HomePod Need help. HomePod with HomeKit setup 3200 miles away

[whtrbt7]

So, I have encountered a small issue. It’s pretty specific. I’m trying to set up a HomePod about 3200 miles away but it says that the HomeKit owner needs to be in the same location to set up HomePod with HomeKit. Why can’t the HomePod be set up with a guest user (my wife) to access HomeKit? This makes no sense to me. I also don’t know why HomeKit can’t have more than 1 owner. Makes coordination very difficult. Any hints or tips?

 

[TrueBlou]

Had you previously setup the HomePod before you left?
If not then the trouble is that the HomePod can only have one main user account.

If you’d already setup the HomePod, or indeed another HomeKit hub such as an Apple TV, then you can grant your wife access to HomeKit by going into the Home app, make sure you’re on the first tab. The. Tap the arrow in the upper left corner. From there you can give her access by entering her Apple ID.

 

[whtrbt7]

Nope, just received the Homepod and didn’t set it up. I left last month so there’s no way I could have set it up. Why does the Homepod only support 1 account? Seems like an oversight. My wife is already a (guest) of my HomeKit setup but it’s not allowing her to set up the Homepod. So I guess I’m going to have to set it up when I get back. I just want the Homepod to control HomeKit stuff via the microphones. I’m probably not even going to use it as a speaker since I have a full Sonos setup. I had echo dots but those got sent back since they were rubbish and it was freaking me out with how many Amazon Prime products it was pushing to me from the queries.

 

[TrueBlou]

The one account thing is a bit of a limitation for the moment. I suspect when they implement voice detection we may get more than one account as it will recognise different users. But in typical Apple style with new product launches, we have to wait a bit for more features to be fleshed out.

I find it odd that your wife is unable to setup the HomePod so that it would be her device that is the master account.

I don’t suppose you have an iPad or old iPhone at home with your account on it?

One other, admittedly annoying way to get around it would be for your wife to setup her iPhone with your account details. Set up the HomePod and then return her iPhone to her own account details.

 

[TrueBlou]

Nope, just received the Homepod and didn’t set it up. I left last month so there’s no way I could have set it up. Why does the Homepod only support 1 account? Seems like an oversight. My wife is already a (guest) of my HomeKit setup but it’s not allowing her to set up the Homepod. So I guess I’m going to have to set it up when I get back. I just want the Homepod to control HomeKit stuff via the microphones. I’m probably not even going to use it as a speaker since I have a full Sonos setup. I had echo dots but those got sent back since they were rubbish and it was freaking me out with how many Amazon Prime products it was pushing to me from the queries.

Y’know something just occurred to me, can’t believe I never thought of this sooner.

This does require that you’ve already added you’re wife as a shared HomeKit user. If you haven’t done that already then open the Home app on your iPhone, make sure you’re on the first tab and tap the arrow in the top left corner. Now just tap the invite button under the People heading and get her added.

Now, once (or if) your wife is added as a shared HomeKit user, if you open the Home app on your iPhone again and make sure you’re on the first tab agin and once more tap the little arrow.

This time though you’ll see your wife listed a a shared user under People. So tap on her photo (or letters identifying her) and on the screen that opens up you’ll want to slide the toggle switch to the on position, next to the “Allow Editing” option.

Once that’s done you’re wife should be able to add the HomePod, any other accessories, scenes and even other Home users.

 

[maflynn]

Why not just wait until you get home ¯\_(ツ)_/¯