuracy.

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