Apple is officially dropping support for previous versions of Apple Home later this year, and it is urging users to update to the new architecture by then as otherwise they run the risk of experiencing interruptions with their accessories and automations.
While Apple has been warning about the impending need to update, it appears now that Apple will just go ahead and perform the update automatically for those that haven’t updated by the older verson’s end-of-life.
The upgrade brings support for guest access, Activity History, and robot vacuum cleaners. It also offers improved and more reliable performance for smart homes with several HomeKit and Matter accessories.
As reported by MacRumors, the second beta of iOS 18.6, released to developers on Monday, includes code warning that automatic upgrades will be performed:
Support for your current version of Apple Home will end this fall. Some homes will be automatically updated at that time, but others need to be updated manually. You can update now to avoid interruptions with your accessories, automations, and critical alerts.
Apple also mentions the need for an update on its support website:
Support for the previous version of Apple Home will end in the fall of 2025. Update now to avoid interruptions with your accessories and automations.
Apple offers instructions on how to manually check to see if you need the update and how to perform it if needed:
Before you update
Update your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, and Apple Watch to the latest software. Any device that is connected to an updated home and not running iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, or watchOS 9.2 or later will lose access to an updated home until the device is updated. This includes people that you invite to control your home.
To share control of your home and receive Home notifications on the latest version of Apple Home, you must set up a home hub, like an Apple TV or HomePod.
iPad is not supported as a home hub on the latest version of Apple Home.
Update in the Home app
Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
Tap or click .
Select Home Settings. If you own multiple homes, choose one, then select Home Settings.
Select Software Update.
Tap or click Update Now, then follow the prompts. All of the homes that you own are updated at the same time.
“This home and all accessories are up to date” appears after the update.
Apple’s iOS 16.2 update brought with it an updated architecture for HomeKit and the Home app. Unfortunately, it was pulled back due to bugs and installation issues. Some users saw their HomeKit devices go missing from HomeKit setups or be hung up with a “configuring/updating” status after performing the update. Some users also saw their invitations to share the Home with others fail, while others saw it break their HomeKit Secure video recording.
Apple rolled out the update once again March 2023 alongside the release of iOS 16.4, and the update has proven to be stable since then.
You will need a device capable of supporting at least iOS 16, iPadOS 16, or macOS Sonoma, so users with older devices that can’t run the newer operating systems will not be able to upgrade to the new architecture.
