homebridge-agent-atv

A Homebridge plugin that lets AI agents drive an Apple TV. It exposes an authenticated HTTP API that the agent-atv CLI talks to: remote keys, app launching, keyboard text input, wait conditions, power, volume, seek and optional screen reading (the focused element after an action, and screenshots). It also publishes a minimal HomeKit TV accessory.

It complements homebridge-appletv-enhanced: that plugin is about HomeKit control, this one is an API for agents. Both can run side by side.

The full guide (setup, pairing, screen reading, the CLI, security, troubleshooting) is the main README.

Requirements

• Homebridge 1.8 or 2.x, Node.js 22.12+, 24 or 26.
• Python 3.10 to 3.13 with the venv module (sudo apt-get install python3-venv on Debian/Ubuntu) and OpenSSL 3.0+. On first start the plugin creates its own virtual environment in <storage>/agent-atv/.venv and installs the pinned pyatv 0.18.0 dependencies from PyPI. This takes a few minutes on a Raspberry Pi.
• Screen reading (optional): about 350 MB more in <storage>/agent-atv/.venv-screen, and about 100 MB of memory per Apple TV. On Python 3.10–3.12 the install compiles one package, so the host needs build-essential python3-dev libssl-dev (Debian/Raspberry Pi OS).

Setup

1. Install the plugin from the Homebridge UI (or npm i -g homebridge-agent-atv) and add the platform.

2. Open the plugin settings. Apple TVs on the network appear in the device table. Click Pair, then type the PIN shown on the TV. The plugin pairs Companion first, then AirPlay if the Companion credentials don't work for AirPlay (a second PIN), then screen reading when it is on (one more PIN). Check Also enable screen reading before pairing to turn it on from there.

3. Copy the API token from the same page, then on the agent's machine:

   npm i -g agent-atv
   agent-atv config set url http://<homebridge-host>:8787
   agent-atv config set token -     # paste the token, Enter, Ctrl-D
   agent-atv doctor
   

Security

The API is plain HTTP with a bearer token. The token gives full remote control of every paired Apple TV.

• Prefer binding the API to the host's Tailscale IP (api.bind), which encrypts the traffic. On a LAN, anyone who can sniff the network can read the token.
• The token is stored in <storage>/agent-atv/token (mode 0600) and shown in the plugin settings. It is never logged. To rotate it, delete that file and restart Homebridge, or set api.token (32+ characters).
• Pairing credentials stay in <storage>/agent-atv/devices/ (mode 0600). They never appear in logs, API responses or the settings UI.
• No telemetry: the plugin only talks to your Apple TVs, and to PyPI while installing its pinned packages.

Configuration

The HomeKit accessory is published as an external accessory: add it in the Home app with Add Accessory > More options and the Homebridge setup code.

The HTTP API is specified in DESIGN.md.

License

MIT