AV Companion Support
Start with the AV Companion Help guide
AV Companion controls compatible home-entertainment systems through an AV Companion helper installed on a Mac in each home. The app supports iPhone and iPad running iOS or iPadOS 17 or later.
Live control requires a running AV Companion helper on the home Mac, an authorized iPhone or iPad, a network path to that Mac, and supported equipment already configured for the room. The built-in Review Demo can be explored without home equipment.
Join the home Wi-Fi, then open Settings → Homes & Rooms in AV Companion and choose Connect with the Mac's QR code. On the home Mac, double-click Connect an iPhone and scan the one-time code. The code works once and expires after ten minutes.
The household owner opens Share with family and sends an invitation through Apple's sharing interface. The family member accepts it with the intended Apple Account, then opens AV Companion. Invited members can operate shared rooms but cannot change the owner's equipment configuration.
Unlock the iPhone or iPad once after a restart, confirm it is on the home network, and confirm the helper Mac is on. Open the room's Diagnostics screen, run the connection check, and retry once. If the app says a previous command is still finishing, wait for that room; other rooms can continue independently.
If the Mac took too long to answer, AV Companion refreshes the home and room before offering another attempt. Check the refreshed state first so a successful setup change or activity is not repeated unnecessarily.
If the Genie server no longer lists the configured Mini, press a button on the original DIRECTV remote or unplug the Mini for ten seconds, then try the activity again. In rooms configured to keep a Mini awake, Room Off does not send it to standby.
Open Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network on the iPhone or iPad and enable AV Companion. Without this permission, live room control cannot reach the helper Mac.
Recent builds check the helper when a device fails to respond. If the app reports that the Mac cannot reach the home network, check the Mac’s network connection and open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Local Network to allow AV Companion Helper. This Mac permission is separate from the app’s iPhone permission. Run the connection check again afterward.
Camera access is optional and used only to scan the home Mac's one-time QR code. Open iOS or iPadOS Settings for AV Companion if you previously denied access and now want to scan a code.
Open Settings → Diagnostics → Troubleshooting log, choose Prepare diagnostics, and review the file. Use Export diagnostics only when support requests it. The file includes app, room, connection, device-status, and recent-action details; it does not include the bridge credential or owner credential.
Include the app version and build, home and room name, what you tapped, the time the problem occurred, and what happened. Attach diagnostics only after reviewing them.
Email AV Companion Supportsupport@summacruxis.comAV Companion is not a life-safety system. Do not rely on it to operate emergency, security, medical, or other safety-critical equipment.