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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.jpg

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.

Article Link: Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/02/03/apple-home-app-final-reminder/
WilliApple said:
I wonder if its because of the two home app architectures thats impacting it.
Click to expand...
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.
 
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WilliApple said:
Bro how has everyone not updated their home yet... And why can't it be automatic?

I wonder if its because of the two home app architectures thats impacting it.
Click to expand...
IIRC... in previous posts about this subject, it was mentioned that it would update automatically near or at the end date.. dunno if they went back on that.. maybe..
 
What does it mean if I get the email? I think I have updated everything. They still sent me the email. At least all HomePods should be on the latest version and Siri sucks more
 
I upgraded a few months ago and everything went smoothly except my 10 year old Honeywell smart thermostat disappeared from the Home app. Doing a reset on the thermostat and re-adding it to HomeKit fixed it though.
 
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For the record, the Mac version of Home doesn't have any Software Update option. Edit: Actually, I'll amend that. I don't see a Software Update option on my iPhone nor iPad. Is that what happens when it's already updated?
 
Last edited:
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CmdrLaForge said:
What does it mean if I get the email? I think I have updated everything. They still sent me the email. At least all HomePods should be on the latest version and Siri sucks more
Click to expand...
This doesn't mean updating your devices, it is about updating the HomeKit software itself.

If you got the email, likely you are still running the old HomeKit architecture. It should have instructions in it. Just follow them.
 
Good thing I saw this thread because I knew nothing about this. What the hell is Apple thinking? Now the home app says software is up-to-date with 26.2 but I see no mention of 26.2 in this article. Silly question, but is that the update they’re referring to?
 
I've followed the instructions above but do not have the software update option. Am I missing something glaringly obvious?
 
A big catch22 for me, my wife will be excluded since she is using an older phone that can't update the Home app so she won't be able to control the eve's we have. And to invite anyone I have to get an iPad/homepod...
 
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