How to invite others to control accessories in your home on iPhone

In the Home app, you can invite other people to control all your smart accessories, or invite a guest to control some or all of your doors, locks, and security system accessories during specific times.

There’s a difference between the two. Home Residents get local and optional remote access to all accessories, at any time. Home Guests get local-only access to specific doors, locks, and security system accessories, but only during set times. You can also allow others to access your AirPlay-enabled speakers and TVs.

Note: You’ll need a home hub, like a HomePod speaker or Apple TV 4K, for remote access and guest access.

Invite residents to control accessories

At any time, Home Residents have access to all accessories in the home, locally and optionally remotely.

1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
2. On the Home tab, tap the Add button, tap Add People, and then tap Resident.
3. Tap the Add button to choose people with an Apple Account from your contacts list, or enter their Apple Account email addresses in the To field.
4. Tap Invite.
5. Ask the invitee to do one of the following:
   • In the notification: (iPhone or iPad) Tap Accept.
   • In the Home app: (iPhone or iPad) On the Home tab, tap the More button, tap Home Settings and then tap the invitee’s name.
   • On Apple TV 4K: Tap Show Me on Apple TV and turn on one or more Apple TVs.

Invite guests to control accessories

On a set schedule, Home Guests can access specific doors, locks, and security system accessories, but only locally.

Note: Home Guests access requires iOS 18, iPadOS 18, or later.

1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
2. On the Home tab, tap the Add button and tap Add People. Then tap Guest.
3. Tap the Add button to choose people with an Apple Account from your contacts list, or enter their Apple Account email addresses in the To field.
4. Select any of the following for the guest schedule:
   • Anytime: The guest can access the selected accessories anytime.
   • Specific Dates: The guest can only access the selected accessories on the dates specified.
   • Specific Days & Times: The guest can only access the selected accessories on the days and during the times specified.
5. Select which doors, locks, and security system accessories the guest can access.
6. Tap Invite.
7. Ask the invitee to do one of the following:
   • In the notification: (iPhone or iPad) Tap Accept.
   • In the Home app: (iPhone or iPad) Tap the More button, tap Home Settings, and then tap the invitee’s name.

Allow others to access your AirPlay-enabled speakers and TVs

1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
2. On the Home tab, tap the More button and then tap Home Settings.
3. Tap Speaker & TV and choose an option.

You can allow only people you’ve invited to share the home, anyone on the same network, or everyone. And you can require a password for speaker access, too.

Allow Resident and Guest Attribution

With Attribution, when you arrive, leave, or interact with accessories, your name can appear in notifications and activity history.

Note: Home members who use Face Recognition to identify people based on their photo library will still see your name.

1. Start the Home app on your iPhone.
2. On the Home tab, tap the More button and then tap Home Settings.
3. Tap a person and then enable Attribution.