With macOS Mojave, Apple has brought the Home app to the Mac. So if you have HomeKit accessories set up on your iPhone, you can conveniently manage them on your Mac. Do you need the light in your office on? Do you want the temperature in your house to be adjusted? Wondering if you locked the door?

Regardless of the accessories you've set up, you can interact with them on your Mac without searching for your iPhone. Make sure you're signed in with the same Apple ID, open the Home app, and see what you can do here!

Home application on Mac

Make sure iCloud is connected

Again, you'll need to sign in with the same Apple Home ID on your Mac as your iPhone. If you receive a message when you open Home that it's off, go to System preferences > Apple ID to activate it.

Click iCloud on the left and check the box next to it The home on the right. Follow the instructions to continue as needed.

Navigate to the Home on Mac app

The Mac Home app has a nice overview of your home, rooms, automation, and accessories.

The home

Click The home in the left sidebar to see all the accessories at a glance. You can click one to control it, such as turning it on or off. At the top of the Home section you will see accessories with a kind of visual state.

Use the plus sign at the top right of the Home section for Add a scene if you want to create a new one fast.

Automation

Under Home in the sidebar is Automation. Here you can manage all the automations you have configured or you can click the plus sign in the upper right to add one.

Note: You can't add an accessory in the Home app on your Mac. This must be done on the iPhone. However, you can add an automation or a scene for an accessory that you have configured right from the File menu.

Discover

Discover is a useful section with tips for using accessories with HomeKit. And of course, you can browse the additional accessories available in the Apple Store.

Rooms

Finally, you have a list of Rooms that you created in the Home app. Each has the accessory you placed along with any background you selected. So it nicely reflects the Home app on your iPhone. Just like on the main screen, click on an accessory to interact with it from any room.

If you want to change the order of the Rooms in the sidebar, simply select one, drag it to the new location in the list and release it.

Accessory controls and settings

To view controls for an accessory, such as the brightness of a light, or to view settings, such as the camera in which it is located, right-click. When you right-click an accessory, select any Show orders or Settings.

Tip: You can access the Settings in the Show Commands window by scrolling down or clicking the wheel icon.

So even if you can't add a new accessory to your Mac, you can make changes to existing ones in Settings. This allows you to change the camera, add it to Favorites, add or edit automations, set up a scene, and group it with other accessories.

HomePod controls and settings

If you have a HomePod or HomePod mini, you can also adjust its settings from Home on Mac. A current exception is the Intercom feature. To use the intercom on your HomePod, you'll need to get your iPhone or iPad. For details, see our tutorial on using the intercom on your HomePod.

In addition to the intercom, you'll see that you can control settings such as explicit language and listening history, Hey Siri and Siri's language and voice, location services and personal requests, and other details, such as on your iPhone. Just right-click on the HomePod and choose Settings.

You can also control HomePod alarms on your Mac. Turn an alarm on or off, delete one, or create a new one. Right-click the HomePod and choose Show Commands to manage your alarms.

Edit your house or rooms

Another useful feature of Home on Mac is that you can edit your home or individual rooms. Click Edit | × > Edit the home page or Edit the camera from the menu bar or use the Home icon drop-down box from the toolbar and choose Home settings or Room settings.

For you The home, you can change your name, invite people, adjust notifications, check for software updates, review your hubs and bridges, select a wallpaper, add notes, or remove it.

For a The room, you can change the name, put it in an area, select a wallpaper, or remove it.

Be sure to explore Home on Mac

Keep in mind that in addition to the sidebar and right-click, you also have the menu bar for items. Use File to add a scene or automation or View to jump into a room.

We hope this guide helps you maneuver and take advantage of the Home app on your Mac, if you're new. And please share your comments below with the Home app tips for our readers!