How to Set Up an Apple Home Hub to Make Your Home Smarter

If you want to use every HomeKit feature, you must configure an iPad, Apple TV, or HomePod as an Apple home hub.

Apple’s Home app provides a unified interface for managing all of your HomeKit smart home accessories. However, in order to get the most out of this experience, you must first set up an Apple home hub. A home hub enables you to remotely control your accessories, create automation, and invite guests to control your home.

Setting up an Apple home hub is simple, and it frequently occurs automatically. However, you must first ensure that you have the necessary devices, and then you must understand how to set it up on the device you own.

What Is an Apple Home Hub?

An Apple home hub is a device that is always on and securely connects your HomeKit smart home accessories to the internet. As long as you have an internet connection, you can control your smart home from anywhere in the world.

To control your accessories without an Apple home hub, you must be connected to your home Wi-Fi network.

With an Apple home hub, you can also set up smart home automations for your accessories in the Home app. You could use this to turn on the lights as the sun rises, lock your doors before going to bed, play music when you get home, and much more.

Finally, an Apple home hub enables you to share your smart home controls with visitors. This is especially useful if you have overnight visitors and want them to be able to lock the door or turn on the lights without having to ask you.

What Devices Can Be an Apple Home Hub?

As an Apple home hub, you can only use one of the following devices:

• Apple TV (4th generation) or later
• HomePod or HomePod mini
• iPad

At all times, an Apple Home Hub must be present in your home, turned on, and connected to Wi-Fi. This is why using an Apple TV or a HomePod is usually preferable.

If you have multiple of these devices, Apple HomeKit will only use one of them as a home hub, with the others acting as a backup in the event that the default device fails.

You won’t be able to set up an Apple home hub unless you have one of these devices. In that case, it might be worth picking up a used HomePod or researching alternative smart home setups.

How to Check if You Already Have a Home Hub

It is extremely simple to set up an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad as an Apple home hub. In fact, when you sign in to your iCloud account and connect to your Wi-Fi network during the setup, a HomePod will automatically set itself up as your Apple Home Hub.

To find out if you already have a home hub set up:

1. Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
2. From the Home tab, tap the More (…) button and choose Home Settings.
3. Select Home Hubs & Bridges. Any available home hubs will be listed at the top, with the default hub saying Connected next to it.

How to Set Up an Apple Home Hub

If you’re using an iPad, or if your Apple TV or HomePod hasn’t already been configured as a home hub, follow the instructions for each device listed below.

Set Up an iPad as a Home Hub

To use an iPad as an Apple home hub, make sure it is always at home, turned on, and connected to Wi-Fi. The best way to accomplish this is to keep it charged at all times. As previously stated, you must also avoid updating to the new HomeKit architecture that Apple plans to release in late 2022.

If you still want to set up your iPad as an Apple home hub, follow these steps:

1. On your iPad, go to Settings and make sure you’re connected to your home Wi-Fi and that Bluetooth is on.
2. Then tap [Your Name] > iCloud.
3. Under Apps Using iCloud, choose to Show All and enable the Keychain and Home options.
4. Finally, go to Settings > Home and choose to Use this iPad as a Home Hub.

Set Up an Apple TV as a Home Hub

To set up your Apple TV as an Apple home hub:

1. Go to Settings > [Your Name] and take note of the user account you’re signed in to at the top of the page. If you have a Mac instead, go to System Preferences > Apple ID.
2. Now hit iCloud. Under Apps Using iCloud, choose to Show All and enable the Keychain and Home options.
3. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > [Your Account] and make sure the iCloud account matches what you’re signed in to on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
4. Now, go back to the main Apple TV Settings, select Network, and make sure your Apple TV is connected to your home Wi-Fi.
5. Finally, go back to the main Apple TV Settings, select AirPlay and HomeKit.
6. Scroll down to Home Hub and make sure it says Connected. You may also need to select a Room for your Apple TV under the HomeKit section.

see also; How to sell Apple HomePod

Set Up a HomePod or HomePod mini as a Home Hub

Setting up your HomePod or HomePod mini as a home hub is even easier:

1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad that’s connected to your HomePod.
2. Connected to your home Wi-Fi network and that Bluetooth is on.
3. Now tap [Your Name] or Sign in at the top of the Settings and make sure you’re signed in to your iCloud account.
4. Tap iCloud.
5. Under Apps Using iCloud, choose to Show All 
6. Enable the Keychain and Home options.

Apple HomeKit Gets Better Every Year

If you’re already invested in the Apple ecosystem, setting up an Apple home hub is especially beneficial.

After you’ve configured one, you can use Siri on any of your Apple devices to check in on your smart home from anywhere in the world. Automations can help you to simplify your life. You can even give family members and visitors access to your home.

HomeKit’s capabilities, however, do not stop there. Apple adds more functions to its smart home network with each passing year, ensuring that your investment in this ecosystem will be rewarded for many years to come.