this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2023
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I have an Apple TV and a HomePod Mini.

My Apple TV is my main hub. However, if I use Siri via my HomePod, I can't use any scenes that are in my HomeKit. This kinda sucks because the usecase that I bought the HomePod for, is to activate scenes.

I know that you can't "guide" Apple HomeKit to decide what device is your active hub, and what is your standby hub. However, by magic this is correct (Apple TV is active, Homepod is stand-by) According to this article, it should not matter, but it does in my case... https://www.homekithelper.net/devices/hubs

Anyone that can help me?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

It shouldn’t matter what the hub is. Any device should be able to trigger scenes.

Sorry, I have no help for you, but having multiple hubs is not the solution you are looking for. Maybe repairing the HomePod would fix it, idk.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Ok, thanks for the feedback, good to know that it actually should work. Might be something network related.. I'd go and mess a bit more with it I guess :p

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

That’s a good idea. Perhaps something is wonky on the network side.

For what it’s worth, I guess, I have an AppleTV and two HomePod minis in different rooms and they all talk to each other. I don’t even know which one of them is acting as the main hub (I think it’s the AppleTV).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do you have more than one Home setup? (Home Settings / < Homes) Maybe the HomePod is in the wrong one?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Nope, only one home. Both are in the same home.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

When you go to Home.app>3 dots in the upper right>Home Settings>Home Hub and Bridged, do you see the HomePod there?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Huh. Well, there goes that idea.

Next I would try removing the AppleTV from the Home. Force the HomePod to be the hub and see if scenes work.

If that doesn’t work, I’d try completely starting your Home over, with the first device you connect being the HomePod and the second being the AppleTV. I realize that’s not ideal but you’re having abnormal behavior here. I have an AppleTV, HomePod, and HomePod Mini on a network with multiple smart devices and everything works fine.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, first going to see if my network config is good before going to the extremes of deleting the home. We have multiple scenes (+10). Recreating them is possible, but not preferred.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Makes sense. I just spent 5 days reconstructing my network due to a variety of inefficiencies. Happy to say it worked out on the end, but it was hell during.

Good luck!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I feel your pain :)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I’ve had similar issues in the past.

You can restart the HomePods and your AppleTV should become the hub.

It should stay the hub until you restart or have a power outage.

IMO the hub should prioritize anything with a wired internet connection Apple TVs then HomePods last.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I have an Apple TV and multiple HomePods, both the mini and the original. While all of them will work for scenes the Apple TV works best for automations so I have smart plugs for all my HomePods that power then off and back on on the middle of the night to make sure the Apple TV is the main hub.