Unable to set up Apple TV (4th gen) as Home Hub

Like I said, I've googled this for 10 years, I cannot change my current Apple email to be the primary address unless it is a NEW Apple email. It won't work if I already have the account setup. I've spoken to Apple. I can't shut it down. I won't go through it here, it's been discussed and argued for years on this website And many others.

Please, no more on this. I really do know about this.

Hope I managed to help someone re the TV Homehub!

I got it working without an Ipad. I struggled with this for a while but found a few threads where people did the following with success:

Setup Two Factor Auth

Logout of iCloud on all devices

Reboot all devices

Reset Homekit on your appleTV Settings>General>Privacy>HomeKit>"Reset HomeKit Configuration"

Login to Icloud on all your devices (Apple TV last)

You should now see that HomeKit is connected on the AppleTV in Settings>Accounts>iCloud>

Worked for me too.

Setup Two Factor Auth

Enable iCloud Keychain

Logout of iCloud on all devices

Reboot all devices

Reset Homekit on your appleTV Settings>General>Privacy>HomeKit>"Reset HomeKit Configuration"

Login to iCloud on all your devices (Apple TV last)

HomeKit is connected on the AppleTV in Settings>Accounts>iCloud>

After researching for a while I realized the Apple TV uses the location to determine HomeKit hub settings for iCloud. What worked for me is restting the HomeKit settings and location settings on the Apple TV. You can access this by going into Settings > General > Privacy > Location / Homekit.

I Reset both the location settings for HomeKit and the HomeKit settings within the privacy page. My assumption is location is what fixed it but it might be worth trying both if needed. HomeKit showed up in icloud immediately after applying these settings.

Hope that helps anyone else with this issue!

I think it all has to do with the ios 10 update. I went into my iCloud account on all my devices, and HAD to re-enter my password. Everything worked as designed after that.

I also cousnt see home option in atv4 wgile ipad worked as a hub no problem. have been fiddleing with power on/off ipad atv, iphone. Icloud acc signin/out. Nothing worked until i did atv4 RESET, not restart. Let it reinstall everything and used my iphone bluetooth to get it configured automatically. And bingo, after few mins Home option appeared under iCloud on aTv4. Seems patientce , try/error is the way to go 🙂

I am curious about how you set up two factor authentication on the AppleID you use for iTunes purchases. I have the same double Apple ID situation, but it is my understanding the second factor authentication code is sent to devices logged on to iCloud with that Apple ID. Since all my devices are logged on to iCloud with my non-iTunes Apple ID I would have no place to get that authentication code. I am glad you found away to do this. Can you tell me how you do it or what I am missing?

Thanks

Hi - yes I was puzzled by that for a while too.

I logged into my purchasing account (https://appleid.apple.com) using a Mac web page, and when setting up 2-factor for that account I used my mobile phone number and was sent an SMS text. As you discovered, you can’t use a Trusted Device as they are already setup with your normal account, but you can use a Trusted mobile phone number to text you the code. When you next logout/login on the TV and sign into the purchasing account, you will get the 4 digit code texted to you. When you log into your other normal iCloud account on the tv you will get the 4 digit code sent to your trusted device separately.

Setting up two factor authentication:

Two-factor authentication for Apple ID - Apple Support

Sounds very apple-y to me ;) So as always with all stuff icloud-related, the solution is to randomly restart all devices, and pray.

I was finally able to get mine workin, although I'm not sure what did it. After setting up the 2 Step auth and resetting my apple tv to factory, it still didn't work. I have my AppleTV on ethernet. I reset both my iPhone 7 Plus and my Apple TV 4. After they were back up... still nothing. Finally, I unplugged the ethernet cable from the AppleTV and it showed up in Settings->Accounts->iCloud. I had not yet connected the AppleTV to wifi. I'm not sure if it was just Bluetooth and the proximity of my phone and the AppleTV, or if the wired network was causing a problem, or if it was just coincidence and the account finally registered HomeKit through the AppleTV interface.

Anyway, I saw that most people got it working by using an iPad, but I only have an iPad 3 and an iPad mini 2 (can't get iOS 10). I just wanted to share the steps that got it working for me.

My solution is to reset the Apple TV completely. i had to reinstall the apps and all that, but then i finally got the entry in the iCloud-Account-Settings. HomeKit: connected.

I had the same problem and it took my a loooong time to get the homekit appearing under my icloud id in accounts.

My iPad doesn't support iOS 10 as is a mini 1st generation so i couldn't use that trick. But it is using my iCloud account so I had to:

1. Log off from my iCloud account in my iPad (even though it can't be used as hub).
2. Log off from my iCloud account in my tv 4
3. Reset my tv 4.
4. switch off home app in settings in my iPhone.
5. Log in again in my iCloud account in my iPad.
6. Log in again in my iCloud account in my tv 4
7. Not appearing.
8. Reset tv 4
9. Switch off and on my iPhone
10. switch on my home app in settings in my iphone
11. After a minute (or two) it appeared in my tv and now all is connected.

Apple: i think this is a bit ridiculous! Better have a look at why the sync is so d*** painful!

What I don't understand is why in this day and age, big company's like Apple can't test there software fully before distributing it!!! This CLEARLY doesn't work!!!!!!

If it requires an iPad to fix it, is Apple going to buy everyone an iPad???? Why should we have to go out and buy more product that may or may not work from a company that already proved they can't make product that works???