Apple HomeView can recognize up to six people and give each one a personal experience, but only after they are added to your home in the Home app. Apple’s HomeView store FAQ says “you can have up to six members of the household enrolled on Apple HomeView through the Home app,” and that “they each must have an Apple Account and an iPhone or iPad running the latest software.”
HomeView ships on November 13, so you can set up the Home app side now. Our Apple HomeView launch story covers price and hardware.
What each family member needs
Apple’s product page FAQ lists three things for “a full, personalized experience on HomeView”: an Apple Account, a compatible iPhone or iPad, and being “added as a member of the shared home in the Home app.”
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The store page defines compatible as “an iPhone with iOS 27.2 or later, or an iPad with iPadOS 27.2 or later.” The footnotes in Apple’s HomeView press release say “setup and multiuser support require a compatible iPhone or iPad running the latest software.”
Once enrolled, Apple says each user “gets their own personalized Home Screen with apps and widgets,” and HomeView recognizes them by face to show their content in Messages, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders and Find My.
Step 1: invite them in the Home app
These steps come from Apple’s support document on sharing control of your home. Do them on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
- Open the Home app.
- Tap the Add button, then select Add People.
- Choose a role: Resident or Guest (see below).
- Tap the Add button to pick people with an Apple Account from your contacts, or type their Apple Account email address in the To field.
- Tap Send Invite.
Resident or Guest: pick Resident for family
The Home app offers two roles, and they are very different. Apple describes them this way:
| Role | Access |
|---|---|
| Resident | “Local and optional remote access to all accessories in the home at any time” |
| Guest | “Local-only access to specific doors, locks, and other security-related accessories on a set schedule” |
The Guest role suits someone like a dog walker who needs scheduled access to a door. Apple also notes that “if you don’t have security-related accessories in your home in the Home app, you can’t select the Guest role.” For family members who will use HomeView daily, Resident is the role that matches Apple’s description of a “member of the shared home.”
Step 2: accept the invitation
Each family member does this on their own iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Home app.
- Tap the More button and select Home Settings.
- Select View under Invitations.
- Select Accept.
Apple says shared home users then “appear as suggested users on devices in the home, like Apple TV,” using their Apple Account name and profile photo.
Step 3: enroll them on HomeView
Apple’s store FAQ says members are enrolled on HomeView “through the Home app,” and HomeView recognizes enrolled users by their face. If you buy from Apple, the free online Personal Setup sessions cover how to “add users to HomeView” with a Specialist.
Personal content has an extra condition. Apple says it appears only when HomeView recognizes the person by face and their paired iPhone or iPad “is connected to the same Wi-Fi network and has been recently unlocked.”
Step 4: set permissions
In the Home app, tap the More button, select Home Settings, then pick a person under People. Two switches matter:
- Control Accessories Remotely: lets them control accessories from anywhere. Turn it off to limit them to when they are home and on your Wi-Fi.
- Add and Edit Accessories: lets them add and remove accessories, scenes, automations and other users.
One limit applies no matter what: Apple says shared users “can’t add HomePod, Apple TV, or any AirPlay-compatible smart TVs or speakers to the Home app.” Only the home’s owner can.
What guests and unrecognized people can still do
Kids without an iPhone, visiting relatives and babysitters do not need an account to use HomeView. Apple’s FAQ says “guests and unrecognized users can still easily interact with HomeView to control smart home accessories, check the weather, set timers, and play music,” all “without accessing anyone’s personal information.”
| Feature | Enrolled member | Guest or unrecognized person |
|---|---|---|
| Smart home control, weather, timers, music | Yes | Yes |
| Shared photo albums and music | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Home Screen | Yes | No |
| Messages, Calendar, Reminders, Find My content | Yes, with paired device on the same Wi-Fi | No |
Apple’s release says “shared photo albums and music can be easily enjoyed by everyone in a household, including guests.” The tech specs also list “Peer-to-peer discovery for easy guest access,” with a footnote that “Peer-to-peer AirPlay requires a compatible Mac, iPhone, or iPad with the latest operating system software.”
Removing someone later
In the Home app, go to More > Home Settings, tap the person under People, then tap Remove Person. Apple warns that a removed person “might still be able to control accessories” if they have permission in a separate accessory app, so check those apps too.
