Device setup

Homie tracks browser devices so voice, privacy, setup, and personal mobile screens can behave correctly.

When a browser first opens Homie, it introduces itself so Homie can tell one screen from another. Homie can then remember whether the device is a kitchen screen, a bedroom mic node, a personal phone, or something still unclaimed.

Unclaimed devices can choose a room, a friendly name, and whether they should behave like a mobile device. This is what lets voice replies, setup prompts, and private chats land in the right place.

Homie can use the device's trusted status, room label, friendly name, mobile setting, and member connection.

A device being recognized is not the same thing as knowing who is using it. A phone becomes personal only when it is claimed for a specific household member.

New devices can pair through the QR flow. A trusted household device shows a short code, and the new device stores a trust cookie after verification.

Personal mobile activates only when the calling device is mobile and bound to a member. Otherwise the browser stays in the shared dashboard or mic-node experience.

Start with the setup or identity question first. Most confusion in Homie comes from not knowing which device, person, room, or skill is in play.

- Name fixed screens by room, such as Kitchen iPad.

- Mark personal phones as mobile.

- Use pairing rather than sharing internal home links with untrusted devices.

Most Homie issues come from setup, identity, or approval state. Work through these checks before assuming Homie ignored the request.

- Check whether the device is trusted, claimed, and named correctly.

- Open the relevant settings or Skills card and confirm setup is complete.

- Try the same request with the exact device, member, room, or skill name.

Good to know: Room labels are dynamic. If you type a new room, it becomes available for later devices.

- Name fixed screens by room, such as Kitchen iPad.

- Mark personal phones as mobile.

- Use pairing rather than sharing internal home links with untrusted devices.

- Show me my devices.

- Make this phone my personal Homie.

- Rename this screen Kitchen iPad.