What are HomeKit Hubs? - EXPLAINED

If you’re just starting out your smart home and you’re going down the HomeKit route, you may come across the term “HomeKit hub”. It’s not immediately obvious what a HomeKit hub is, since Apple doesn’t sell a device with that name, nor does any other company.
In short, a HomeKit Hub is a device that basically works as a central communication point for all of your HomeKit devices.
It unlocks extra functionality like accessing your Home devices remotely, enabled HomeKit Secure Video, and more.
Full Written Version: techtechandmoretech.com/guide...
**More Resources**
Thread Video: • Is Your Smart Home OBS...
HomePod Mini Video: • HomePod Mini - One Mon...
HomeKit iOS 14: • HomeKit in iOS 14
HomePod Mini: www.apple.com/shop/buy-homepo...
HomePod: www.apple.com/homepod/
Apple TV: www.apple.com/apple-tv-4k/
iPad: www.apple.com/ipad/
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[@thecondocrew2718]

It’s not showing the home tab in settings 😢

[@kentao4]

This is the only video that has answered my question about hubs as most devices connect to the hubs vía Bluetooth. Nobody ever explained that multiple devices can be used as a hub TOGETHER. My problem is that one single hub wouldn’t be close enough to every smart device in our house. NOBODY has even made mention of this as a potential problem. Thanks for explaining them as “extenders.”

[@plinth27]

Thanks brother- you explain it all just right! I hit the bell on your channel and that's extremely rare. I've watched a lot of HomeKit explainers and you're the best so far and I really appreciate a written version. Keep up the great work.

[@TechTechMoreTech]

Thanks Francis! Appreciate it

[@jamiebrooke92]

Great video - appreciate the explanation and looking forward to my HomePod mini getting delivered

[@cebrady]

Thanks for this video - learned a ton on how HomeKit is setup - thank you! A couple small adjustments to some of the details: - The Hue Bridge does not support wifi itself, but it plugged in via ethernet (might be what you were trying to say) - The Philips Hue system can be controlled remotely on its own - just like how HomeKit works (don't need to be on the same wifi network to adjust it) One thing that was confusing is that there are many hubs for different types of systems... some work with each other (like in your video - HomeKit + Hue Bridge), and some do not have many 3rd party connections. On top of that, there's many apps that will work with many of the hubs that are 3rd party and open up many more options you may not get with that hub's manufacturer's app.

[@frankreidy5881]

Thank you - first understandable video on HomeKit Hubs and so I subscribed to your channel - I have ordered a Homepod Mini to start my 'adventure'!!

[@TechTechMoreTech]

Awesome! I’m glad it helped you out!

[@myHomeKithome]

The HomePod mini is the clear winner my bio ok. GREAT explanation, Carlo!

[@TechTechMoreTech]

Thanks! I think the HomePod mini offers great value

[@Xandu6a]

Love your video man! Well done.

[@Polkster13]

Nice explanation. Very well done.

[@septimuspretorius250]

I hereby assign upon your presentation, a grade of A++

[@MonchoDeLaMota]

Nicely explained. Thx.

[@astra1360]

great video! thanks a lot!

[@toritofine]

I cannot find the home app in settings. Any clue why?

[@marleneboss3304]

I have an Apple homekit pod & love it although I would like to have some sort of a viewer that shows the live view of my Arlo Cameras is the Apple Home app shows. Is there a viewer that can be set up on a table that will show the display that is shown on Apple Home???

[@ModernDayTech]

Good stuff Karlo.

[@antoniszografos5193]

Hello, If I use Aqara hub, can I use applehomekit outside home?

[@briantheis15]

Can you use iPad Pro 10.5” as a Hub? I’m turning everything on but don’t see the “Home” option anywhere in settings

[@amirinia]

Great video

[@raulgonzales503]

I’ve got some of my homekit accessories not responsive sometimes. Will Homekit hub iimprove the responsiveness of those accessories?

[@dcsev]

hi, the home icon still does not appear in the settings list anymore, so there is no way to toggle on the ipad as the hub. I also have a homepod mini. The mini always overrides the ipad, even if i am right next to the ipad and the homepod can barely hear me, and sometimes both don't even answer me. Any ideas? Thanks!

[@tomshyrus7965]

Just wondering how homekit accessories works and controlled from outside network. Understood that if we use third party apps to control devices from outside, it uses its own cloud server to send the command to network hub and hub will send the command to that device. But how it works in homekit? Is it using our icloud or is it using apple cloud for IoT or by any other means?

[@emmanueltakawira3797]

does the speaker works wen it's not plugged to the power

[@Notyou5556]

Ipad can not be a homekit hub anymore. Any other options?

[@ivanoroberto1981]

Possible use an iPhone 6s as hub?

[@Recodo98]

I have done the icloud > home enable on my Ipad, but i dont have the Home icon in my settings.

[@miguelangeloconceicao738]

Besides Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and thread, HomeKit can also communicate through Ethernet (which is in fact best option for stability in your connection if your HomeKit device supports Ethernet)

[@TechTechMoreTech]

That’s true, good point!

[@cstolzenberger]

Okay, this is probably a dumb question but I have to ask it. I have two HomePod minis in my living room to make a stereo pair. Today I tried using the Home app from work to set music for my fiancé to wake up to. For the life of me I could not figure out how to do it. Is it possible to control these remotely if they’re the only HomeKit accessories I have or is music control just not a function you can use remotely?

[@cesarbattistini]

HomeKit supports Bluetooth Wi-Fi an thread natively.

[@nirgluzman1343]

Thanks for the great video. You explained that Apple hub device includes Wi-Fi, BLE and Thread. Does the hub behave like an AP (Access Point), i.e. when I have a Wi-Fi smart home device, does it connect directly to Apple hub? I would assume that the hub's WiFi radio is used to connect the hub to the home router. Another question for Apple HomeKit: When I am at home and my internet connection is broken, can I still control my smart home devices?

[@TechTechMoreTech]

WiFi devices connect to your WiFi router. The HomeKit hubs don’t work as access points in that regard. Yes all HomeKit devices work locally, so if your internet goes down you should still be able to control them from your home network

[@michaelw6104]

All I get is no response. Everything use to work .

[@gracefulworld4914]

Is it worth?

[@roberto.gallegos]

So set one up as the home hub and the rest will automatically be on standby. So when I set up the rest of the devices and they ask if I want to set them up as the home hub select no? I was thinking of making my newest Apple TV 4K in our living room as our home hub and making all the HomePod minis and the rest of the Apple TV’s as standby. Do o select no when they ask if I want to make them hubs?

[@TechTechMoreTech]

Select “yes” and they will basically figure it out among themselves which will be primary and which will be standby. If you select “no” and then the primary Hub gets turned off, the other will not take over, but if “yes” is selected, then it will take over. Hope that makes sense

[@AngeAlexiel]

my mom has Alzheimer's and I've installed an aquaria cam at her home for surveillance purposes , but her iPad mini that I bought for her ( and she never understood how to use it ) is not HomeKit hub , it's weird to think that Apple would only make this 3 devices as a hub , I get that the device needs to be at home to monitor from outside, but why not make all iPhones HomeKit hubs too ? does it need special hardware ? or it is just a software they could have add ? I need to buy a hub for her house, but I dunno if I take a Chinese copy who apparently works as an HomeKit hub , or if the better road would be a used Apple TV or HomePod mini, the shame is that she will never use the device . Apple should make a cheap hub thing with the sole purpose of being an hub for cases like my mom. thx for the video ^^

[@ikku4321]

Watching from really far it seems like a lot of hassle to just switch lights on and off again.

[@LeekBITE]

WHATS YOUR STANCE AFTER 14.5 and The New Apple TV 4K with Thread Support

[@TechTechMoreTech]

I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. I’m not upgrading my Apple TV’s just for Thread, but if you’re in the market then it’ll be good for a long time.

[@LeekBITE]

@@TechTechMoreTech me either I’m not upgrading. I have 2 of the 1st Gen 4Ks and I have 4 HomePod Minis planning for 2 more for my bathroom and common space. I feel like my thread connection will be great when I put it to use.

[@LeekBITE]

@@TechTechMoreTech I need 2 more Apple TV Boxes so therefore I won’t upgrade but I will buy 2 new ones to put in my web of activity

[@TechTechMoreTech]

Be careful putting the HomePod mini in a bathroom as i don’t believe it has any water resistance rating, so the moisture may damage it

[@LeekBITE]

@@TechTechMoreTech Ooo that is true. I think i will take the chances tho. I’ll mount it somewhere safe and if the moisture from steam or anything damages it I’m willing to take that $99 dollar loss for that chances of me being able to listen to music and control my lights in the rest room

[@chilson88]

I’m a new iPhone user but my wife has been longtime user. Can I make her apple desktop as the hub?

[@TechTechMoreTech]

No, only an Apple TV, HomePod, HomePod mini, or iPad can act as a HomeKit Hub. Mac computers cannot

[@karthikeyansadasivam6107]

I have a doubt regarding Tv with Homekit enabled. Roku TCL support says "Apple AirPlay allows you stream TV shows, movies, videos and photos directly from your Apple devices to your Roku TVs. You can also stream music to your Roku TV, as well as stream to any speakers that support Airplay 2." So will my Homekit enabled TV be able to send audio ouput to Homepod speakers?

[@TechTechMoreTech]

Unfortunately not, only Apple devices can do that, so you would need an Apple TV. It’s definitely a missed opportunity

[@gungun8465]

What if my iPad remains at home and never leaves the house, but is not connected to power? Will it still work as a hub? Ps you are cute 😊

[@oldfarmshow]

👍👍

[@2HAMMERS1]

not so easy I tossed out all the boxes along with Qr Codes Oh well. . . also, in your video, you already have everything setup unlike us I only see two options Discover Home and Add Accessory I have both Google Nest and Alexa Echo 4thGen the big black ball LOL I have RGBIC Strip Lights though out my condo ( youtube My RGB Apartment ) ( is not my place but you get the idea ) controlled by Bluetooth Google Nest and Alexa Echo along with my iPhone 11 Pro Max and of course, I have the Bluetooth light blubs ( love them ) So without the QR-CODES and I set my lights in pairing mode is still not detected using this video

[@AdamasOldblade]

Hello from 2024. You can no longer use an iPad as a Home Hub, it has been disabled in iOS 17 (and possibly beyond). This is no doubt Apple's way of selling more HomePods and Apple TVs.

[@HeyTechi]

Remember, only iPads running iOS13 or later will work as a homehub!

[@TechTechMoreTech]

Good call! I’ll update my written post

[@tkorn43]

Not true. I had my iPad air from 2013 running ios 12.5 as my hub.

[@michaelyap939]

Actually iPad run iOS 10.0 and above can be home hub

[@dmytr022]

This just ruins everything. The most important thing is to control via mobile network. It makes this home kit completely useless if you don’t want to buy apples junk devices only to for making it as “hub”

[@dmytr022]

I think that apple can remove unnecessary devices from this chain. In normal smart home as a connector you only need a WiFi router as connector

[@artriveros7659]

What if the Home App is no longer under Settings. I’ve heard recently that iPad is no longer supported as a home hub under the new Home Architecture.