Automate scenes and accessories in Home on Mac
Automations can run scenes and control accessories automatically based on the time of day, your location, a sensor being activated or the action of an accessory. As you work with accessory settings, automations are suggested.
Note: Automations based on your location need to know where you are. You need to turn on Location Services and Share My Location on the primary iPhone or iPad used to control your home. Automations can’t use the location of your Mac.
Create an automation for when a person arrives
Go to the Home app
on your Mac.Choose File > Add Automation.
Click People Arrive, choose when you want the automation to occur, then click Next.
Choose one or more scenes and accessories, then click Next.
Review your choices, then click Done.
You see a list of automations you’ve chosen for your accessories.
Create an automation for when a person leaves
Go to the Home app
on your Mac.Choose File > Add Automation.
Click People Leave, choose when you want the automation to occur, then click Next.
Choose one or more scenes and accessories, then click Next.
Review your choices.
If accessories were turned on by the automation, you can set how long they stay on before they turn off.
Click Done.
Create an automation for a specific time of day
Go to the Home app
on your Mac.Choose File > Add Automation.
Click A Time of Day Occurs, choose when you want the automation to occur and whether somebody is home or not, then click Next.
Choose one or more scenes and accessories, then click Next.
Review your choices. If an accessory was turned on by the automation, you can set how long the accessory stays on before it turns off.
Click Done.
Create an automation for an accessory
Go to the Home app
on your Mac.Choose File > Add Automation.
Click An Accessory is Controlled, choose an accessory, then click Next.
Choose when the accessory turns on or off, at what time, and whether somebody is home or not, then click Next.
Choose one or more scenes and accessories, then click Next.
Review your choices, then click Done.
Delete an automation
Go to the Home app
on your Mac.Click Automation in the sidebar, then click a customised automation from your list.
Scroll down and click Delete Automation.
Tip: On a Mac, swipe left with two fingers on a trackpad or swipe left with one finger on a mouse, to reveal an automation’s Delete button.
You can set up and use automations on Mac if you have an Apple TV (4th generation or later), HomePod mini or HomePod, or if you set up an iPad (with iOS 10.3 or later or with iPadOS) that you leave at home.
Important: iPad isn’t supported as a home hub on the new Home architecture, which is more reliable and efficient. See the Apple Support article Upgrade to the new Home architecture.