can you turn on lights with your phone when not at home?
I would like to control lights and use automation when not at home. Can I do this remotely and do I need any other devices to control light switches?
iPad Pro, iPadOS 17
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that is the purpose for a homekit hub, it is present on your wifi network and can communicate with your homekit enabled lights, and the iphone can by using the homekit hub to control them on the iphones behalf when you are away
an appletv and a homepod can act the role as homekit hub (while the link also mention ipad then I believe that was since revoked from acting as hub)
you can read more here Set up your HomePod, HomePod mini, Apple TV, or iPad as a home hub - Apple Support