Old iPad becomes a wall-mounted smart home command center with one app

Dashboard for your home turns an old iPad into a wall-mounted command center for an Apple smart home setup. The app brings cameras, thermostats, lights, local weather, and a shared calendar onto a single screen, so you no longer need to jump between multiple apps to check what is happening at home.

The strongest feature is camera support. The free tier shows live previews of up to four Apple Home cameras at once, while the Premium subscription removes the limit entirely. A single tap on the live button switches every feed to its live stream simultaneously. Tapping any individual camera expands it to full screen, and two-way audio works whenever the camera hardware supports it.

On the home management side, the app controls up to four thermostats and up to eight switches — lights, outlets, and fans — grouped by room for quick access. A six-day weather forecast for your home location is also pulled in, so you can plan the day without opening a separate weather app.

The calendar view makes the app more than just a smart home tool. It shows a weekly overview of your shared calendar, highlights the next upcoming event, and lets you swipe between weeks. Each calendar can have its own custom text color, which is particularly useful if you track multiple schedules, such as family events and kids' sports practices.

The app handles power management well. It goes to sleep automatically after a period of inactivity and wakes back up with a touch, the front camera, or a HomeKit motion sensor. It also respects the iPad's light and dark mode settings, so the display stays comfortable whether the command center sits in a bright kitchen or a dim hallway.