Apple Releases tvOS 16.3.1 and HomePod 16.3.1 Software Updates

[Arran]

Probably because everything is still broken in 16.3.1 and they’re in panic mode.

It does feel like panic mode, doesn’t it?

When the latest fix just breaks more things.

 

[Arran]

All I want is the remote fixed in the new tvOS. Pain in the ass with multiple disconnects each week. Should have never upgraded my ATV in the living room and main bedroom as there is basically no improvement from my 2021 ATV.

I hear you. Had the same problem. Nothing more infuriating when you want to chill-out after a long day and the TV’s on the fritz.

Just fyi, 16.3 fixed my ATV 2021 remote and it’s still ok with 16.3.1.

 

[GeoffreyT]

Hey, Siri, 16.3.1 didn’t fix it. Hey, Siri, 16.3.1 didn’t fix it.

 

[matrix6028]

Thanks!

Unfortunately, same here. There was a person that replied to my comment yesterday with how they fixed it. Unfortunately, it took removing all devices from the home, deleting the home, adding new home, and setting each device up one by one. I’m gonna hold out a bit and hope that the new architecture releases again and works properly. Post quoted above.

Just removed my home within the Home APP and added a new one. Still not luck with music automations with the HomePod mini has the hub.

 

[Fordski]

Just removed my home within the Home APP and added a new one. Still not luck with music automations with the HomePod mini has the hub.

Did the same thing yesterday and it didn't fix anything. Currently cannot setup HomePods (continuously configuring) and my Apple Watch home app says no home connected so I can't use Siri on my watch to control anything). I really hope this gets fixed soon as I can't leave my HomePods plugged in as Siri commands related to Home Devices such as lights etc. fail when handled by the HomePod.

 

[TheMIgnite]

A nightmare update. Apple TV+ buffering like I’m using dialup. It’s the only app on Apple TV buffering. Remote lag also a massive issue.

Anyone with advice will be much appreciated.

 

[haincha]

This update does seem to have improved the remote connectivity issues. I've not encountered it on either of our TV's since updating. One of my OG HomePods in a Stereo setup got stuck in an install loop for a little over three hours. The other HomePod updated in like ten minutes. Siri does seem to be responding to commands without saying "That device is not currently responding".

 

[Morac]

One of my HomePod Minis is now stuck in Not Responding after upgrading to 16.3.1. If I unplug it and plug it back in it will become available for a brief period and then go not responding again. It responds to request and can even forward requests to my iPhone, but i can’t set timers or alarms on it from Home.

 

[Arran]

So my outdoor sensors just went nuts about 10 minutes ago. Constant notifications every 2-5 seconds about motion detected. Thing is, I don't have any of them configured in HomeKit to notify me about motion. Turn on lights, yes. But never notify.

I had to power down my phone and watch to make it stop.

WTH apple?

 

[Morac]

One of my HomePod Minis is now stuck in Not Responding after upgrading to 16.3.1. If I unplug it and plug it back in it will become available for a brief period and then go not responding again. It responds to request and can even forward requests to my iPhone, but i can’t set timers or alarms on it from Home.

Okay I seem to have gotten it to say responding. I had to power down all my home hubs and my iPhone which is ridiculous as I’ve never had to do that before.

How is this better than 16.3?

 

[T5BRICK]

Yeah, I’m back to having to ask twice for HomeKit requests on my OG HomePod. Asking Siri about things like playing music and weather updates are fine. If I ask Siri to turn off the lights from my phone it works 99% of the time.

I did find that rebooting the HomePods does fix the issue for a short time, but it comes back within an hour or so.

 

[matrix6028]

I added an AppleTV has my hub instead of just the HomePod Mini - all music automations now work! Something is going on with automations with the HomePod Mini - APPLE!

 

[Morac]

Yet, it feels like the Apple TVs never update on their own as I always have to manually force the updates.

I actually went to update my ATV 4K yesterday but it had already updated which was a first. My HomePod Minis had downloaded the update, but hadn’t actually installed them.

 

[Morac]

HKSV recording is still FUBARed. Worked great up until 16.1 and now it almost never works.

Fortunately I only have one HKSV camera. I’ll just stick with the “it just works” Blink and Ring cameras.

 

[RoTAM]

Ah man.. Have gone for so long with no tvOS update dramas and thought “It’s only 16.3 To 16.3.1.. What could possibly go wrong?”

…and now all the Connected Apps (except one for some reason?) that worked via the tv app are no longer connected. AND they have disappeared from the “Connected Apps” on ALL my devices so I can’t reconnect them at all.

I would always use the top deck for Continue Watching but it’s now broken because of this ☹️

 

[RoTAM]

Ah man.. Have gone for so long with no tvOS update dramas and thought “It’s only 16.3 To 16.3.1.. What could possibly go wrong?”

…and now all the Connected Apps (except one for some reason?) that worked via the tv app are no longer connected. AND they have disappeared from the “Connected Apps” on ALL my devices so I can’t reconnect them at all.

I would always use the top deck for Continue Watching but it’s now broken because of this ☹️

Fixed… So I guess in the (probably unlikely) event someone else has the same issue after updating: All I needed to do was contact Apple Support (who couldn’t help), grumble about it quietly for 12 hours, and then magically it fixes itself 🙂👍 Easy.

 

[sparky672]

It does feel like panic mode, doesn’t it?

When the latest fix just breaks more things.

tvOS 16.3.1 or 16.3.2 broke my Apple TV 4K working as a Home hub for the past year. It still "appears" like a Home hub, but my Schlage Sense lock which depends on a Home hub (BLE) for remote access is ... "this accessory is not responding". It now only works when my iPhone is within BT range of the lock.

• deleted lock, factory reset, and re-added
• deleted/re-added Apple TV from/to HomeKit
• logged out/in of iCloud on Apple TV
• multiple Apple TV reboots
• multiple lock reboots
• multiple iPhone reboots, as if...
• various stupid things like logging out/in Apple TV from/to Wifi
• a bunch of crap I don't even remember
• moved Apple TV to within 5 feet of lock - LOL

I stopped short of deleting my Home from HomeKit as that would be a nightmare with no guarantee. I also stopped myself from downgrading my Apple TV to 16.3 because of having to restore all settings from scratch. (And then not knowing when to resume updates.)

Absolutely nothing I've done has been able to restore remote access to this lock, which was working fine up through a week or so ago. I like my Apple TV 4K for what it is, but one of the primary factors of purchasing it was for turning it into a Home hub. Now it's been rendered useless for that.

At this point, fingers crossed tvOS 16.4 will take me back to at least the same functionality as 16.3.

And I feel like I got off really easy compared to some of the stories in this thread.

 

[Morac]

Is the Apple TV the only Home hub you have?

If not, you can sometimes fix things by unplugging all your home hubs and just plugging one back in. In this case the Apple TV. Rebooting your router while the Home hubs are unplugged can also help sometimes.

 

[sparky672]

Is the Apple TV the only Home hub you have?

If not, you can sometimes fix things by unplugging all your home hubs and just plugging one back in. In this case the Apple TV. Rebooting your router while the Home hubs are unplugged can also help sometimes.

Yes, the Apple TV is my only Home hub and the primary reason I purchased it.

My router reboots automatically every week, and I've rebooted the ATV many times.

However, I still took your advice.

• Unplugged Apple TV from power
• Unplugged router - plugged in router
• Waited for router to restart
• Plugged in Apple TV power

I am presently testing it by my iPhone with BT and Wifi disabled. So far, it's working. Thank you for the suggestion!

Unbelievable how that could even work... just wow... such a lack of robustness.

EDIT: Not resolved. Solution only lasted less than 1 day... then problem returned.