Apple Pulls iOS 16.2 Option to Upgrade to New Home Architecture

[iSRS]

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.

😲

The fact that you’re starting fresh is probably the key. Nothing to replace Or go wrong on update.

“Can’t revert.”

Thanks for nothing, Apple.

well, it is architecture. I mean, you can’t revert to your old home once you tear it down. You have to rebuild from scratch. Even if you rebuild ever minor detail and error, it’s still not reverting. It’s new.

same with code. An upgrade? Can keep many things in place. But once you start, you can’t go back without starting over, which causes… (emphasis mine)

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.

Every time I upgrade anything related to HomeKit, it just breaks. I've been so jaded by countless weekends fixing HomeKit that if it ain't broke, I aint ever updating

The update was terrible here - automations don’t work, one admin can’t rejoin home (removes as resident) etc. Will try resetting up the home, which is annoying

overall, I get the frustration. We use Apple products and hold them to higher standards, standards they historically have set.

but let’s not pretend the other home automation/voice assistants are infallible. I’m cons reading certain smart plugs to the Alexa app.

if anything, this reinforces the reason Apple doesn’t go third party for its Macs. Too many variables

 

[WannaGoMac]

I have just two light bulbs. They worked perfectly in ios 15. In ios 16 the automation stop being reliable, and now with 16.2 the lights just randomly will change scenes. I’d say it’s thr lightbulb but all these problems started with iOS 16. And yes, I logged out of iCloud on my Apple TV and logged back in, and I redid all the automations with 16.2

 

[Kleber20]

Will this update finally allow me to run “hey siri -run x shortcut” via HomePod? They never worked… and that was the only reason I bought the HomePod xD

 

[String]

I only have one eve energy so I’m not representative but the update went fine and has been operating as before.

 

[kitKAC]

My Home update went fine, and things are definitely working better since I did. One scene that I always activated using Siri would complete but Siri would always complain that some devices weren't working, since the upgrade I no longer get that response.

 

[dwaite]

Apple needs a new SVP of “Home” who actually cares and can manage a division focused on Apple TV, HomeKit, the HomePods and new AirPort routers.

"and new AirPort routers"

…now you're just asking for ponies.

 

[kitKAC]

Will this update finally allow me to run “hey siri -run x shortcut” via HomePod? They never worked… and that was the only reason I bought the HomePod xD

Running Siri shortcuts via HomePod works for me, but it depends on what the shortcut does.

 

[N1jl]

I upgrade a while back, unfortunately it is not yet compatible on OSX Monterey. Works perfectly well on Ventura.

 

[CyberDavis]

Oh well, hopefully my setup will stay stable until the next update.
The new architecture certainly did not do me any favours!

 

[anodibu]

I was about to update to the new architecture when I saw the option no longer was there. I searched the forum to see if anybody had the same problem, should’ve checked the front page first 😂

 

[cromagnontech]

The update process was a bit of a nightmare for me, especially with invitations failing and other family members being locked out. I ended up recreating the home completely and re-adding accessories.

Has been great since, and noticeably more 'snappy' and reliable.

My guess is that it has been pulled because the migration from old to new isn't working properly for many people, not because the new infrastructure itself is particularly buggy ... so folks who have migrated already and got it working should be OK?

 

[Powerbooky]

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. 😒

Losing connections is more likely to be an issue with the network itself. Wifi AP not correctly handling mDNS broadcasts, too much interference from neighbouring Wifi or even worse... too much Wifi AP's in the house incorrectly configured (often the case with ISP provided crap).

 

[dwaite]

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. 😒

Losing pairing is something you should contact support about - that should only happen if one side or the other resets all home settings (e.g. factory reset on HomePod, remove home in the Home app).

Losing Wifi until power cycle is unfortunately pretty common with smart home devices, although I've only had issues there with the previous generation HomePods from Apple (and not the Minis).

 

[NightFox]

I've certainly found that with the upgrade, responsiveness is massively improved. However, over the last few days I've had more and more issues where automations randomly haven't run. It worries me that Apple pulling this is an indication that it's not going to be a quick fix, yet I'm now stuck with it with no regression option.

 

[MLVC]

Apart from some lags in editing/setting automations it has been working very well for me since the first beta. General responsiveness is much better, especially for the cameras. Guess I was/am lucky.

 

[NightFox]

How do you know if your HomeKit is that new version?

Apart from just iOS upgrades, you'll have been given a very clear option to upgrade HomeKit - it's only if you've accepted that (which you would have known you were doing, it wasn't just a standard pop-up box - see the pictures in the article) that you'll be affected.

 

[Burger Thing]

I hope because of this whole upgrade debacle there will be consequences and Tim Cook is lighting up some fire under Craig's rear. Apple needs to get its act together and finally take Homekit seriously.

 

[hagar]

I upgrade a while back, unfortunately it is not yet compatible on OSX Monterey. Works perfectly well on Ventura.

You can remove the word “yet” from your statement.

Apple will rather go bust than porting this back to Monterey. Want to control your new smart home from your computer? Buy a new one. 💵💰🤑

 

[Cristim74]

I have updated to the new home architecture a week ago and so far everything seams to be working fine.
Actually I haven't seen much of a difference since upgraded.

LE: Actually there is a difference; I lost access to HomeKit from one old iPad and one old Mac.

 

[Codestud]

I have two HomePods, and Apple TV and an iPhone with a number of smart plugs and Homebridge that allows me to control my Nest thermostat. No issues so far.

 

[m_emelchenkov]

Better later than never. The migration process is very buggy. Too much users affected by these bugs, I think. Multiple restarts of Home Hub resolves them. But it was never announced by Apple that we should do it.

 

[NightFox]

Anyone using the new architecture with Homebridge? And by any chance with the older version 1.5.1 (the newer doesn't work on Synology)?

Homebridge, yes, but unfortunately I'm using the latest version so I don't know about 1.5.1. Homebridge itself seems to work as it should (I've got plugins running on 6 child bridges), issues just seem to relate to the actual HomeKit side of things, e.g. automations not running.

 

[NightFox]

I’d suggest you take a backup like someone pointed out in the comments and then recreate your home.

I think that was referring to making a backup if you were using the third-party 'Controller' app as your HomeKit interface rather than Apple's Home app.

 

[PsykX]

And Matter is based on the HomeKit architecture. Scary, isn't it?

 

[mosher]

Homekit and Home app implementation is among the worst things apple ever done.
Since begin never worked as intended