If you opt for Apple Homekit as your smart home automation platform without a hub, you might notice something strange. You can’t actually control some of your smart devices remotely.
This is because they lack a common interface like iCloud that helps your Homekit communicate with your Apple device. You need the help of a Homekit hub to complete remote control of your smart devices and appliances.
A Homekit hub acts as the interface that you need to access your smart devices and appliances. This is done via iCloud even when you’re not connected to your home Wi-Fi.
How Does Homekit Hub Help Your Homekit Automation?
The important thing you should know about Homekit is that it’s always limited to your home Wi-Fi. This network enables Homekit to control all the other smart devices via Siri or the Home App.
However, when you use a Homekit hub connected with your official Apple ID, it facilitates a way for your Apple TV, HomePod, Mac, iPhone, or iPad to communicate with your smart devices and appliances even when you’re away from home internet.
Which Apple Devices Can Act as Your Homekit Hub?
- Apple HomePod or HomePod Mini.
- Apple Watch (WatchOS 3 and Later).
- Apple iPhone, iPod, or iPad (iOS 10 and Later).
- Apple TV (Fourth Generation).
- Macs fitted with macOS 10.14 Mojave or Later.
How Does Homekit Connect to Your Smart Devices and Accessories?
Giving voice commands to your smart devices via Siri without a Homekit hub won’t work. This is because the smart devices do not recognize commands from Siri that are given over cellular data.
When you give voice commands to your smart devices via a Homkit Hub, they will be received and responded to. This is because the Apple ID you use for your Homekit Hub ensures it can communicate to all the devices plugged into your home Wi-Fi on your behalf.
Can a Homekit Hub Act As a Homebridge and Connect to Your Homekit Incompatible Devices?
No. The Homekit hub communicates to your Homekit devices because they share the same connection protocol. All Homekit hubs from Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad, or iPhone, can only support Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connections.
This might not be the same with other Homekit incompatible smart products such as Philips Hue Lights or Nest. This is because they utilize wireless connections in Zigbee or Z-Wave, which require special kinds of radios to connect.
For any device to act as Homekit Homeridge, it needs to have secure APIs and other protocols. This applies to all the third-party smart devices and accessories in the market.
Manufacturers of Homekit Homebridge always follow these protocols and guidelines. This is to ensure that they extend Apple’s efforts to secure authentication and encryption for Homekit users.
What You Need to Make Your Apple TV, Homepod, or Ipad a Homekit Hub
Apple Homekit enables you to create different automation and control your smart devices and appliances over your Home Wi-Fi. However, a Homekit Hub is required for you to take advantage of the whole system and its features.
You’ll require to make use of your HomePod, iPad, Apple TV, or iPhone to act as a Homekit Hub. It will be the central command and brain for all your Homekit-compatible smart devices.
The important thing you’ll need to set up your Apple devices as a Homekit Hub is your Apple ID. However, to ensure that your use of Apple ID is secure, you always need to activate the two-factor authentication.
How To Turn Your HomePod or Apple TV into a Homekit Hub
All you need to activate your HomePod or Apple TV is to complete the setup process, which involves your Apple ID. After that setup process has been successful, that’s it. Your Apple TV or HomePod will automatically become your Homekit Hub.
How to Turn Your iPad Into a Homekit Hub
For this process to be successful, ensure that the Apple ID used for your Homekit is associated with your iPad. If they are associated, follow these steps;
- Open Settings on your iPad.
- Scroll and select Home.
- Select Use this iPad as a Home Hub option.
Final Thoughts
A Homekit Hub is very important for your Homekit-powered smart home as it offers more convenience to you. This is because you can control all your smart devices from anywhere you’re while also keeping your data safe.
You can perform functions such as turning on your smart thermostat or speakers, among others, before you get there.