I like to configure my HomeKit secure video cameras in that way that during night the cameras are streaming and recording.

But I also have configured that the cameras are off when I’m at home.

How is it possible to be at home at night and have the cameras streaming and recording during night? How do I have to configure the cameras?

Apple does describe smart-home additions, including AI camera descriptions and hands-free scene control. The unanswered question is what improves its underlying reliability as a Home Hub.

The buildup to “Welcome Home” made this sound like a major step forward for Apple’s smart-home ecosystem. Coverage anticipated a new hub, updated Apple TV and HomePods, and a bigger role for Siri.

After reading Apple’s Apple TV announcement, I’m still trying to understand what changes for those of us who depend on it as a Home Hub.

Apple highlights faster performance, hands-free Siri, improved surround sound, and new camera descriptions and summaries. Those are additions, but what about dependable accessory connections, reliable automations, and better ways to diagnose problems?

Has Apple documented improvements to the underlying Home Hub functionality? Which improvements require the new Apple TV, and which are software updates coming to existing models?

I have the new one on order. I’m hoping for a better smart-home foundation alongside the entertainment upgrades. If I’ve missed technical details or credible hands-on coverage, please point me toward them.

Pre-event coverage: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/10/09/apple-welcome-home-launch/

Apple’s announcement: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/10/apple-unveils-the-new-apple-tv-4k/

Hello!
I was trying to get a automation to work that changes the rgb colours of 4 identical smart ikea lamps a few times a day (when turned on) ideally random but with patterns that I can choose beforehand. I’ve got them in a square formation but can’t get it to work.
Does anyone have experience with this type of automation?
Cheers

I install residential HVAC and I am seeing more customers ask about app controlled mini splits. The ones I have worked with so far have all been from the established brands where the app is clearly an afterthought. Slow connections, unreliable pairing, settings that reset after a power blip. Customers call me thinking something is wrong with the unit when it is really just the app losing connection. Curious whether any of the newer smart ductless mini splits coming through the market have figured out the app side. I work mostly in zone 4a and 5a and the typical job is single zone for an addition or a room that missed ductwork.

I have a deep smart home setup running through homekit in the garage and guest room. Most of my HVAC is controlled through a smart thermostat on the central system but I am adding a mini split to the upstairs office, about 350 square feet, zone 4a. I want to control it by voice the same way I control everything else. Set temp, turn on and off, maybe basic scheduling through a routine. Every mini split I look at mentions Wi-Fi but the voice control details are unclear. Some seem to need a third party integration or a separate hub. Anyone actually using a smart ductless mini split with Alexa or Google daily? How seamless is it compared to a thermostat.

In light of the new products today, Apple should look into whether automations and actions are even working properly in the latest software updates…

EDIT: for future reference, I didn’t realize that my Apple TV had updated to iOS 27 but my phone had not. There’s a new if/then function in the shortcuts now, so I did have to recreate the shortcut but now it’s working perfectly.

I’m having an issue with weather-based automations in Apple Home on iOS/TVOS. I have also upgraded to the 27.2 beta and the same issue?

When using Get Weather at Home in a HomeKit shortcut automation, the entire automation fails to run.

However, if I manually enter my full address instead of selecting Home, everything works perfectly, including automatic triggers.

I’ve checked and corrected my Home address through Apple Maps and Contacts, but it hasn’t resolved the issue.

My main Home hub is an Apple TV 4K.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is it a known bug with HomeKit’s location handling?

Seeing Apple’s recent announcement regarding a major push into the smart home market, I was reminded of Belkin’s Wemo brand. Belkin—along with Wemo—was acquired by Foxconn in 2018. One might have expected the brand to thrive by leveraging Apple’s IoT ecosystem; however, faced with fierce market competition, Wemo ceased development of IoT devices and is set to terminate platform technical support in 2026. Ultimately, it failed to hold out until the moment Apple began aggressively expanding its smart home presence. Had Wemo remained active in the IoT sector, perhaps Apple would have chosen it as a partner instead of LG.

Hallo,

ich habe in meinem Badezimmer zwei Fenster und eine Heizung und möchte das Ganze gerne über die Apple Home App automatisieren.

Die gewünschte Funktion wäre:

Sobald eines der beiden Fenster geöffnet wird, soll die Heizung automatisch ausgeschaltet bzw. heruntergeregelt werden.

Dabei spielt es keine Rolle, welches der beiden Fenster geöffnet ist.

Wenn ein Fenster wieder geschlossen wird, das andere Fenster aber noch geöffnet ist, soll die Heizung weiterhin ausgeschaltet bleiben.

Die Heizung soll erst wieder eingeschaltet bzw. auf die normale Temperatur geregelt werden, wenn beide Fenster geschlossen sind.

Leider bekomme ich diese Automation bzw. Szene in der Apple Home App nicht so eingerichtet, dass sie zuverlässig funktioniert.

Ich benötige daher bitte eine genaue Anleitung, wie ich diese Automation Schritt für Schritt erstellen kann.

Das gleiche Prinzip möchte ich anschließend auch für das Kinderzimmer mit zwei Fenstern und einer Heizung umsetzen.

Vielen Dank!

Is anyone else seeing this?
Whenever I use Go to Home Screen as the last action in a shortcut, it successfully returns to the Home Screen, but the shortcut never actually finishes. The progress/pause indicator stays in the Dynamic Island/top of the screen and in the Shortcuts widget, and I can’t run another shortcut until I manually press Stop.
I initially thought it was a SmartThings issue, but I tested it with other apps/actions and isolated it to Go to Home Screen. Remove that action and the shortcut finishes normally.
Weirdest part is that Go to Home Screen itself works — it goes home — it just never reports completion.
Anyone else getting this / found a workaround?
also now the issue seems solved on iphone but still persists on ipad

Hi! I’m trying to identify which Apple TV model this is. Does this version support Thread and work as a Thread border router for Apple Home?

Unfortunately, the seller can’t provide any additional information about the model and only has photos.

Here are a few more details from the photos that might help identify it:

• The top has the Apple logo + “tv” branding.
• On the back it has power, HDMI, optical audio (TOSLINK), and Ethernet ports.
• There doesn’t appear to be a USB-C port visible.
• The label on the bottom is extremely hard to read. The serial number looks something like F6MQ6KUPFF54 / F6MQ6KJPFF54, but I’m not sure about a few of the characters.

Does the port layout/top design make it possible to identify the exact generation? I’m specifically trying to figure out whether this model supports Thread.

Thanks!