Cloud Managed Setup

Cloud Managed lets you use Homecast without running your own relay. We operate dedicated relay instances so you can control your smart home from anywhere — no Mac required.

Already have a Mac that's always on?

Self-Hosted Setup is free and lets you run the relay yourself.

What you'll need

• An Apple Home Hub (Apple TV 4K or HomePod) on your home network
• HomeKit devices set up in the Apple Home app
• A Homecast account
• A paid Cloud Managed subscription — from $11/month (£9 in the UK), one subscription covers all your homes

Step 1: Create an account

1. Go to homecast.cloud and click Sign Up
2. Enter your email and password
3. Check your email for a verification link and click it

Can't find the email?

Check your spam/junk folder. Gmail users: check the Promotions tab. See email verification troubleshooting if it doesn't arrive.

Step 2: Enroll your home

1. In Homecast, open Settings → Homes
2. Click Add Home to Cloud Relay (the button with the + icon)
3. Enter the name of your Apple Home exactly as it appears in the Apple Home app
4. Click Continue — you'll be redirected to Stripe to complete payment
5. After payment, your home appears in the list with status "Setting up cloud relay..."

Multiple homes with the same name?

You'll be prompted for your HomeKit Home ID. Find it via Apple Shortcuts ("Get Details of Home" action) or apps like "Controller for HomeKit".

Step 3: Invite Homecast to your Apple Home

Once the enrollment is ready, Homecast shows an email address to invite. On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac:

1. Open the Home app
2. Tap or click the + button, then select Add People
3. Choose the Resident role — not Guest
4. Enter the email address shown in Homecast
5. Tap Send Invite

Back in Homecast, click I've sent the invite.

Acceptance can take up to 24 hours

The status changes to "Waiting for the relay to accept" — typically a few hours during business hours. You'll get an email when your home is ready to control.

Step 4: Verify it works

1. Once you receive the "your home is ready" email, open homecast.cloud in any browser
2. Sign in with your account
3. Your homes and devices should appear within a few seconds
4. Try toggling a light or checking a sensor value

Devices not appearing?

Make sure your Apple Home Hub is online and the invite has been accepted. See devices not appearing.

Manage your enrollment

View your Cloud Managed status in Settings → Cloud Managed. You can:

• Check connection status — see if your home is connected
• Cancel — removes your home from the cloud relay and stops billing

FAQ

What if my cloud relay goes offline?

Cloud relays are monitored by our team. If a relay goes offline, we'll investigate and restore service. Your devices remain controllable via the Apple Home app during any downtime.

Can I switch to self-hosted?

Yes. Cancel your Cloud Managed enrollment and set up the self-hosted Mac relay instead. Your Homecast account and settings are preserved.

How many homes can I connect?

You can connect multiple homes — your subscription covers all of them. Each home requires a separate enrollment.

Is there a free trial?

Not currently. The self-hosted relay is free — Cloud Managed is for users who don't want to run their own Mac.

What's next

• Using the Dashboard — navigate rooms and control devices
• Mobile App — control your home from iOS or Android
• Sharing Access — share with other people