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Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users

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In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching.

iOS 26 Home Feature
In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart home in the app entirely. In addition, users who do not upgrade will miss out on newer features like robot vacuum cleaner support, and they will not receive important security fixes and performance improvements.

Apple explains how to upgrade the Home app on the iPhone, iPad, or Mac:

  • Open the Home app
  • Tap or click on the three dots in the upper-right and navigate to Home Settings
  • Tap or click on Software Update
  • Tap or click Update Now, then follow the prompts. All of the homes that you own are updated at the same time.

If you see "This home and all accessories are up to date," then you are on the current version of the app and no further action is required.

Notably, the new version of Apple Home requires a minimum of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, and watchOS 9.2.

Tags: Apple Home, HomeKit Guide

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Top Rated Comments

k1121j Avatar
k1121j
8 months ago

Apple sucks, my iPod touch cannot even use the home app…
My Model-T doesn’t have adaptive cruise control either.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
BigBlur
8 months ago

Bro how has everyone not updated their home yet... And why can't it be automatic?
You've asked this before in a previous article and got answers. It's because it has breaking changes if you're using older Apple devices or software that don't support the new architecture.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
diego.c Avatar
diego.c
8 months ago
"...may experience issues with accessories and automations..."
Business as usual, Apple.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TFrank2 Avatar
TFrank2
8 months ago
Now if only Apple could release new home focused products…
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KENESS Avatar
KENESS
8 months ago

I wonder if its because of the two home app architectures thats impacting it.
I doubt it. Devices and the underlying HomeKit architecture are two different things. The device doesn't "know" anything about HomeKit architecture v1 and v2, and which one it is running on. The underlying architecture this upgrade is referring to is more about how HomeKit queries devices for their status.

With the original architecture, the HomeKit client app (usually the Home app on your phone, or on your Mac, but can be any app that interacts with HomeKit) was in charge itself of maintain the current status of all devices when it was open or being interacted with. So when you opened it, or brought it to the foreground after a while, it needed to query the status from every single one of your HomeKit devices. Some are quicker to respond than others, and this could be rather slow sometimes, especially for larger homes. It could also get hung up significantly if there was a non-responding device.

The new architecture removed this from the Home app's responsibility and now a Home Hub (Home Pod, AppleTV) continuously maintains the current status of all devices itself, and when the Home app is opened or refreshed, it then only needs to look to that Home Hub and it sends the status for ALL devices in one big schwoomp.

That's really the bulk of what this "HomeKit upgrade" was all about. And although there were some kinks originally, it really was a MASSIVE improvement in speed and responsiveness and reliability.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cybercommand Avatar
cybercommand
8 months ago
This update setting is not even available with my home app.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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