Why, for example, does my iPad as a hub insist on me unlocking it before it will close my garage door? Yes, it is plugged in and connected to the WiFi. I had thought that using an iPad would have been at least as good as the Homepod mini (which I thought was quite limited) but would have the added benefit of a screen plus apps. It is not working out. Anyone?
iPad (4th gen) Wi-Fi
Are you sure you’re Allowing Siri when locked on your iPad? Check Siri settings (in iPad settings)
Depends how you’re going about this, asking Siri on any of your Apple devices should perform the Homekit tasks. It doesn’t matter if they are locked. If you mean you’d like to do this via the home app , then yes you need to unlock your device to use anything on it, If you have more than one hub, like your iPad and HomePod, it’s not really possible to know which one is acting as the hub at the time of asking since they are all hubs, one taking over if the other can’t
The iPad being old presents an issue if it isn’t iPadOS 13 or later. It will not work with a HomePod mini.
Can you see the mini in the Home App on this iPad?
Well, thanks for the info. I wish I had had that info before I had purchased this iPad. Well, the idea was to purchase an older iPad specifically to use as a HomePod with a screen. But, as you astutely pointed out, my Home App CANNOT see my HomePod mini. My iOS version is 10.3.3. So, bad purchase, bad decision.
This particular iPad is very limited in its usefulness as a HomePod. I can set it to be listening for "Hey, Siri" even from the lockscreen, but it usually does not hear me well and I have to say it several times and be pretty close to it. Then, depending on the command, it makes me unlock it before it does as asked. E.g., "Close my garage door" will not work unless I unlock it first. Bummer!
I will say that Siri seems much more limited in its functioning than Alexa, but then I do not wish to give up all my privacy for the convenience. I had to create a Homebridge out of an old Mac just to be able to use the Home app or Siri to connect with MyQ, Ring, TP-Llink Kasa, & Wyze. The number of things that are native or "certified" to work with Homekit are pitiful.
You should look into downloading EVE for HomeKit from the Apple App Store. It can help adding items to home kit. I find it has a better user interface and works along side of home kit able to do most of the functions HomeKit can do with any items added or automations made on eve will show in HomeKit.
Well, I certainly don't have to unlock the Homepod to use it, so I guess I'll just move the stupid Homepod back into the Living Room and put the iPad in the bedroom where I can unlock it when I need to use it. I guess I just can't understand how it is meant to be useful when I have it set to listen for "Hey, Siri!" but then it won't do whatever I say unless I go over to it and then press the 6 digit unlock code. ???
Yes, it is enabled. I will say that the set up of this iPad for this purpose was screwy and had to be done twice with a few quirks and hitches along the way. It is an older iPad, so it does not have the latest iOS version out there, but does have the latest for its model. Still, quirky.
I will check into EVE. Hopefully, it is more capable than Homebridge. I will say that Homebridge does let me incorporate TPLink Kasa, Ring, & MyQ. But it does seem to disconnect sometimes.
it seems there are differences between what my iPad can do as a hub vs my Homepod mini
