SwitchBot Motion Sensor | Smart motion sensor with light sensor

Motion Detection with Built-in Light Sensor

The SwitchBot Motion Sensor (W1101500) detects motion up to 9 meters away with a wide viewing angle of 110° horizontally and 55° vertically. The built-in light sensor distinguishes between day and night, ensuring automations are only active when sensible. The sensor operates on 2 AAA batteries with an expected lifespan of approximately 3 years and requires no wiring or fixed power supply.

The protocol is exclusively Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Within your local network, the sensor pairs directly with Home Assistant without a hub, provided Bluetooth is available on your server. Remote push notifications via the SwitchBot app require a SwitchBot Hub Mini or Hub 2, sold separately.

Looking for a motion sensor via Zigbee for a larger range or simpler integration without Bluetooth limitations? Then check out the motion sensor range.

What the Sensor Detects

• Motion up to 9 meters away with a viewing angle of 110° horizontally and 55° vertically
• Light intensity via built-in light sensor: day or night indication, no exact lux value
• Adjustable sensitivity via the SwitchBot app to limit unwanted triggers

Power and Connectivity

The sensor operates on 2 AAA batteries which are pre-installed. In normal use, SwitchBot states a battery life of approximately 3 years. The connection protocol is exclusively Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). There is no Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Z-Wave or Matter present.

Mounting and Placement

The included magnetic stand allows you to quickly reposition the sensor without drilling or adhesive. For fixed mounting, screws and plugs are included. The sensor is intended for indoor use and has an ABS housing with UV coating. It is only available in white.

Home Assistant

The SwitchBot Motion Sensor pairs via the official SwitchBot Bluetooth integration in Home Assistant. All communication is local via Bluetooth, without cloud and without a SwitchBot account.

⚠️ Please note: Bluetooth required on your server. The Home Assistant Green and Home Assistant Yellow do not have built-in Bluetooth. You will then need one of the following options:

• A USB Bluetooth adapter (e.g., a standard BLE 5.0 USB dongle) connected to your server
• An ESP32 as a Bluetooth proxy via ESPHome, to be placed closer to the sensor
• A Shelly Gen3 or Gen4 device with built-in Bluetooth proxy function, already on your network

The N150 Home Assistant Server from slimhuisje.nl has built-in Bluetooth 5.0 and works directly without additional hardware.

Step-by-step pairing:

1. Ensure Bluetooth is active on your Home Assistant server, built-in or via adapter or proxy.
2. Go to Settings > Devices & Services > Add Integration.
3. Search for SwitchBot Bluetooth and follow the wizard. Briefly press the button on the sensor if it does not appear automatically.
4. After pairing, the entities binary_sensor motion and sensor battery percentage will appear.
5. The light sensor provides a day/night indication and is not available as a separate entity in the standard integration.

All communication is completely local with no cloud dependency. Use the BLE MAC address from the SwitchBot app under Device Settings to distinguish multiple sensors.

Homey

The SwitchBot Motion Sensor works with Homey Pro and Homey Bridge via the official SwitchBot app in the Homey App Store. Homey communicates directly with the sensor via its built-in Bluetooth, without a SwitchBot Hub. The light sensor returns a light/dark status, not an absolute lux value.

Other Platforms

Via a SwitchBot Hub Mini or Hub 2, the sensor is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings. Apple Home and Matter are not supported by this model. The SwitchBot app (iOS 14+ and Android 5+) offers push notifications and sensitivity settings, but requires a SwitchBot Hub for this.

Automation Examples

Example 1: Lights On with Motion in the Dark

1. Trigger: The Motion Sensor detects motion (binary_sensor changes to detected).
2. Condition: The Motion Sensor's light sensor reports dark.
3. Action: Turn on the hall lighting at 100% brightness.
4. Additional: Automatically turn off the lights after 5 minutes without new motion detection via a timer helper.
5. Result: Lights only turn on when it's dark and someone is present.

Example 2: Notification for Motion During Vacation

1. Trigger: The Motion Sensor in the living room detects motion.
2. Condition: An input_boolean helper for vacation mode is set to on.
3. Action 1: Send a push notification via the Home Assistant Companion App with the text "Motion detected in the living room".
4. Action 2: Turn on a smart plug with a lamp to simulate presence.
5. Result: Immediate notification of unwanted motion, even when you are not at home.

Compatibility

Platform	Support
Home Assistant	✅ Via SwitchBot Bluetooth integration, local, Bluetooth required on server
Homey Pro / Homey Bridge	✅ Via SwitchBot app in Homey App Store
Amazon Alexa	✅ Via SwitchBot Hub Mini or Hub 2
Google Home	✅ Via SwitchBot Hub Mini or Hub 2
SmartThings	✅ Via SwitchBot Hub Mini or Hub 2
Apple Home / Matter	❌ Not supported by this model

Points to Consider

• Protocol is exclusively Bluetooth BLE: no Zigbee, Z-Wave or Wi-Fi. Effective range within a home is 5 to 15 meters depending on walls and interference.
• Home Assistant Green and Yellow do not have built-in Bluetooth: use a USB Bluetooth adapter, an ESPHome Bluetooth proxy on an ESP32, or a Shelly Gen3/Gen4 device as a proxy.
• Remote push notifications via the SwitchBot app require a SwitchBot Hub Mini or Hub 2, not included.
• The light sensor only provides a day/night indication, not an absolute lux value.
• Only suitable for indoor use.
• Apple Home and Matter are not supported by this model.

Box Contents

• 1x SwitchBot Motion Sensor (W1101500)
• 1x Magnetic stand
• 2x AAA batteries (pre-installed)
• Screws and plugs
• Quick guide

Compatible Platforms

Home Assistant (SwitchBot Bluetooth integration, local), Homey Pro, Homey Bridge, Amazon Alexa (via SwitchBot Hub), Google Home (via SwitchBot Hub), SmartThings (via SwitchBot Hub), SwitchBot app (iOS/Android).

Technical Specifications

Specification	Value
Model	W1101500
EAN	850007706371
Protocol	Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)
Detection Range	9 meters (clear line of sight)
Viewing Angle Horizontal	110°
Viewing Angle Vertical	55°
Sensor Dimensions	54 x 54 x 30 mm
Stand Dimensions	45 x 45 x 32 mm
Sensor Weight	56 g (including batteries)
Stand Weight	19 g
Power Supply	2x AAA battery
Battery Life	Approx. 3 years with normal use
Operating Temperature	0°C to 40°C
Suitable for Outdoor Use	No
Color	White
Material	ABS with UV coating
Compatible App	iOS 14+, Android 5+
Country of Origin	China
HS Code	8531.10.95 (verification via tarief.douane.nl recommended)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Motion Sensor work directly with Home Assistant without a hub?

Yes, via the SwitchBot Bluetooth integration in Home Assistant, completely local. The Home Assistant Green and Yellow do not have built-in Bluetooth: in that case, use a USB Bluetooth adapter, an ESPHome Bluetooth proxy on an ESP32, or a Shelly Gen3/Gen4 device as a proxy. The N150 Home Assistant Server does have built-in Bluetooth 5.0.

Which entities appear in Home Assistant after pairing?

After pairing via the SwitchBot Bluetooth integration, a binary_sensor for motion and a sensor for battery percentage appear. The light sensor does not provide a lux value and is not available as a separate entity in the standard integration.

Are batteries included?

Yes, 2 AAA batteries are pre-installed. The sensor is ready for use right out of the box.

Does the sensor also work with Homey?

Yes. The sensor is compatible with Homey Pro and Homey Bridge via the official SwitchBot app in the Homey App Store, without an additional hub.

Can I adjust the sensitivity of the motion detection?

Yes, via the SwitchBot app you can set the sensitivity to avoid unwanted triggers. This is useful in rooms with pets or high traffic.

Can the sensor be used outdoors?

No, the W1101500 is only suitable for indoor use. For outdoor detection, check the motion sensor range for suitable alternatives.

Does the light sensor provide an exact lux value?

No. The built-in light sensor only provides a day/night indication. The threshold value can be calibrated via the SwitchBot app. An exact lux value is not available via this sensor.

Immediately available and paired with Home Assistant via Bluetooth in minutes.