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Do you know how to Add Apple TV to HomeKit? With the Home app on iOS and Apple’s HomeKit framework, you can easily control smart home devices that are compatible and connected. But for some HomeKit features to work, you need to set up a device as a Home Hub. This device stays on and connected at home even when you’re not there. If your HomeKit devices support them, the best thing about setting up a Home Hub is that it lets you use location-based automation features.
Because they use a virtual geographical boundary (geofencing), some thermostats can change the temperature to a more energy-efficient setting when you leave the house. There aren’t many choices for an Apple HomeKit hub. A HomePod or HomePod mini is what most people choose to use as the brains of their smart home, but you can also know how to Add Apple TV to HomeKit.
What is Apple TV?
Apple’s plan for the living room is called “Apple TV.” “Apple TV” is the name of the hardware, software, and streaming service that make it up. You might be talking about the Apple TV app, which you can get on most Apple products, not just the Apple TV. Apple TV is a set-top box that turns a TV into a screen for watching videos on the Internet.
Apple TV lets users show digital content from their own iPhone devices and a number of partner sources once they are connected. Some partner sources, like Netflix and Hulu, are free, but you have to pay a monthly fee to use others. Apple TV goes up against Roku, Google Chromecast, and Amazon FireTV in the market. People who want to use Apple TV must have an iTunes account and be able to connect to the internet.
A High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable lets you connect the box to your TV. The box itself is about the size of a hockey puck. Controlling an Apple TV from the outside can be done with either the infrared remote that comes with the device or a free Wi-Fi mobile app from the iTunes store called Remote. The fourth-generation Apple TV also lets you control it with your voice by integrating Apple’s digital assistant Siri.
How to Add Apple TV to HomeKit
- Start up Apple TV and go to the Settings menu. It’s the big black gear or cog on a silver background.
- Just click on “Users and Accounts.” Under “Default User,” make sure your name is shown. Also, make sure you’re signed into Apple iCloud with the same Apple ID you used on your iPhone’s Home app.
- Pick “AirPlay and HomeKit” from the list of settings on your Apple TV.
- Pick “Room” from the list that’s further down. Then pick a room from the list or make a new one.
You’re done! Apple has some ideas if it’s not working the way it should.
- Check that your Apple TV is up to date.
- Make sure you’re signed in to iCloud as the main user of the Home app again.
- Make sure that iCloud Keychain and 2FA are turned on for your Apple ID.
- Do not forget to turn on and connect your Apple TV to your home WiFi network.
Benefits of adding Apple TV to HomeKit
- Remote Access: When you integrate your Apple TV into HomeKit, you gain remote access to your HomeKit-enabled devices. This means you can control your smart home devices even when you’re away from home, using the Home app on your iOS device.
- Hub for Automation: Apple TV serves as a hub for HomeKit automation. With it in your HomeKit setup, you can create complex automation routines and schedules for your smart devices, making your home more convenient and energy-efficient.
- Secure Remote Access: Apple places a strong emphasis on security. When you use your Apple TV as a hub, your communication with HomeKit devices is encrypted, ensuring your smart home remains secure, even when controlling it remotely.
- Voice Control: You can use Siri on your Apple TV to control your HomeKit devices using voice commands. This adds a convenient hands-free way to manage your smart home.
- Unified Control: With Apple TV integrated into HomeKit, you can control multiple HomeKit devices from a single app, providing a unified and streamlined user experience.
- Interoperability: HomeKit is designed to work with a wide range of third-party smart devices, not just Apple’s own products. Adding your Apple TV to HomeKit can help bridge the gap between different brands of smart devices, ensuring they work seamlessly together.
Checking Compatibility and Requirements
| Apple TV Model | HomeKit Compatibility | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Apple TV 4K | Compatible | – Up-to-date software<br>- Signed in to iCloud<br>- iCloud Keychain and 2FA enabled<br>- Connected to home WiFi network |
| Apple TV HD | Compatible | – Up-to-date software<br>- Signed in to iCloud<br>- iCloud Keychain and 2FA enabled<br>- Connected to home WiFi network |
| Apple TV (3rd generation) | Limited Compatibility | – Up-to-date software<br>- Limited HomeKit functionality, mostly acts as a hub for remote access. |
| Older Models | Not Compatible | – Not supported by HomeKit |
Conclusion
The Apple TV is the best set-top box for Apple users because it has extras like HomeKit integration and costs more than other streaming devices. With HomeKit, the Apple TV can connect to all of your smart home devices and give you easy-to-use controls on the big screen. We’ll show you how to connect your Apple TV to HomeKit so that your smart home can get all of its benefits.
Questions and Answers
Make sure the software on your iPad, Apple TV 4K or HD, HomePod, or HomePod mini is up to date. As long as the person logged into iCloud is the main user of the Home app and not a guest user, you should be good. Your Apple ID needs to have two-factor authentication and iCloud Keychain turned on.
A home hub lets you manage your HomeKit and Matter devices when you’re not there. It also lets you share control of your devices with other people and sets your devices to do what you want, when you want. To add Matter items to the Home app, you need to set up a home hub.
HomePod’s Siri can turn on your Apple TV, start your favorite show, and let you change the settings while you watch. Do any of these things: Begin a show: Tell Siri to play the movie or show you want to see.
Talking about. A bridge is a special kind of accessory that lets you talk to other accessories that can’t talk to HomeKit directly. As an example, a bridge could be a hub for several lights that don’t all talk to each other using the HomeKit Accessory Protocol.