Apple Preparing to Re-Release Revamped HomeKit Architecture That Was Removed From iOS 16.2

[szw-mapple fan]

HomeKit works just fine.
- no one ever

I've been using HomeKit for over 5 years with around 30 devices at this point and every issue I've had was either due to the accessory itself or my router. After changing up my router to something more modern about 3 years ago it's been rock solid. I would however like to have more automation options and conditions.

 

[RuivoM]

HK user here with Ubiquiti network and 50+ accessories. Everything but the automations were working fine before iOS 16.2. New architecture broke some of the accessories (BLE mostly) which often stop responding. iOS 16.3 didn't seem to fix those as well.

It's either Apple or manufacturers fault, IDK. But I've been experiencing issues with BLE devices (2 or 3) on the new architecture — typically Nuki smart locks.

 

[NightFox]

HK user here with Ubiquiti network and 50+ accessories. Everything but the automations were working fine before iOS 16.2. New architecture broke some of the accessories (BLE mostly) which often stop responding. iOS 16.3 didn't seem to fix those as well.

It's either Apple or manufacturers fault, IDK. But I've been experiencing issues with BLE devices (2 or 3) on the new architecture — typically Nuki smart locks.

Interested to hear what Nuki issues you're having, mine (Smart Lock 3.0) seems to have been working OK under 'new' HK, though for the geofencing functions I leave that to the native Nuki app as it doesn't require the manual confirmation that Home does before unlocking the door.

 

[Itinj24]

This is seriously not thought through as it is today.

I saw someone making two automations:

1. Turn on light when movement has been detected.
2. Turn ON light when NO MOVEMENT has been detected AND set this to turn off light after x minutes.

It sounds ingenious - it should catch it in a loop between automation 1 and 2 as long as you move within the x minute interval. But it seems like someone at apple has broken that option as well, because I cannot get it to work. Either lights will be turned off while you're still present or it will never go into #2 and lights will stay on forever. Maybe someone else can get it to work?

I also seen some lengthy shortcuts attempts. Here's one: https://patrikmojzis.medium.com/mot...-off-lights-after-a-certain-time-a9b616b719ae but it doesn't work stable either. It should in theory, but I think it depends on the sensors and that's again a lack of standards.

Finally - and this is the most ridiculous: I have a logic circle that also offers to double as movement sensor. I quickly learned that it would as expected turn on light when detecting motion. And when not detecting motion any more it will turn off ligths as expected... and then turn them back on because the image its seeing is changing because, well... it got darker in the room. Light on - lights off - lights on - lights off... 😂

Reading through the comments, I couldn’t help but stop at yours and comment.

Regarding the Logi Circle motion automation, that too drove me up a wall lol. Try switching this automation from the motion detector to the occupancy detector. Worked for me. No more lights coming back on when the motion detector senses the lights going off lol.

 

[dantracht]

My HomePods have been awful lately. Dropped Wi-Fi, hardly ever work. I give up.

 

[machpost]

Here's my conundrum: I'd like to upgrade to the new HomeKit architecture, but my late 2015 iMac is not upgradeable to Ventura. So that means I'd be unable to do anything with HomeKit on the iMac if I upgraded all my other devices, correct?

 

[ninecows]

Reading through the comments, I couldn’t help but stop at yours and comment.

Regarding the Logi Circle motion automation, that too drove me up a wall lol. Try switching this automation from the motion detector to the occupancy detector. Worked for me. No more lights coming back on when the motion detector senses the lights going off lol.

Yeah... I tried that. With mixed success. Anyway - recently the circle 2 camera that had this feature died and I had to replace it with the new circle view (the black one). In this one they have omitted the occupancy detector feature! I only have motion and lux. I guess it was either buggy or they just decided to roll back to fewer features because they're a**h****

 

[NightFox]

Here's my conundrum: I'd like to upgrade to the new HomeKit architecture, but my late 2015 iMac is not upgradeable to Ventura. So that means I'd be unable to do anything with HomeKit on the iMac if I upgraded all my other devices, correct?

Yes, that's my understanding (and experience with an old MacBook I recently fired up)

 

[GoodTimeNotALongTime]

HomeKit works just fine.
- no one ever

Works without problem for me, even after the architecture upgrade. Speak for yourself.

 

[MacWiz_007]

I've never thought HomeKit was that great. Hopefully they will improve it sooner than later.

 

[Coochie Boogs]

Apple has to do something good in this space very soon. I expected so much more from them. It’s just simply a mess.

 

[ninecows]

Works without problem for me, even after the architecture upgrade. Speak for yourself.

Methinks that differences in what hardware and devices are used and wifi can influence how stable HomeKit is.

But the whole concept in HomeKit is that it should “just work” regardless of setup as long as you’re using certified hardware. If it doesn’t work rock solid for all and it doesn’t give you a meaningful error message so you can fix it, then it is broken and you are just lucky if it works for you.

 

[babalougots]

Did the upgrade to Matter when 16.2 came out. Had issues with invites (corrected). Rebuilt entire home setup. Had issues with HomePods randomly disconnecting -- and then suddenly the disconnecting issues stopped about two weeks back. I did nothing else on my end. Same setup, etc. Wonder if Apple made adjustments on its end/servers.

 

[Dionte]

I’m the one of my friends always defending apple but even I couldn’t defend this

 

[GabooN]

I did the update first time around, and have luckily had no issues in my house with it. Problem is that I got booted from the second Home we have setup at my partner's apartment, we go between the two locations because of work. She didn't want to manage the updates herself, so the day I got there to do the update, was the day they pulled the architecture update lol. Will be nice when we can both see both homes again, she can't current check on the dog with the cams.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

Thanks for sharing! It sounds like you have a really interesting setup!

If you would be amenable, I (for one) would love to hear what you use as a proxy/translation gateway between HomeKit and non-HomeKit devices--and how you use it. (For example, I've heard of HomeBridge, but (a) I haven't used it and (b) I thought it was only good for surfacing non-HomeKit devices to HomeKit.)

I use Homebridge for my non-HK compatible lighting, security panel, and cameras. Works very well.

I am wondering what the new architecture impact will be to Homebridge

 

[NightFox]

I use Homebridge for my non-HK compatible lighting, security panel, and cameras. Works very well.

I am wondering what the new architecture impact will be to Homebridge

I've not experienced any problems with Homebridge since switching to the new architecture. I've had plenty of issues with that, but the actual integration with Homebridge still seems solid (running Homebridge on HOOBS with 9 virtual hubs controlling about 20 devices). As with native HomeKit devices, the new architecture seems to give quicker and more reliable response from devices, so once Apple sorts out the mess it will actually still be a good upgrade.

 

[McScooby]

I did the update first time around, and have luckily had no issues in my house with it. Problem is that I got booted from the second Home we have setup at my partner's apartment, we go between the two locations because of work. She didn't want to manage the updates herself, so the day I got there to do the update, was the day they pulled the architecture update lol. Will be nice when we can both see both homes again, she can't current check on the dog with the cams.

Almost identical situation, couldn't be bothered contacting AppleCare to waste hrs of my life not to get back, easier waiting for the update.

 

[Vasilioskn]

I’m a long time apple lover but yeah HomeKit is not it. They’re seriously so behind on it , it’s insulting at this point.

 

[Konrad]

After Google's Nest acquisition, it would be great if Apple purchased the Nest part from Google which desperately wants the still widely used Nest legacy devices users to migrate to what is apparently the very worst application/customer support/etc. HomeKit should integrate NEST somehow. In summary, everyone lost on NEST going to Google. An academic example how to f... a perfectly, nice, growing company.

 

[Radeon85]

Let me guess, you run a highly complex system like one or two Homepod, an Apple TV, one motion sensor and a light switch? 😝

For me it’s been great on the new architecture, old one could be laggy at times with the usual hmmm unable to do that but usually proceeds to do it anyway a few seconds later. And for at least 99% of those problems it was the HomePod mini’s to blame, on the new system they’ve been behaving extremely well so far. Lag is pretty much gone and not once since I switched has the HomePod minis said they can’t do that for commands I know work perfectly.

It’s not a super complex system but still a decent amount for HomeKit to keep track of. I’m running 5x minis, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 12 Pro Max, 3x 4K Apple TVs and 2x iPad Pros (M1).

For Hue I have 8x rooms setup, 7x zones, 40x Hue devices that include lights and wall plugs to control non smart devices, 14x Hue dimmer switches/buttons, 2x Air Monitors Lite by Qingping, 1x Eve Weather station along with Eufy cameras and 6x HomeKit automations setup for different people so lights and devices get switched off when we leave if we forgot something, and certain lights come on as different people come home once they are close by.

So far it’s been working extremely well on the new architecture and all devices are playing very nicely with each other. Just glad when I upgraded it didn’t screw up anything because setting up everything from scratch would have taken absolutely ages.

 

[PauloSera]

I already done it the first time would I get another update when it’s out or is the new one just for people that didn’t do it

I'm sure there will be an update for everyone.

 

[infinitejest]

I've been using HomeKit for over 5 years with around 30 devices at this point and every issue I've had was either due to the accessory itself or my router. After changing up my router to something more modern about 3 years ago it's been rock solid. I would however like to have more automation options and conditions.

I'm glad that it works for you so well. I am not as lucky, unfortunately. I constantly get notifications with the same status, my automations only work sometimes, ...

 

[topdrawer]

it just doesn't work

 

[groove-agent]

I'm following a 29 page HomeKit thread on the Apple site saying that automations have been broken for many people for a long time in 16.x (including myself). Looking forward to see if this fixes it.

Homekit Automations are broken in iOS 16 - Apple Community

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