# \[HOW TO\] CLI install method

**URL:** <https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198>\
**Category:** Tutorials\
**Tags:** homey-pro\
**Created:** [August 23, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198 "2018-08-23T13:18:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 9

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**Author:** ![Gregory\_JENISCH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gregory_jenisch/32/81062_2.png) [@Gregory\_JENISCH](https://community.homey.app/u/Gregory_JENISCH)\
**Post date:** [January 22, 2025, 7:53pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/171 "2025-01-22T19:53:30Z")

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Got it thank you 🙏🏻

However I did try homey app install, it is what I want (a 2nd instance on my homey)

Did not work -sadly-

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**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 3:16am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/172 "2025-01-23T03:16:14Z")

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> ![1000042097](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/1/f/1f19636732d886785f49acd5ea2f3c7061b22307.jpeg)

Ah… I didn’t recognise the comment (French?) as error;  
Altough you reported it clearly the other day

> [@Gregory\_JENISCH](#):
>
> → “remote” is an unknown argument (is it bad ?)

> [@Peter\_Kawa](#):
>
> Can you try `homey app install` without the `--remote` flag?

> [@Gregory\_JENISCH](#):
>
> and no --remote flag : it worked

> [@robertklep](#):
>
> Ah I see now: `--remote` is only defined when using `homey app run`, not for `homey app install`

🫣 wow, thanks for discovering.

It never occurred to me not both commands need ` --remote` to install or run apps @ Pro 2023. Makes no sense to me.  
And @DaneedeKruyff thanks for elaborating on both commands.

Learning every day.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\
**Post date:** [January 23, 2025, 3:27am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/173 "2025-01-23T03:27:55Z")

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> [@Gregory\_JENISCH](#):
>
> How can I make sure that it is online … because every time I try Cmd prompts

I guess you"d just repeat the install command until the offline error msg doesn’t appear.

> [@Gregory\_JENISCH](#):
>
> However I did try homey app install, it is what I want (a 2nd instance on my homey)
> 
> Did not work -sadly-

At least we now know you can install apps by CLI on your Homey  
`homey app install` is the (only) valid command.

About installing a second instance of an app:  
It might be possible the ‘trick’ to change one line, the app id, only works @ Pro 19?

Are you sure you edit the correct file?  
`.homeycompose/app.json`

```auto
  "id": "io.home-assistant.community-greg",
  ....
  "name": {
    "en": "Home Assistant Community Greg"

```

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gregory\_JENISCH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gregory_jenisch/32/81062_2.png) [@Gregory\_JENISCH](https://community.homey.app/u/Gregory_JENISCH)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 12:57am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/174 "2025-01-24T00:57:18Z")

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> [@Gregory\_JENISCH](#):
>
> How can I make sure that it is online … because every time I try Cmd prompts

I guess you"d just repeat the install command until the offline error msg doesn’t appear.

## ===\> TRUE 🙂

.

> [@Gregory\_JENISCH](#):
>
> However I did try homey app install, it is what I want (a 2nd instance on my homey)  
> Did not work -sadly-

At least we now know you can install apps by CLI on your Homey  
`homey app install` is the (only) valid command.

## ===\> I LEARN FROM THE BEST 🙂

.  
About installing a second instance of an app:  
It might be possible the ‘trick’ to change one line, the app id, only works @ Pro 19?

## ===\> I HOPE NOT 🙂

.  
Are you sure you edit the correct file?  
`.homeycompose/app.json`

```auto
  "id": "io.home-assistant.community-greg",
  ....
  "name": {
    "en": "Home Assistant Community Greg"

```

## ===\> YES I AM SURE 🙂

.  
@robertklep : do my answers (to your questions HOMEY --VERSION & WHERE HOMEY) help you understand what’s going on with my attempt to install a 2nd “ismartgate” App ?  
thank you ! 😉

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 5:36am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/175 "2025-01-24T05:36:54Z")

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Wasn’t your problem that your Homey is marked offline? I don’t know why that happens other than like I said, Homey’s authentication system is broken.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gregory\_JENISCH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gregory_jenisch/32/81062_2.png) [@Gregory\_JENISCH](https://community.homey.app/u/Gregory_JENISCH)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 7:06am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/176 "2025-01-24T07:06:06Z")

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the offline error messages are due to an unsteady wifi connexion of my laptop i think because my homey is in front of me and never shows signs of disconnection or reboot.  
your comments help me find that out, thanks ! 🙂

but like i said my main question / problem is as follows, and your expertise would. be a glass of water in the desert to me…😉  
so thank you in advance !!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Greg

my initial post is #146 in this topic on January 20, starting with :

> [@\[HOW TO\] CLI install method](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/156):
>
> Hello everybody slight_smile I am not a dev-guy myself as you will rapidly notice… I have a Homey Pro 2023 and I need a 2nd instance of ISG App (Ismartgate) in order to manage my 2 ISG devices in flows. Here is what I did : I followed CLI install protocol : I downloaded Node.js v.22.x (higher than my Homey’s v.18.x) and installed it on my computer. I downloaded the App Zip file posted here [iSmartGate app with more than one device - #2 by Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/t/ismartgate-app-with-more-than-one-device/95955/2) (thank you), unzipped it in my Downloads…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 7:08am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/177 "2025-01-24T07:08:24Z")

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> [@Gregory\_JENISCH](#):
>
> the offline error messages are due to an unsteady wifi connexion of my laptop i think because my homey is in front of me and never shows signs of disconnection or reboot.

The CLI client will happily say Homey is offline when it isn’t, and it’s most likely _not_ caused by your laptop having an unsteady connection. Homey’s authentication/connection implementation is just buggy.

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**Author:** ![DaneedeKruyff](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/daneedekruyff/32/964_2.png) [@DaneedeKruyff](https://community.homey.app/u/DaneedeKruyff)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 7:36am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/178 "2025-01-24T07:36:51Z")

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Hi,

We have no yet seen a screenshot of where you used a proper commmand to run the app.

Please try to RUN the app with the command `homey app run --remote` and post a screenshot of the result of that.

(`Run` does basically the same as `install` but it will also dump any output from Homey and the app to the terminal session you start the command from. I’m not sure if the app will be available when you reboot your Homey, but I don’t think that that’s important for now, let’s first try to get it started)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gregory\_JENISCH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gregory_jenisch/32/81062_2.png) [@Gregory\_JENISCH](https://community.homey.app/u/Gregory_JENISCH)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 10:51am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/179 "2025-01-24T10:51:36Z")

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Hi Danee 🙂  
thanks for the help !  
i am sorry if i did not send you a shot, here it is, dated a few seconds ago !

note that :

- no wifi problem this morning
- says my homey is offline both with app run --remote AND app install… but…
- homey is found with homey list and homey whoami 🤔

 ![Capture d’écran 2025-01-24 à 11.38.08](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/1/2/1211d1a6bbade201cff65d2bbf1c06091ab680d9.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DaneedeKruyff](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/daneedekruyff/32/964_2.png) [@DaneedeKruyff](https://community.homey.app/u/DaneedeKruyff)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/180 "2025-01-24T12:32:28Z")

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I assume `homey list` and `homey whoami` retrieve their information from your cloud account, so in my opinion those commands have no real indication whether you Homey is online or not.

The offline issue will have to be resolved before we’ll able to give you any usefull advice.

Just to be sure; Is your Homey in the same network/vlan/ip range/LAN segment as your computer?  
If you don’t know this; Are you in a simple homenetwork with just the ISP’s router and just 1 wifi name?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gregory\_JENISCH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gregory_jenisch/32/81062_2.png) [@Gregory\_JENISCH](https://community.homey.app/u/Gregory_JENISCH)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 12:56pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/181 "2025-01-24T12:56:44Z")

</div>

> Both laptop and homey are connected to the same internet box / repeater (mesh) with same SSID and password.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:03pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/182 "2025-01-24T13:03:26Z")

</div>

Does the web app ([https://my.homey.app](https://my.homey.app)) work for you on the same computer as you’re running the CLI client on?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gregory\_JENISCH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gregory_jenisch/32/81062_2.png) [@Gregory\_JENISCH](https://community.homey.app/u/Gregory_JENISCH)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/183 "2025-01-24T13:15:10Z")

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alive and kicking on the same MBPro

 ![Capture d’écran 2025-01-24 à 14.13.37](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/4/f/4f7b53ddb22f5db2e730d80c4aac1c16b14ff251.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 1:24pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/184 "2025-01-24T13:24:41Z")

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Very strange. All I can think of now is to completely remove `~/.athom-cli` (or rename it) and start over.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gregory\_JENISCH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gregory_jenisch/32/81062_2.png) [@Gregory\_JENISCH](https://community.homey.app/u/Gregory_JENISCH)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 5:43pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/185 "2025-01-24T17:43:04Z")

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hi,  
after deleting apps + unzipped app directory, re-install of node.js & npm, check of my $path, login to homey via prompt, choosing my homey as active…  
… my homey seems still offline ☹ for app install AND app run --remote !

help !  
🙂

 ![Capture d’écran 2025-01-24 à 18.42.19](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/2/7/2790594dc7a4148e16cb0d1c52756e9a91fc4bbd.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/186 "2025-01-24T17:45:19Z")

</div>

You’re sure it’s not Little Snitch that’s blocking connection attempts?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gregory\_JENISCH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gregory_jenisch/32/81062_2.png) [@Gregory\_JENISCH](https://community.homey.app/u/Gregory_JENISCH)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 5:51pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/187 "2025-01-24T17:51:39Z")

</div>

I saw the mention of little snitch in the $path check, but i deep-uninstalled it a long time ago with CleanMyMacX

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/188 "2025-01-24T17:54:06Z")

</div>

Can you check in your internet router/modem if it has a security measure related to “DNS Rebinding”? If so, and it’s turned on, try turning it off.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Gregory\_JENISCH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/gregory_jenisch/32/81062_2.png) [@Gregory\_JENISCH](https://community.homey.app/u/Gregory_JENISCH)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/189 "2025-01-24T18:06:58Z")

</div>

no such thing…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\
**Post date:** [January 25, 2025, 5:49am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/how-to-cli-install-method/198/190 "2025-01-25T05:49:45Z")

</div>

I’m afraid I’m going to have to give up 😢 Perhaps Athom can explain why this is happening: [https://support.homey.app/hc/en-us/articles/360015784034-Submitting-a-support-request](https://support.homey.app/hc/en-us/articles/360015784034-Submitting-a-support-request)

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