Apple Pulls iOS 16.2 Option to Upgrade to New Home Architecture

[MacRumors]

One of the key new features in iOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.1 is the ability to upgrade to a new Home app architecture. While Apple hasn't shared details on exactly what the changes are, the company says the upgrade offers "improved performance and reliability" for HomeKit accessories.

Upgrading the Home architecture requires that all devices accessing the home be updated to the latest operating system version, so many users have yet to take the leap, but users who have upgraded have reported some issues. Amidst those reports, it now appears Apple has removed the option for users to upgrade their Home app architecture.

Issues reported by users include HomeKit devices stuck in an "updating" or "configuring" status, devices going missing entirely, invitations to share the Home with other users failing, HomeKit Secure Video recording not working, and more.

Upgrading to the new Home app architecture is a user-initiated process in the Software Update section of Home Settings in the Home app, and as of a few hours ago, the option to upgrade no longer appears in the app. As a result, users who have yet to move to the new architecture will be unable to do so until Apple reenables the option. Users who have already upgraded will remain on the new architecture and can not revert to the previous one.

Update: Apple has confirmed in a support document that the new Home architecture update has been temporarily removed, and that the option to upgrade "will return soon."

Article Link: Apple Pulls iOS 16.2 Option to Upgrade to New Home Architecture

 

[_Spinn_]

This was one of the features I was most looking forward to but when I heard about all the trouble people were having I held off on upgrading. Seems like I made the right choice.

 

[ersan191]

I upgraded mine and it works fine - responses are significantly faster and more reliable. Lutron/Eufy/Ecobee/Twinkly/Meross/Sonos/Vizio TV's and everything works great.

Doesn't surprise me that others are having issues though.

 

[brian3uk]

Good. My HomePods lose their pairing all the time and randomly don’t work. AppleTV turns on by itself. I’ve got opinions on Apple’s software quality and 16.2 just reinforces those opinions. 😒

 

[Antes]

i upgraded earlier today and everything was working fine until an hour ago when my iPhone got stuck with this Home control Center glitch.
had to hard reset to fix this since hitting Power button did nothing.

 

[james2538]

Well glad I didn't pull the trigger on this yet. HomeKit is pretty integral to my whole smart home setup. Its reliability is why I stick with it over Google or Amazon, wouldn't want to jeopardize that.

 

[fwmireault]

I didn't have any issue with the change of architecture on my side. To be honest, I don't see any difference anyway. I hope that Apple will address the situation shortly for people who have issues with that update.

 

[Surf Monkey]

“Can’t revert.”

Thanks for nothing, Apple.

 

[antnythr]

The fact that I had multiple devices that can't get iOS 16 or Ventura, including other people in my house, meant it was a no-go to update for me.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Good. My HomePods lose their pairing all the time and randomly don’t work. AppleTV turns on by itself. I’ve got opinions on Apple’s software quality and 16.2 just reinforces those opinions. 😒

A steady downward slide is how I’d characterize it. Apple needs to get their software act together. HomeKit isn’t the only 16.X related nightmare.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

You’re welcome

 

[TonyC28]

Apple does not take HomeKit seriously and until they do it will be crippled.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Weird timing... I just updated today.

I bought my first HomeKit devices and opened the Home app for the first time today. I was exploring the app and saw that there was an update available. So I hit it.

I hope I didn't make a mistake.

😲

 

[WildCowboy]

I upgraded mine and it works fine - responses are significantly faster and more reliable, where does it say they pulled it?

The option to upgrade no longer shows in the app, as Apple changed a flag on their side to no longer offer it to users.

 

[Xaositek]

I found HomeKit (post-upgrade) works vastly better when a HomePod mini is the connected hub over an Apple TV. I actually had to completely remove my AppleTV from the Home (which is stupid, why can't I just turn off the Hub ability like I could before).

Main issue I see is often with Scrypted, which I get is third party software but at this point is an integral part of my setup of UniFi cameras.

 

[dipstah]

I updated all my devices when 6.2 came out. Family members who were also updated lost access to the home. I ended up having to remove the home and all accessories and create a new home to solve the issue.

Before I removed the home I installed “Controller for HomeKit“ and created a backup then removed the home and added my bridges back then restored the backup. Thank god for Controller it added all my rooms, automation and scenes back and put all the accessories in the correct rooms. Highly recommend it you can also backup all your HomeKit codes.

 

[zachz]

Everything is updated and Home has been way worse. All my scenes are messed up, now the only thing that saves is which lights go on/off, but it will match the colors of whatever the last setting was.

For example, if I manually make all my lights red, then switch directly to a preset scene, the lights will stay red but will turn off/on or dim/brighten according to the scene…

Ahhhh I’m really starting to hate HomeKit and Home! It’s the one feature I use the most, and I’m thinking of dropping HomeKit altogether

 

[kalafalas]

I did the upgrade and I’m loving it, a lot of my old broken automations are working well now and everything is much faster

 

[AgentOSX]

I never even had the option and I did all appropriate upgrades. Oh well. For major things like this I tend to wait 2 weeks anyway.

 

[sniffies]

No wonder! I was trying to invite a family member back to my Home app, and it just kept failing and failing.

I updated all my devices when 6.2 came out. Family members who were also updated lost access to the home. I ended up having to remove the home and all accessories and create a new home to solve the issue.

Before I removed the home I installed “Controller for HomeKit“ and created a backup then removed the home and added my bridges back then restored the backup. Thank god for Controller it added all my rooms, automation and scenes back and put all the accessories in the correct rooms. Highly recommend it you can also backup all your HomeKit codes.

Never heard of it. Thank you for sharing.

So, IIUC, Controller for HomeKit can backup all lights, rooms, and automations and then, if needed, restore them to Home app on a different iPhone, correct?

 

[allenvanhellen]

Steve! STEVE!!!

 

[japanime]

Apple: "It was a bug, not a feature." 🤣

 

[throAU]

lol, 12 hours after i roll it.

So far works here, despite being pulled - iphone 13, SE 2020, 2 OG homepods and 2 minis and 2 4k Apple TVs with a Hue bridge.

 

[Good User Name]

I upgraded a little while ago. The upgrade finally got thread working for me. Invites were broken for a while but I unplugged all of the home hubs and then plugged in just one and redid the invite. Everything has been fine since.

 

[Ashbash75]

I'm safe, all my apple devices are set to auto update which never works. Just checked and all my OG Homepods are showing an update for 16.1 while they are on 16.1.

I think I'll leave mine as is as everything works fine.