Apple Outlines What to Do If You Have Issues Accessing a Home in iOS 16.2

[MacRumors]

Apple today published a support document designed to help those who are having issues with HomeKit, outlining what to do if you can't access a home or accept an invitation in the Home app.

Apple says that on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 16.2 or iPadOS 16.2, users should use the Remove Home option on any listed homes that don't have accessories. If the invited user has a home with accessories, Apple support must instead be contacted for help.

If there is a home with no accessories listed, after it is removed from the Home app, the invited user and home owner's devices need to be restarted, as do all Apple TV and HomePod devices in the home.

From there, the home owner will need to remove any pending invitations to the invited user, and then re-invite the user to share control of the home. An invited user must accept an invitation to access a home within three hours or the invitation will expire.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1606069439547465734

Apple's instructions come just a day after the new Home architecture that was introduced in iOS 16.2 was pulled. At the current time, Apple is not allowing users to upgrade to the architecture, likely due to multiple bugs that users have reported with the update.

Issues with the architecture update include ‌HomeKit‌ devices stuck in an "updating" or "configuring" status, devices going missing, HomeKit Secure Video not working, and invitations to share the Home with other users failing, which is what the support document addresses.

In a separate support document, Apple says that the new Home architecture will be reintroduced at a later date, and that it has been temporarily removed.

Article Link: Apple Outlines What to Do If You Have Issues Accessing a Home in iOS 16.2

 

[now i see it]

There’s a thread in the iPhone forum detailing how a new HomeKit install borked his entire house

 

[MauiPa]

And yet it is working just fine for me, I installed from the beta. But hey, I did figure out that:
1) HomePods had to run completely new versions of software. As with all new versions I added them to home via a reset. I mean how else would you do that they had to be removed from other homes on old architecture first. So your HomePod is about to reset continue holding until you hear three beeps
2) only other accessories were appletvs they added just fine

So ok this is an oversimplified case as I have no other Matter accessories. But if I did, I would guess that they had to be updated and reset as well
No offense but this all seems like common sense. Of course I wish installation was more Apple like. This kind of reminded me of windows and why I ditched it

 

[airwalk331]

Apple lost their touch. You can't trust any OS update. It's all, literal, crap : (

 

[MauiPa]

There’s a thread in the iPhone forum detailing how a new HomeKit install borked his entire house

Common sense still apply? All the old home connections had to be removed, the old home removed. If any accessories were not compatible, why would anyone proceed until they were. Key words were entirely new architecture. I know what that means

 

[TwistedGleam]

I didn’t do it because I still have apple devices that aren’t or won’t be updated to the latest OS. glad I held out.

 

[TonyC28]

Tell me you give zero f—-s about a platform you’re hosting without telling me you give zero f—-s about a platform you’re hosting.

Good grief what a joke. It’s crystal clear HomeKit is a weekend hobby to them because it doesn’t generate revenue but come on, this is getting sad.

 

[TonyC28]

And yet it is working just fine for me,

Is it possible… just hear me out…is it possible that even though things went well for you they may not have for others? Could there maybe be a reason Apple yanked the update and had to issue this? Just…is it possible…?

 

[Chazak]

Apple lost their touch. You can't trust any OS update. It's all, literal, crap : (

No, they haven't and it isn't.

 

[Kylo83]

I done it when 16.2 come out and it was flawless and now home app is working much better and quicker its a great update shame they pulled it

 

[k1121j]

If the home has no accessory’s????? Well then who cares. 🙄 the last update made me re configure everything omg if I have to do this every update I’m done.

 

[antiprotest]

Apple lost their touch. You can't trust any OS update. It's all, literal, crap : (

They have been like this for years. It's not a recent problem.

 

[Burger Thing]

And yet it is working just fine for me, I installed from the beta. But hey, I did figure out that:
1) HomePods had to run completely new versions of software. As with all new versions I added them to home via a reset. I mean how else would you do that they had to be removed from other homes on old architecture first. So your HomePod is about to reset continue holding until you hear three beeps
2) only other accessories were appletvs they added just fine

So ok this is an oversimplified case as I have no other Matter accessories. But if I did, I would guess that they had to be updated and reset as well
No offense but this all seems like common sense. Of course I wish installation was more Apple like. This kind of reminded me of windows and why I ditched it

No offence, but I have the slight impression that with your few HomePods and one Apple TV as your only accessory, you have absolutely no idea how complex home automation can grow.

And with “complex” I mean also its maintenance, updates and troubleshooting of multiple hubs, accessories of different manufacturers.

 

[fatTribble]

I upgraded the HomeKit architecture right away and it’s all been working fine. No problems.

 

[haruhiko]

Upgrading the architecture is an absolute mess. First the shared user disappeared and couldn’t accept the invitation, then after a few reboot of home hubs the user was finally added to the home with all sorts of problems. After that the HomeKit secure video failed to record anything, after another round of rebooting home hubs, the recording is still not back now.

I’m about to give up HomeKit. It’s an absolute garbage.

 

[tobybrut]

I was contemplating updating my home to this new architecture, but refrained, since I'd have to update all my wife's software versions to the latest. Mine were already done. I was just about to do it a couple days ago and held up. Good thing I did. Let Apple work out the bugs.

I was already making some pretty big changes to my network, needing a new cable modem, updating the router to 6e, and getting rid of those lying Eufy cameras that are scandalously in the news. Too many changes at one time. I'm going to have to make changes slowly.

 

[TroutDeep]

And yet it is working just fine for me, I installed from the beta. But hey, I did figure out that:
1) HomePods had to run completely new versions of software. As with all new versions I added them to home via a reset. I mean how else would you do that they had to be removed from other homes on old architecture first. So your HomePod is about to reset continue holding until you hear three beeps
2) only other accessories were appletvs they added just fine

So ok this is an oversimplified case as I have no other Matter accessories. But if I did, I would guess that they had to be updated and reset as well
No offense but this all seems like common sense. Of course I wish installation was more Apple like. This kind of reminded me of windows and why I ditched it

*sigh*

I’m sorry for being snotty earlier.

The idea here is that some people are having big problems with the update, which apple acknowledges in their support document (and tacitly by pulling the update).

I am glad it’s currently working for you though!

 

[PsykX]

Luckily, I have had less problems with it than the old architecture so far, but I found that it's not 100% reliable.

I still had an automation that sometimes wouldn't run, and in another house it was impossible for me to change existing automations.

 

[PsykX]

I’m about to give up HomeKit. It’s an absolute garbage.

I gotta say, I've tried numerous smart devices, and HomeKit was easily one of the the worst architectures I've tried. But also by far the most secure and the one I trust the most. As strange as it sounds, security is what hurt HomeKit the most so far.

I remember when companies had to install special Apple-certified chips
in their devices in order to support HomeKit.

 

[Shirasaki]

The cost of chasing after bleeding edge I guess.
Given Apple‘s strong stance of “if there’s any issue, start over”, I’m going to stay away from this crap for as long as I can until it is ready.
The disadvantage of being a consumer focused company. Just imagine if this is about to be implemented in a business environment.

 

[Shirasaki]

I gotta say, I've tried numerous smart devices, and HomeKit was easily one of the the worst architectures I've tried. But also by far the most secure and the one I trust the most. As strange as it sounds, security is what hurt HomeKit the most so far.

I remember when companies had to install special Apple-certified chips
in their devices in order to support HomeKit.

Security sounds all good and dandy, until the system stops working anymore. Then it is not good.
Im not saying we should give up on security, but to always strike a balance between usability, stability and security. HomeKit apparently failed in this regard.

 

[russell_314]

I agree. It’s working fine for you, therefore everyone else is either lying to stupid.

I didn’t get that impression from the post. Sometimes it’s user error and other times just bad luck I think. A good example is I’ve had nothing but trouble with iOS 15/ 16.0 while others said it worked perfectly for them.

I don’t have any problems with HomeKit, but I’m only running a few smart lightbulbs.

 

[hoorayforhollywood]

I would love a break of two years before iOS 17 and every MacOS and whatever after. We'd all be cool with it.

 

[russell_314]

The cost of chasing after bleeding edge I guess.
Given Apple‘s strong stance of “if there’s any issue, start over”, I’m going to stay away from this crap for as long as I can until it is ready.
The disadvantage of being a consumer focused company. Just imagine if this is about to be implemented in a business environment.

I don’t think any business is going to implement HomeKit in their office building. Even the name HomeKit implies it’s not for larger applications like business.

You’re right though that trying to stay on the bleeding edge can cause problems. This is why my Mac and iPad are not on the latest OS. My iPhone is, but that’s only because I don’t have a choice.

Before someone says it, sure I could be using an older iPhone with iOS 15 but if I want the latest iPhone, then I have to run iOS 16.

 

[Dionte]

I wish I never upgraded but issues with homekit seem to have been getting worse for me with iOS 16, with each Dot release more devices started acting up.