With Matter, devices don’t “belong” to a single ecosystem. Instead, you can commission (add) the same device into multiple ecosystems using multi-admin. This is what lets your LIFX light show up in Apple Home and Google Home at the same time, for example.
How It Works
Commission the device into your first ecosystem
Open Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, or Alexa.
Scan the Matter QR code (on the device or packaging).
The device is securely added to that ecosystem and controlled normally.
Enable Multi-Admin Sharing
Go into the app where the device is already set up (e.g., Apple Home).
Look for “Share with other services” or “Add to another ecosystem.”
This generates a new pairing code (sometimes called a setup code or “share code”).
Add to the second ecosystem
Open the other app (say Google Home).
Choose Add device → Matter device.
Enter or scan the new share code.
The device now appears in both apps.
Repeat for more ecosystems
Each time, you create a new pairing code from one of the ecosystems the device is already in.
That code is then used in the new ecosystem.
You can do this across Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, and Alexa.
Example with a LIFX Matter enabled Bulb
Start by setting up the bulb in the LIFX App using the Matter QR code on the bulb or packaging.
Once added, go into the LIFX App → Light Settings ⚙️ → Share Device with another service (this is Matter’s multi-admin feature).
On Android, you don’t need to use a code at all — just tap Share and pick the other ecosystem app (like Google Home or SmartThings) from the list.
Android onboarding and Matter sharing flow:
On iOS, or when sharing from Android to iOS, you’ll need to generate and scan the Matter setup code.
The bulb will then appear in multiple ecosystems (Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, etc.) and can be controlled seamlessly from any of them.