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Control Your Home Remotely
Homecast lets you control your Apple HomeKit devices from any browser, phone, or API — wherever you are. A Mac app on your home network acts as a bridge between HomeKit and the cloud.
New to Homecast?
Start with Set Up Your Relay for the step-by-step setup guide.
How it works
- The Homecast Mac app runs on your home network with HomeKit permission
- It holds a persistent connection to the Homecast cloud server
- Commands flow: Client → Server → Relay → HomeKit → Device
- State flows back: Device → HomeKit → Relay → Server → All connected clients
As long as the Mac app is running and your Mac is online, your devices are accessible remotely.
Supported devices
| Device | Controls |
|---|---|
| Lightbulb | On/off, brightness, color (hue/saturation), color temperature |
| Switch / Outlet | On/off |
| Thermostat | Mode (off/heat/cool/auto), target temperature |
| Lock | Lock / unlock |
| Fan | On/off, speed |
| Window covering | Position (0–100%), tilt |
| Garage door | Open / close |
| Security system | Arm mode (stay/away/night/off) |
| Speaker | Volume, mute |
More device types
| Device | Controls |
|---|---|
| Air purifier | On/off, mode, speed |
| Humidifier | On/off, target humidity |
| Valve / Irrigation | Open / close |
| Doorbell | Status indicator |
| Sensors (motion, contact, temperature, humidity, air quality, leak) | Read-only state |
| Camera | Status indicator |
Scenes and service groups
Scenes are predefined in Apple Home (e.g., "Good Morning", "Good Night"). Execute them from the dashboard or via API to trigger multiple devices at once.
Service groups let you control all devices in a HomeKit service group with a single action — for example, setting all living room lights to 50% brightness.
Ways to control
| Method | Best for |
|---|---|
| Web dashboard | Day-to-day control from any browser |
| Mobile app | Quick control from your phone |
| Menu bar | Fast toggles without opening a browser (Mac) |
| REST API | Scripts and automation |
| GraphQL API | Advanced integrations |
| AI assistant | Natural language control via Claude or ChatGPT |
| Webhooks | React to device events |
| Share links | Give others access to specific devices |
Free plan
The free plan supports up to 10 accessories with all features (collections, sharing, API, webhooks, AI). Upgrade to Standard for unlimited accessories. See Account & Settings.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| Devices don't load | Check relay status — Relay Offline |
| Changes don't take effect | Check if the device works in Apple Home first |
| "Relay unavailable" error | Mac is asleep or offline |
| Slow updates | Ensure Mac has a stable internet connection |
For more help, see Common Issues.