How to Make Your Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad a HomeKit Hub

By Olena Kagui Thu, 02/04/2021

The Apple HomeKit Hub gives you control over your smart home appliances using your Apple devices. You can make your Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad a HomeKit hub to give yourself more flexibility. Here’s how to set up each device as a HomeKit Hub in just a few simple steps.

How to Make Your Apple TV a HomeKit Hub

Your Apple TV can be a handy HomeKit Hub if you use it often. Here's how to set your Apple TV as the Hub in your Home:

Open Settings on your ‌Apple TV‌.
Select Users and Accounts.

Make sure that you're signed in to iCloud.
Once you are signed in to ‌iCloud‌, your ‌Apple TV‌ will automatically become a HomeKit Hub.

How to Stop Your Apple TV from Being a HomeKit Hub

If you want to switch to a different Hub, you'll need to stop your Apple TV from being the Hub.

Discover your iPhone's hidden features

Get a daily tip (with screenshots and clear instructions) so you can master your iPhone in just one minute a day.

Open Settings on your Apple TV.
Select AirPlay and HomeKit.

Scroll down to Home Hub.
Select the name of your home to disable it.

When your Apple TV is no longer the Hub, your home will say "Disabled."

How to Make Your HomePod a HomeKit Hub

Just like the Apple TV, the HomePod will automatically be a Home Hub upon initial setup. You can set up a new HomePod using the Home app. If you have multiple HomePods, only one can be a Home Hub.

Open the Home app on your iPhone.
In the Home tab, tap the Home icon in the upper-left corner.

Select Home Settings.
Scroll down and tap on Hubs & Bridges.

The HomePod marked as Connected is the Home Hub while the one(s) marked as standby are not.
If you need to change the Hub, tap on the HomePod of your choice to set it as the new Hub.

How to Use an iPad as a HomeKit Hub

You can set your iPad as your HomeKit Hub, which is especially handy if you tend to carry your iPad around with you as you move throughout the house. Follow these steps to set your iPad as the Hub:

Open the Settings app on your iPad.
Tap on your name and make sure you’re signed in to iCloud.

Tap iCloud.
Scroll down to Home and make sure that it is toggled on.

Go back to the first screen in Settings.
Scroll down to Home and tap on it.

Toggle on Use this iPad as a Home Hub.

Whether you have moved things around and need to switch your HomeKit Hub or you simply want to change it for convenience, these tips enable you to switch your Apple Home Hub whenever you choose.

Master your iPhone in one minute a day: Sign up here to get our FREE Tip of the Day delivered right to your inbox.

Topics

Author Details

Olena Kagui

Olena Kagui is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life. In the last 10 years, she has been published in dozens of publications internationally and won an excellence award. Since joining iPhone Life in 2020, she has written how-to articles as well as complex guides about Apple products, software, and apps. Olena grew up using Macs and exploring all the latest tech. Her Maui home is the epitome of an Apple ecosystem, full of compatible smart gear to boot. Olena’s favorite device is the Apple Watch Ultra because it can survive all her adventures and travels, and even her furbabies.

Featured Products

Hands Down One Of The Best 0% Interest Credit Cards

If you have outstanding credit card debt, getting a new 0% intro APR credit card could help ease the pressure while you pay down your balances. Our credit card experts identified top credit cards that are perfect for anyone looking to pay down debt and not add to it! Click through to see what all the hype is about.

The Best Calendar & Advanced Task Manager for iOS

Now you can try Informant 5 for free and experience a productivity boost by managing projects with tasks and notes, syncing your calendar among all your devices, enjoying a user-friendly 30-day calendar view, and so much more. Informant 5 features SmartBar navigation which makes it so much easier to use and master this calendar app. Plus, you can use it almost anywhere thanks to Dark Mode. With a dark background, you can check in on your tasks and schedule anywhere, even the movie theater. Upgrade to the best calendar app and task manager for iOS! Embrace an "out with the old, in with the new" spirit with Informant 5.