FAQ
Which accessories work with the app?
The app supports only HomeKit-enabled accessories. Here is the list of supported accesssories.
Why is my Apple TV and HomePod not listed?
Apple TV and HomePod are not HomeKit accessories. Only Apple can communicate with Apple TV and HomePod. 3rd apps don’t have access to them.
Where is my HomeKit data stored?
HomeKit data is stored on iCloud and therefore it’s required to have an iCloud account have iCloud Keychain enabled.
Why are my accessories blocked?
If an accessory doesn’t behave correctly, HomeKit will block it. The app will then label the accessory as blocked. You then have to unblock the accessory by going in the accessory detail screen and tap Unblock.
Why can’t I edit some trigger actions?
Trigger actions, which were created using Apple’s Home app, cannot be edited because of technical reasons. Those types of actions can only be edited using Apple’s Home app.
How can I change my primary home?
To change the primary home, go to Settings → Tap Home Settings → Select a home → Set as primary home.
How can I get a refund?
If you experience a problem with the app, you can request a refund directly from Apple. Here are instructions on how to do that.
iCloud
Do I need an iCloud account to use HomeKit?
Yes, HomeKit requires an iCloud account. HomeKit uses iCloud Keychain to securely store pairing information of your accessories. This allows you to access your HomeKit accessories on other devices without re-configuring everything again.
What does the error “Cloud data sync is in progress” mean and how can I resolve it?
The error appears when iCloud has not finished syncing data with the servers yet. You can resolve this issue by making sure that you’re correctly logged in to iCloud and have iCloud Keychain and iCloud Drive enabled.
Some users could resolve the issue with the following steps.
- Check your Internet and Wi-Fi connections on your iOS device and Apple TV.
- Update the software on your iOS device and Apple TV.
- Make sure that your Apple TV is on the same Wi-Fi network as your HomeKit accessories and within about 25 feet of your Bluetooth HomeKit accessories.
- Go to Settings → iCloud → iCloud Drive and make sure that your iOS device has iCloud Drive turned on.
- Make sure that your iOS device and your Apple TV are signed in to iCloud using the same Apple ID and password.
- Make sure that any HomeKit accessories you’ve added using your iOS device can be controlled on your Wi-Fi network or using Bluetooth. If the accessories aren’t within reach, you might need to restart them. Check the batteries in your accessories and replace them if needed.
- Restart your iOS device and Apple TV.
- Go to Settings → Airplane Mode and turn Airplane Mode on and off. Then try to control your HomeKit accessories locally.
Triggers
Why does my location trigger not work?
You have to make sure that all accessories are reachable at the moment the trigger executes the actions. If you’re outside your local network, you have to configure a home hub which manges triggers on behalf of your iOS device.
Why are some characteristics not usable as events for triggers?
A characteristic has to satisfy certain technical requirements to be used as an event for triggers. Some Bluetooth accessories don’t satisfy these requirements yet. Please get in touch with the hardware manufacturer for more information.
Can invited people create triggers is a shared home?
Yes, you can grant administration permissions to invited people using Apple’s Home app.
Philips Hue
My Hue light bulbs are not found by the Home app.
First you have to setup and configure your Hue lights with the official Hue app. You have to enable Siri Voice Control in the Hue app to make the light bulbs HomeKit compatible. After that your light bulbs automatically appear in the Home app.
My 3rd party lights are not found by the Home app.
Philips removed the HomeKit support for 3rd party lights some time ago with a firmware update of the Hue bridge. This meant that you couldn’t control 3rd party lights anymore using HomeKit. People complained about that and Philips decided to revert those changes with a new firmware version. Make sure that you’re running the latest firmware.
The Hue app says that another user already paired the HomeKit enabled bridge.
You have to reset Siri voice control using the following instructions.
Elgato Eve
Can I use Elgato Eve products for event triggers?
Yes. Make sure that to update your accessories to the latest firmware version.
Nest
Does the app work with Nest?
No, because Nest is not HomeKit compatible. But you could build your own HomeKit bridge for Nest.