How to Set Up Your Logitech Harmony Companion

What's in the Box

The Logitech Harmony Companion is an affordable universal remote and hub system designed to simplify your entertainment setup. Inside the box, you'll find the Harmony Companion remote, a Harmony Hub, a USB power cable for the Hub, an IR mini blaster, and a quick start guide. Unlike the Harmony Elite, the Companion remote uses physical buttons instead of a touch screen, but it pairs with the same powerful Harmony Hub that can control up to 8 devices via IR, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

Prerequisites

Before you start setup, make sure you have:

• A smartphone or tablet with the Harmony app installed (iOS or Android)
• A Wi-Fi network and the password
• Two AA batteries for the Companion remote
• Your entertainment devices nearby with brand and model information available
• A USB power source for the Hub (wall adapter or available USB port on a device)

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Position the Harmony Hub near your entertainment center, facing the IR receivers on your devices. If your equipment is in a closed cabinet, connect the IR mini blaster to the Hub and place it inside the cabinet for line-of-sight coverage.
2. Connect the Hub to power using the USB cable. The Hub's LED will blink during boot-up. Wait about 30 seconds for it to fully initialize.
3. Install two AA batteries in the Harmony Companion remote. The remote communicates with the Hub via RF (radio frequency), so it does not need line of sight to the Hub — you can point it in any direction.
4. Open the Harmony app on your smartphone. Create a Logitech account or sign in. The app will detect the Hub on your network and walk you through connecting it to Wi-Fi.
5. Add your devices by searching the Harmony device database. Enter the manufacturer and model number for each device — TV, soundbar, streaming player, cable box, and so on. The app downloads the correct control profiles for each.
6. Create Activities that group device actions together. A "Watch TV" Activity, for example, can turn on the TV and cable box, set the correct HDMI input, and power on the soundbar. The Companion remote has dedicated Activity buttons at the top that you can assign to your most-used Activities.
7. Map the Companion remote's physical buttons to the functions you use most. The app lets you customize what each button does within each Activity — for instance, the volume buttons can control the soundbar during "Watch TV" and the TV's built-in speakers during "Play Game."

App Pairing and Remote Sync

The Companion remote pairs with the Hub automatically during setup. If it doesn't connect, remove the batteries, wait 10 seconds, reinsert them, and hold the Off button until the LED flashes. The remote will search for and reconnect to the Hub. All configuration and customization is done through the Harmony app — the remote receives its button mappings from the Hub, so any changes you make in the app are reflected on the remote immediately.

Smart Home Integration Tips

• The Harmony Hub that comes with the Companion supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant integration. Link the Harmony skill in your voice assistant's app to trigger Activities by voice.
• Add compatible smart home devices like Philips Hue lights and smart plugs to the Harmony system. Include them in Activities — your lights can dim when "Movie Night" starts and return to full brightness when you end the Activity.
• Use the Harmony app on your phone as a secondary remote when you can't find the physical remote. It provides the same Activity controls and device management.
• The Hub works with Home Assistant and other automation platforms through its local network API, letting you incorporate entertainment control into whole-home automations.

Quick Troubleshooting

If a device doesn't respond, check the Hub's line of sight to that device or reposition the IR mini blaster. If the Companion remote isn't controlling devices, verify it's paired to the Hub — check the LED response when pressing buttons. If an Activity doesn't work correctly, use the "Help" feature in the Harmony app to resync device states. For devices that power on slowly, add a delay between commands in the Activity settings through the app. If the Hub disconnects from Wi-Fi frequently, consider assigning it a static IP in your router's settings to maintain a stable connection.