Will Apple TV Work With Alexa? What You NEED To Know
So, you’re curious about whether your Apple TV will work with Alexa? That’s a really fair question, since both Apple TV and Alexa are widely used tech gadgets many people love made by two companies in direct competition with one another.
Since Apple and Amazon, Alexa’s manufacturer, are, in fact, in competition with each other, perhaps it isn’t surprising that there isn’t a direct, official, native way to connect your Apple TV to your Alexa device.
That said, it’s still possible to achieve some level of control using a few workarounds.
Though you may not be able to use more complicated commands, like search or rewind, through Alexa, you’ll still be able to add some convenience to your home entertainment experience.
So, let’s see what Alexa can and can’t do when it comes to Apple TV.
Compatibility of Alexa and Apple TV
Unfortunately, Alexa and Apple TV are not officially compatible, but there are ways to make them work together by using a third-party hub.
A popular solution for integrating non-HomeKit compatible tech with Apple products is HOOBS (Homebridge Out Of the Box System).
By setting up a harmony hub, you can create a connection between your Alexa-enabled smart device, like an Amazon Echo or Echo Dot, and your Apple TV.
This allows for voice control of basic functions, like controlling volume, pausing and resuming playback, and switching between apps.
Unofficial Approaches with Homebridge
Another option to connect Alexa with your Apple TV is by using the Homebridge server.
This open-source software allows you to connect non-HomeKit compatible devices to your smart home system.
After installing Homebridge on a device, such as a Raspberry Pi, you can download and install the necessary plugins to enable Alexa control of your Apple TV.
Although this approach is unofficial and may not provide full functionality, it’s a viable solution if you’re looking to make your smart home setup more versatile and (somewhat) more integrated.
Remember, while these solutions allow for some level of integration between your Apple TV and Alexa, they won’t offer complete control over every aspect of your Apple TV.
You’ll still need your Apple TV remote or an alternative, like a compatible smart remote from brands like Logitech, to utilize more advanced features.
Setting Up Alexa for Apple TV
Process for Selecting the Alexa App
To get started setting up Alexa with Apple TV, grab your smartphone or tablet (iPhone, iPad, Android, whatever you’ve got) and open the Alexa app.
If you’re not signed in, sign in.
Connecting to the Wi-Fi Network
Make sure your Apple TV and smartphone are both connected to your home Wi-Fi network.
This is crucial because they need to be on the same network to communicate with each other.
If you’re not sure if they’re connected, check your devices’ Wi-Fi settings and ensure they’re using the same router.
Connecting via Harmony Hub
Here’s where things start to get a little complicated.
Since they don’t have native compatibility, integrating Alexa with Apple TV isn’t as straightforward as it could be. This is where your third-party hub comes in.
First, get your Harmony Hub. This nifty gadget allows you to connect your Alexa app to the Apple TV. Once you have your hub, you can get started connecting.
To connect Apple TV to Alexa through Harmony Hub:
- Set your Harmony Hub up according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This typically involves connecting the Hub to your home network and configuring it with the devices you want to control, such as your Apple TV.
- Link Harmony Hub to Alexa. In the Alexa app, enable the Harmony skill and link your Harmony account. This will allow Alexa to send commands to the Harmony Hub.
- Configure your control settings. In the Harmony app, set up activities that include your Apple TV, such as “Watch Apple TV.” These activities can then be controlled via Alexa.
- Control your Apple TV through Alexa. Once set up, you can use voice commands through Alexa to control your Apple TV via the Harmony Hub, like turning the TV on or off, playing content, or adjusting volume.
Connecting via Homebridge
To connect Alexa with your Apple TV using Homebridge:
- Install Homebridge. Set up Homebridge on a compatible device, like a Raspberry Pi. This involves installing the Homebridge software, which acts as a server.
- Configure Homebridge. Once installed, configure Homebridge on your device. This typically requires editing a configuration file to define your smart home setup.
- Install plugins. Search for and install Homebridge plugins that enable Alexa control of Apple TV. Plugins can usually be found within the Homebridge UI or on npm (Node Package Manager).
- Link to Alexa. After setting up the necessary plugins, link Homebridge to Alexa. This might require enabling a specific skill in the Alexa app and signing into your Homebridge server.
- Control your Apple TV through Alexa. With Homebridge linked to Alexa, you can now use voice commands to control basic functions of your Apple TV.
Voice Command Features on Apple TV
So you’ve got your Apple TV connected to your Alexa-enabled device, like an Echo Dot.
This will give you limited voice control over your Apple TV.
Here are some of the things you can do, and some of the things you can’t.
Volume and Playback Control
The basic controls you get with Alexa and Apple TV involve adjusting volume and managing playback. Typically, once you have the two paired, you can:
- Play: Start your movie, TV show, or series right where you left off.
- Pause: Stop your content when you need to take a break.
- Adjust Volume: Crank up the sound or turn it down, depending on your mood.
Searching and Streaming Capabilities
While it’s handy to have voice control over volume and playback on your Apple TV, that’s about all you get.
Alexa isn’t able to execute more complex actions with Apple TV, such as searching for content or fast-forwarding.
So, if this is the connection you want to make in your smart home, just know you’ll be stuck with the most basic voice commands.
But, hey, at least you can tell Alexa to turn the TV down when you hit those too-loud commercials.
