You Can Select a Preferred Home Hub in iOS 18

[MacRumors]

The Home app in iOS 18 allows HomeKit users who have more than one device that serves as a home hub to select which one should be used as the preferred hub. It is a small but useful change because it prevents HomeKit from choosing a hub that is further away from most HomeKit products or that has a weaker connection.

In iOS 17 and earlier, there has been no way to select a home hub, and HomeKit has picked randomly. That can lead to connectivity issues in some situations. For those who do not care about which home hub HomeKit selects, Automatic Selection remains an option.

The Apple TV and the HomePod are able to serve as home hubs, but the option to set a preferred hub seems to be limited to the Apple TV as of right now, because Apple has not yet provided a HomePod beta to developers.

Image from Reddit​

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Other features coming in HomeKit include Customize Access for managing how and when people access devices like alarm systems, door locks, and garage door openers, with support for guest schedules. There's also a new Express Mode for unlocking door locks automatically as you approach, and support for robot vacuum cleaners is set to come later this year.



Article Link: You Can Select a Preferred Home Hub in iOS 18

 

[Think|Different]

Such a long time coming.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Finally. HomeKit often chooses the worst hub available and provides no way to change it.

 

[usersince86]

Can my MBP be a hub? ;-)

 

[Peepo]

Awesome - hate having my HomePods take over from ATV.

 

[DoogH]

That option is totally not available on my beta version of iOS 18.

 

[Think|Different]

That option is totally not available on my beta version of iOS 18.

You must have TvOS 18, etc, too, before it shows -- all must be updated. But, please, I would tremendously suggest to wait before doing the betas on ATV or HomePods.

 

[twintin]

Finally. HomeKit often chooses the worst hub available and provides no way to change it.

Will soon be fixed with AI for you. 😊

 

[export808]

That option is totally not available on my beta version of iOS 18.

Same and all my AppleTVs are updated to iOS 18.

 

[QandnotU]

That option is totally not available on my beta version of iOS 18.

Both iOS and tvOS need be on the betas for the option to appear. If you're still not seeing the option, Apple Intelligence is deciding if you deserve the feature yet. It's already starting.

 

[btrach144]

I was just about to give up on HomeKit. As a 4 ethernet AppleTV and 5 WiFi HomePod home, this is a welcome addition!

 

[TVreporter]

Finally!!!

I’ll be making it the Apple TV - HomePod minis too flaky and have occasional disconnects. Apple TV has been rock solid from Day 1.

 

[kalafalas]

Thank jeebus. I’m tired of force restarting my HomePod to have it go back to my Ethernet connected Apple TV, everything is so much slower on the HomePod.

 

[Someirishguy]

Has iOS18 fixed the ‘phantom hub’ issue for anybody?

 

[Rychiar]

For years I have wanted me latest Apple TV (which is connected by Ethernet) to be the home hub thinking it would be for the best. It randomly became the home hub a few months ago and half my **** wouldn’t work. I guess it ain’t the best after all

 

[CloneBB]

Good news. Will make my 6 ATV and 6 HomePod setup easier to manage.

 

[Macaholic868]

Here at last!!!!! Having to selectively restart Apple TV’s, HomePod’s and HomePod Mini’s to get the Hub that, for whatever reason, works the best for all your devices is such a huge PTA. I thought they’d never add this in. Quite frankly it should have been in there years ago but better late than never!

 

[MauiPa]

“ because Apple has not yet provided a ‌HomePod‌ beta to developers.” This is an untrue statement. I have version 18 beta on all my minis and 2nd gen HomePods

 

[ANDJOE]

I have to say, this year‘s software announcements have been very noticeable for how many user complaints they have addressed. I’m liking this Apple!

 

[TonyC28]

This is awesome! The only problems I have with HomeKit these days involve hubs. Very good news.

 

[rtkane]

Every single time my HomeKit gets slow it always ends up being some random HomePod or older Apple TV taking over from my wired, latest-model Apple TV. I'm so glad they're finally making this change.

Now if the other HomePods could somehow understand when an alarm is going off on another and you want it to stop it should stop it vs saying "there's no alarm set on HomePod". Lack of interaction between them is maddening sometimes.

 

[MrRom92]

Apple needs a way to limit access to certain devices or rooms from certain members of the household

 

[Macaholic868]

Now if the other HomePods could somehow understand when an alarm is going off on another and you want it to stop it should stop it vs saying "there's no alarm set on HomePod". Lack of interaction between them is maddening sometimes.

Agreed. It would also be nice to select which HomePod takes precedence when multiple devices hear a request instead of relying on Apple’s algorithm or perhaps using Apple Intelligence to further perfect that algorithm.

From our living room, without any HomePods but near the stairs we can get the HopePod in the kitchen, the HomePod mini by the stairs upstairs or another HomePod mini in another room that will process the request.

The ultimate solution is to get a HomePod in the living room but that’s where we watch TV so I’d prefer to get two regular HomePods and pair them for use with the Apple TV in that room which will cost a bit of $$$ but finally adding in the ability to set your Home Hub gives me hope that I won’t be throwing that $$$ down the drain.

We’re pretty invested in the Apple Ecosysten for all of our devices including our Smart Home devices but even with that I can see giving users just a bit more control of which devices can do what and allowing the devices to communicate in the fashion you mentioned should be possible and will hopefully be added in eventually.

 

[tennisproha]

This was already a thing? I have 2 Apple TVs. Enabled one as the hub while the other is disabled...

 

[HiFiJP]

Yes! I can finally put my original HomePods without Thread back on my network. My Thread devices would never work when a non-thread HomePod became the hub. I can’t remember if it was only when I was trying to access them remotely as well as at home but it was a pain.