Share control of your home

Invite people to control your smart home accessories in the Home app. You can also edit permissions for shared users, and allow them to control your home remotely.

Invite someone to control your home

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

  2. Tap or click the Add button, then select Add People.

  3. Choose which role you want to give the person you're adding to the home.

    • Residents have local and optional remote access to all accessories in the home at any time.

    • Guests have local-only access to specific doors, locks, and other security-related accessories on a set schedule. If you don't have security-related accessories in your home in the Home app, you can't select the Guest role.

  4. Tap the Add button to choose people with an Apple Account from your contacts list. You can also enter their Apple Account email addresses in the To field.

  5. Tap or click Send Invite.

Accept an invitation to control a home

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

  2. Tap or click the More button.

  3. Select Home Settings.

  4. Select View under Invitations.

  5. Select Accept.

Shared home users appear as suggested users on devices in the home, like Apple TV. Your Apple Account name and profile photo will be used for these suggestions.

Manage remote access and edit permissions

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

  2. Tap or click the More button, then select Home Settings. If you have multiple homes, choose a home, then select Home Settings.

  3. Under People, select the person that you want to edit permissions for, then choose the following:

    • Control Accessories Remotely: Turn on to allow users to control your accessories from any location. Turn off to allow users to only control your accessories while they're at your home and connected to your Wi-Fi network.

    • Add and Edit Accessories: Turn on to allow users to add and remove accessories, scenes, automations, and other users.

Shared users can't add HomePod, Apple TV, or any AirPlay-compatible smart TVs or speakers to the Home app. You can only add these devices if you're the owner of the home in the Home app.

Stop sharing your home

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

  2. Tap or click the More button, then select Home Settings. If you have multiple homes, choose a home, then select Home Settings.

  3. Under People, tap or click the person that you want to remove from your home.

  4. Tap or click Remove Person.

If you remove someone from your home in the Home app, they might still be able to control accessories. This happens if the person you removed has permission to control accessories in a separate app. To remove those permissions, use the accessory's app, check the manual, or contact the manufacturer.

Leave a home you were invited to share

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

  2. Tap or click the More button, then select Home Settings. If you're a member of multiple homes, choose the home that you want to leave, then select Home Settings.

  3. Scroll down and tap or click Leave Home.

  4. Tap or click Leave.

Get more help

Learn what to do if you can't send or accept an invitation in the Home app.

Published Date: