How to Share Smart Home Devices With Roommates

Grant roommates access to your smart home devices securely. Learn how to configure home sharing across Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa ecosystems.

1. Invite roommates via Apple Home. Open the Home app on your iPhone. Tap the More (...) button in the top right corner, select Home Settings, and tap Invite People. Enter your roommate's Apple ID email address and tap Send Invite.
2. Authorize Google Home access. Open the Google Home app and tap Settings. Select Household, tap the Add (+) icon, and choose Invite home member. Enter their email address and confirm the permissions they receive for device control.
3. Configure Amazon Alexa Households. Open the Alexa app and navigate to More, then Settings. Tap Your Profile & Family, select Household, and follow the prompts to send an invitation via email. Both parties must confirm the link by logging into their respective Amazon accounts.
4. Set individual permissions. Review the access levels provided in the settings of your respective home app. Toggle off specific capabilities like editing scenes or adding new hardware if you wish to restrict roommate privileges.
5. Confirm roommate device synchronization. Ask your roommate to open their respective home app and accept the pending invitation. Verify that all smart bulbs, locks, and thermostats appear on their dashboard. If devices are missing, toggle the refresh or sync icon within the app settings.