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HomeKit Apple TV as HomeKit Hub for Hue Bridge

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Baritone_Guy

macrumors regular
Original poster
Feb 12, 2021
174
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Apologies if asked before, but how do I use the Apple TV as the HomeKit hub for my Hue Bridge? I can see it in the Home app on the phone and tablet, but can’t seem to be able to figure it out. I would like to be able to control the lights when not home.

Thanks in advance.
 
the aTV has to be signed into the same appleID as your phone

And, I remember somthing about 2 factor authentication having to be turned on. I think it was to do with homekit hubs, but even if it's not, everyone should have it turned on. (found the page at apple, 2FA must be enabled)

Set up your HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV, or iPad as a home hub - Apple Support

Set up a home hub to control your smart home accessories while you're away from home, share control of your accessories with others, and automate your accessories to do what you want, when you want.
support.apple.com support.apple.com

If your home hub isn't working as expected​

Click to expand...

haralds said:
You have to set it up in the Hue Bridge app.
www.smartenlight.com

Siri and Philips Hue: HomeKit Setup, Voice Commands and Siri Shortcuts

Let’s introduce our Philips Hue lights to Siri and HomeKit. We will look into the basic steps and additional tricks to get the most out of our setup. Furthermore, we will look into Siri Shortcuts and how they can help us to create our own voice commands.
www.smartenlight.com www.smartenlight.com
Click to expand...
if they have control on the home app in the phone, then that's been done correctly.
We're talking about remotely control in the home app, not the hue app
 
Thanks folks it wasn't completely obvious to me. The Apple instructions just say its automatic. I did get it sorted finally. I think what confused me was that I tried on the iPad first and it wanted to make it the hub which is not what I wanted.

As mentioned it was doable via the home app. Just did a discovery and it found the Hue hub.

All is good.
 
Baritone_Guy said:
As mentioned it was doable via the home app. Just did a discovery and it found the Hue hub.
Click to expand...

you wanted to add hue lights to home. that's different than a home hub. and possibly why you were having issues sorting yourself out.


a home hub will let you access your devices when you're not at home, you can use a HomePod, appleTV, or a plugged in iPad for this. The iPad is by default disabled, the other 2 should just work, as long as everything is signed into the same appleID. Only one devices on your network will be active as a home hub at a time, the others will be in standby.

you just wanted to get the lights into home, that doesn't require a home hub at all, but without you'd be limited to only controlling your lights while you're on your home network.

Any time you add new devices, you'll need to add them manually like you did. A small exception is things with a bridge, like Hue. Since you've already added the bridge, when you add new lights to that bridge, they will automatically be added to your home
 
Guys, a bit of a refresh to this thread; i want to use my Apple TV 4k (model before the current one) to control the lights in the house when I'm away from the home. Do I need to keep the Apple TV ON (as in the device will either be on the Home screen or Screen Saver screen)? OR can I simply leave the MAINS switch on for the device, but keep the Apple TV itself off (no home screen or screen saver. Fully off)?
 
scouser75 said:
Guys, a bit of a refresh to this thread; i want to use my Apple TV 4k (model before the current one) to control the lights in the house when I'm away from the home. Do I need to keep the Apple TV ON (as in the device will either be on the Home screen or Screen Saver screen)? OR can I simply leave the MAINS switch on for the device, but keep the Apple TV itself off (no home screen or screen saver. Fully off)?
Click to expand...
Just leave it plugged in is all. It will be in a sleep state (LED indicator off) but actively working as the hub in the background. The AppleTV does NOT need to be actively on and awake (LED indicator light).
 
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Itinj24 said:
Just leave it plugged in is all. It will be in a sleep state (LED indicator off) but actively working as the hub in the background. The AppleTV does NOT need to be actively on and awake (LED indicator light).
Click to expand...
Thanks mate. That's brilliant. And just so I haven't got anything wrong, I think I have the 2014 Apple.tV 4k. Would that be compatible for the above question?

Also, can anyone recommend the best bulbs but are not expensive please?
 
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scouser75 said:
Thanks mate. That's brilliant. And just so I haven't got anything wrong, I think I have the 2014 Apple.tV 4k. Would that be compatible for the above question?

Also, can anyone recommend the best bulbs but are not expensive please?
Click to expand...
Yes, I have the same AppleTVs. The previous Gen 4K.

As for bulbs, check VOCOlinc. They make a reasonably priced color bulb that doesn’t require a bridge.
 
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Itinj24 said:
Yes, I have the same AppleTVs. The previous Gen 4K.

As for bulbs, check VOCOlinc. They make a reasonably priced color bulb that doesn’t require a bridge.
Click to expand...
alas, I can't seem to find that bulb here in the UK. We can thought get the messos bulb, but that bulb has an issue where of your internet reboots you have to reset the bulb.
 
scouser75 said:
alas, I can't seem to find that bulb here in the UK. We can thought get the messos bulb, but that bulb has an issue where of your internet reboots you have to reset the bulb.
Click to expand...
Sorry I can’t be of more help as I’m in the US. I personally mainly use Philips Hue but those are not cheap by any means lol. I have two of the VOCOlinc bulbs and a light strip and they’ve been phenomenal but that doesn’t help you much. Maybe someone else in your region can chime in. Might even get more help starting a new thread.

FWIW, I’m extremely jealous of the Philips Hue market in Europe and Oz lol. So many more options for fixtures than what’s offered in NA but they require 240V.
 
Itinj24 said:
Sorry I can’t be of more help as I’m in the US. I personally mainly use Philips Hue but those are not cheap by any means lol. I have two of the VOCOlinc bulbs and a light strip and they’ve been phenomenal but that doesn’t help you much. Maybe someone else in your region can chime in. Might even get more help starting a new thread.

FWIW, I’m extremely jealous of the Philips Hue market in Europe and Oz lol. So many more options for fixtures than what’s offered in NA but they require 240V.
Click to expand...
No worries at all mate. You've been a lot of help.

I just wish I could justify the philips bulbs here in the UK, but as I only need a few bulbs to turn on when I'm away, there's no need for Philips for me.

I might just stick with my kasa bulbs for more. And hopefully vocolink in the mean time release their bulb here!

PS Where's NA?
 
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scouser75 said:
No worries at all mate. You've been a lot of help.

I just wish I could justify the philips bulbs here in the UK, but as I only need a few bulbs to turn on when I'm away, there's no need for Philips for me.

I might just stick with my kasa bulbs for more. And hopefully vocolink in the mean time release their bulb here!

PS Where's NA?
Click to expand...
North America.

Have you considered just using a smart switch?
 
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scouser75 said:
They're more expensive and I'd need at least 3. So bulbs work out better for me.
Click to expand...
Gotchya. Usually one switch controlling a whole room of bulbs is the more cost effective way but if it’s only one or two bulbs, then yes, the bulb itself will likely be cheaper.
 
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