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Use a Resident for someone who needs ongoing access to your home’s accessories, and a Guest for a visitor who needs scheduled, local-only access to selected security accessories. Before inviting anyone, check remote control, editing, camera, and accessory-maker-app permissions separately.
Resident or Guest: choose the narrowest role that fits
| Access setting | Resident | Guest |
|---|---|---|
| Accessories | Access to all accessories | Access only to security-related accessories you select, such as doors, locks, and security system accessories |
| Where they can control accessories | Local access, with remote control available if you allow it | Local-only access |
| When access is available | At any time | Anytime, on specific dates, or on specific days and times |
| Edit accessories, scenes, automations, or other users | You decide separately whether to allow this | Not stated in Apple’s sharing guidance; Guest access is limited to selected security accessories |
| Camera viewing | Configure separately in that person’s camera access settings | Configure separately in that person’s camera access settings |
| Access after removing them from Apple Home | Check separate accessory-maker apps for remaining permissions | Check separate accessory-maker apps for remaining permissions |
Apple describes Guests as having “local-only access to specific doors, locks, and security system accessories on a set schedule.” The Guest option is unavailable if your Home has no security-related accessories. See Apple’s Share control of your home and iPhone instructions for inviting people.
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Check the hub requirement before inviting
Apple says a home hub is required for sharing on the latest Apple Home version, inviting people while you are away, and managing remote access and permissions. A HomePod speaker or Apple TV 4K can serve as a hub. Without one, some sharing and control features are limited to your home’s Wi-Fi network. Guest and remote access require a hub under Apple’s current guidance. Details are in Apple’s home-sharing guidance and iPhone guide.
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Invite the person and set their access
- In the Home app, open Add People and choose Resident or Guest.
- Enter the Apple Account email associated with the person’s contact, or enter their Apple Account email directly.
- If you chose Guest, select the doors, locks, or other security accessories they need, then set the schedule: Anytime, Specific Dates, or Specific Days & Times.
- The invitee can accept from the notification or in Home Settings > Invitations.
Review remote control, editing, and camera access
Remote control and editing
In the Home app, open Home Settings > People, select the person, then review Control Accessories Remotely and Add and Edit Accessories. These are separate decisions: a Resident can have broad access without being allowed to control accessories remotely or change the Home’s setup.
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Camera access
In Home Settings > People, select the person and configure Cameras access. Treat camera viewing as its own privacy choice rather than assuming it follows the accessory-control setting. Apple says HomeKit Secure Video footage is analyzed and encrypted on the home hub, then uploaded to iCloud so the owner and people the owner shares with can view it. That is Apple’s description of its service, not an independent security audit. See Apple’s camera setup guidance.
Remove access—and check other apps
When someone should no longer have access, remove them from the Home app. Then check the separate app for each accessory—or the manufacturer’s instructions—for permissions granted outside Apple Home. Removing a person from Home may not revoke those separate permissions. Apple notes this in its sharing guidance.
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Fix a missing or failed invitation
- Update the devices and Apple Home.
- Make sure Home is enabled in iCloud.
- Enable two-factor authentication for the Apple Account.
- Set up a home hub, which Apple requires for current sharing features.
- If the invitation notification is missing, ask the recipient to check Home Settings > Invitations.
These are Apple’s recommended checks for invitation problems; see If you can’t send or accept an invitation in the Home app.
Keep AirPlay and speaker access separate
Shared Home users cannot add a HomePod, Apple TV, or AirPlay-compatible TV or speaker to the Home app. Separately, you can set who may use speakers and TVs: everyone, people on the same network, or invited Home users, with an optional password. Review these settings independently of Resident or Guest access in Apple’s home-sharing guidance.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
