Apple TV not available as Homekit hub

Have you ever resolved this?

Not sure how widespread it is, but I’ve been talking with some other people on Reddit and they have similar HomeKit Hub/Remote Access issues. For some reason, both my HomePod and Apple TV 4K show up as disconnected in the Home app and I have no remote access. I’ve been using HomeKit for years now and have never had a problem like this. Even more strange is that my Home appears perfectly normal to all my guests and they do have remote access. My hubs only show as disconnected to me and only I don’t have remote access. This all began the day the HomePod came out Feb 9. I noticed my Apple TV 4K was showing in the Home app as not responding, so I tried troubleshooting it by restarting it and signing out and back in to iCloud. I eventually ended up toggling iCloud Keychain off and on, but none of that worked. I decided to just setup the HomePod since it was going to take over as the hub anyway, but after setting it up it started showing up as disconnected as well. I’m able to use Siri and AirPlay and it works fine, but in the Home app all its settings are greyed out and I have no remote access. I’ve tried so much troubleshooting and working with Apple support all to no avail. I’ve tried ruling out things by process of elimination, and I think it’s safe to say it has nothing to do with any of my devices because I’ve returned and exchanged 3 different HomePods, and signed in my iPhone X using 2 different Apple IDs and set up the HomePod with those just fine. I still had remote access and everything was perfect. I even setup the HomePod using 3 different iPhones and it worked every time as well. I also tried removing all my devices from my account and just setting up a Home with just my iPhone and HomePod, but still doesn’t work. I’m up to date on all my devices, iPhone X, iPad Pro 10.5”, Apple TV 4K, iMac and Apple Watch Series 3. I restored all my devices multiple times, removed my Home and reset all my HomeKit devices several times, have signed out and in of iCloud dozens of times, toggled and reset iCloud Keychain dozens of times all to no avail. Apple support has no clue what to do or how to resolve this. Ive been calling and emailing with them back and forth since Feb 9. Also, I don’t know if related, but none of my devices have not been able to AirDrop to each other since then and I’ve lost Handoff functionality also for some reason. As a last resort I installed iOS 11.4 developer beta on my iPhone X, iPad Pro 10.5” and Appel TV 4K and still the same situation. This is a huge upset for me to not be able to use my HomeKit setup any longer. Worst part is I can’t even go back to my original setup with just the Apple TV 4K because the same thing happens, which leads me to believe it has something to do with either iCloud Keychain or my Apple ID. I’ve attached some screenshots for reference. I’d appreciate any help you can give.

https://imgur.com/a/CMmdaG4/

Thanks,

George

To be honest with you Apple has become sloppier and sloppier with time. And I agree 300% with you, we as consumers pay top dollars for something that supposedly has to work all the time, not like this HomeKit that breaks with every update.

Hi funrush - thanks for your reply.

After factory resetting my AppleTV, and downgrading to non-beta software, and resetting HomeKit (i.e. deleting the HomeKit database) I can report I have finally gotten it to work again.

However, initially after performing all that resetting it did not look like it was fixed! Every time I viewed the HomeKit setting in AppleTV -> Accounts it did not list HomeKit as before.

This may not be news to you, but it was to me ... but you have to FIRST create a new Home in the Home App on your iPhone/iPad ... by adding a HomeKit accessory manually AND THEN the HomeKit Hub on AppleTV seem to kick into life.

I've now spent almost 24 hours re-adding every Lightbulb and smart plug etc, but it seems to be fixed.

I still think HomeKit is the flakiest piece of Apple Software i've ever encountered. It needs a web interface via iCloud to manage DB's for example ... but i'm glad to get it running again.

Hope you get your own setup sorted - and do try the point above just in case it's the same for you.

Tom

I’ve got exactly the same frustrating issue. Restarted everything, logged in and out. Deleted HomeKit settings. Still nothing.

HomeKit is so flakey. So frustrating.

Did you ever fix your issue?

Thanks in advance.

I’m in the same boat, 3 call with Apple support , sent my Apple TV diagnostics and they can’t find a solution, really it’s frustrating and poor experience so far with HomeKit, I’m ready to they throw the towel on this

After 2 days, giving up my entire weekend again for another tech company, I called Apple support to try to get my Apple TV 4K HomeKit functioning again.

Yes, it worked for my EcoBee4 with 4 room sensors, my Schlage Sense lock and B-Hyve sprinkler system all through Amazon Alexa and Logitech Ultimate Home Hub for a few hours and it was very sweet.

Finished with two levels of support this morning and am now to the third level.

I would wait until Apple actually has this stable before investing in (time or money) on this feature and associated HomeKit compatable products!

I’m in industrial automation and deal with large, complex systems.

It sure would be great if consumers could actually get a sense of joy when the invest may thousands of dollars on technology for their home that works out of the box.

Stop releasing products to the marketplace that do NOT work and watch your reputation and customer satisfaction rise!

******* apple and their ******* products. I got an apple tv 4 just for home automation, worked for 1 as homelit hub now it does not work. In 2018 this kind of products (also the prices) are not acceptable.

I have a very similar issue that arose Feb 9, 2018 when the HomePod was released. I’ve been talking with some other people on Reddit and they have similar issues. For some reason, both my HomePod and Apple TV 4K show up as disconnected in the Home app and I have no remote access. I’ve been using HomeKit for years now and have never had a problem like this. Even more strange is that my Home appears perfectly normal to all my guests and they do have remote access. My hubs only show as disconnected to me and only I don’t have remote access. This all began the day the HomePod came out Feb 9. I noticed my Apple TV 4K was showing in the Home app as not responding, so I tried troubleshooting it by restarting it and signing out and back in to iCloud. I eventually ended up toggling iCloud Keychain off and on, but none of that worked. I decided to just setup the HomePod since it was going to take over as the hub anyway, but after setting it up it started showing up as disconnected as well. I’m able to use Siri and AirPlay and it works fine, but in the Home app all its settings are greyed out and I have no remote access. I’ve tried so much troubleshooting and working with Apple support all to no avail. I’ve tried ruling out things by process of elimination, and I think it’s safe to say it has nothing to do with any of my devices because I’ve returned and exchanged 3 different HomePods, and signed in my iPhone X using 2 different Apple IDs and set up the HomePod with those just fine. I still had remote access and everything was perfect. I even setup the HomePod using 3 different iPhones and it worked every time as well. I also tried removing all my devices from my account and just setting up a Home with just my iPhone and HomePod, but still doesn’t work. I’m up to date on all my devices, iPhone X, iPad Pro 10.5”, Apple TV 4K, iMac and Apple Watch Series 3. I restored all my devices multiple times, removed my Home and reset all my HomeKit devices several times, have signed out and in of iCloud dozens of times, toggled and reset iCloud Keychain dozens of times all to no avail. Apple support has no clue what to do or how to resolve this. Ive been calling and emailing with them back and forth since Feb 9. Also, I don’t know if related, but none of my devices have not been able to AirDrop to each other since then and I’ve lost Handoff functionality also for some reason. As a last resort I installed iOS 11.4 developer beta on my iPhone X, iPad Pro 10.5” and Appel TV 4K and still the same situation. This is a huge upset for me to not be able to use my HomeKit setup any longer. Worst part is I can’t even go back to my original setup with just the Apple TV 4K because the same thing happens, which leads me to believe it has something to do with either iCloud Keychain or my Apple ID. I’ve attached some screenshots for reference. I’d appreciate any help you can give.

https://imgur.com/a/CMmdaG4/

Thanks,

George

I found doing a factory reset on the system, and re-setting it up made the option appear. How ever, when i'm off network it still won't status or control my lights etc.