You Can Select a Preferred Home Hub in iOS 18

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.

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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.

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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.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

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Top Rated Comments

Surf Monkey Avatar
10 months ago
Finally. HomeKit often chooses the worst hub available and provides no way to change it.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Think|Different Avatar
10 months ago
Such a long time coming.

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Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Burger Thing Avatar
10 months ago

This was already a thing? I have 2 Apple TVs. Enabled one as the hub while the other is disabled...
Yes. It's a thing. Come back and report when you have > 10+ Homepods and Apple TVs and running dozens of Thread, Matter and standard Homekit devices in a mash WIFI Network and not 2 Apple TVs and one Homekit Light bulb in a 25 sqft student shoe box. Thank you.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Peepo Avatar
10 months ago
Awesome - hate having my HomePods take over from ATV.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rtkane Avatar
10 months ago
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.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
QandnotU Avatar
10 months ago

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.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)