Apple Reminding Users of Pending Home App Upgrade Requirement

[MacRumors]

Back in late 2022 and early 2023, Apple rolled out a new architecture for its Apple Home platform to deliver improved performance and compatibility, although the rollout came with some hiccups that forced Apple to pull and later re-release the upgrade.

Three years later, Apple is now on the verge of ending support for the old version of the Home architecture, which may result in access to the entire Home platform being blocked for some users if they do not or cannot update. The deadline for updating was originally announced as fall 2025, but in early November, Apple announced that it was pushing back the deadline to February 10, 2026.

It appears Apple will be sticking with that deadline, as the company is sending out fresh reminder emails today to users who have yet to upgrade to the new version of Apple Home.

This email serves as your second reminder that support for the earlier version of Apple Home will end next month on February 10, 2026.

If you do not update to this new version of Apple Home, your access to your home within the Home app might be blocked, accessories and automations might not work as expected, and you will not receive important security fixes and performance improvements. Updating to the new version of Apple Home can also enable new features, such as guest access, support for robot vacuum cleaners, Activity History, and more.

Users can update to the new version of Apple Home within the Software Update section of Home Settings in the Home app. If you have already completed these steps, or "This home and all accessories are up to date" is shown in Software Update, then you are already on the current version and there is nothing more you need to do.

Notably, the new version of Apple Home requires a minimum of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, and watchOS 9.2, and older devices that have not been or cannot be updated will lose access to the Apple Home after updating. This requirement has not sat well with some users who may use older devices as dedicated Home control devices, so many of these users have put off upgrading their Home architecture for as long as possible, but it now appears the reprieve is coming to an end.

Article Link: Apple Reminding Users of Pending Home App Upgrade Requirement

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

An iPhone 7 is still a great phone that would be super useful for things like this.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I got this notification email and I've opened the Home app on every device I can think to do it on and none of them have the "Software Update" button that is listed in Step 3.

More "lovely" software from Apple.
😐

On your iPhone, iPad, or Mac: Open the Home app Tap or click on the three dots in the upper-right and navigate to Home Settings Tap or click on Software Update Tap or click Update Now, then follow the prompts. All of the homes that you own are updated at the same time.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

An iPhone 7 is still a great phone that would be super useful for things like this.

Theoretically, sure.
But given how smart home devices by their nature are Internet connected, and that the iPhone 7 is now four software versions behind with only occasional security updates, I wouldn’t trust it.
I’d still use it for many other functions, an iPod, a camera… but certainly not a smart home controller.

 

[WilliApple]

I’m confused why they can’t just automatically update the home?

 

[Onelifenofear]

I am shocked if anyone actually using Home hasn't done this in 4 years. it is WAY more stable. Rock soild for me

I am guessing that means some new home Products are coming soon.

HomePod Mini
Apple TV Pro
This Home station thing
The better Siri is coming in 26.4 ( predicted for march )

One thing that seems to have been completely forgotten is Siri in 3rd Party Devices... which I think is ONLY in Ecobee thermostats and Sonos Soundbar?

 

[jz0309]

I've been trying to update the home app several months ago, but, it requires iCloud sync to be turned on. I do not have any devices that use the home app, so iCloud sync is turned off.
So Apple, just update that (for me useless) app and be done with it ...

 

[klasma]

I’m confused why they can’t just automatically update the home?

Because not all client devices are compatible with the new version.

 

[Onelifenofear]

I’m confused why they can’t just automatically update the home?

It has specific requiremtents... they let the old architecture run parallel for 4 years.

• Device Requirements: All users and devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac, HomePod, Apple TV) must run the latest software to update.
• Home Hubs: HomePod or Apple TV 4K are required; iPad is no longer supported as a Home Hub.

 

[Onelifenofear]

I've been trying to update the home app several months ago, but, it requires iCloud sync to be turned on. I do not have any devices that use the home app, so iCloud sync is turned off.
So Apple, just update that (for me useless) app and be done with it ...

It won't affect you... it's the Backend architecture on the Home hubs. Not specifically the home app on a device.

 

[thelion7]

Back in late 2022 and early 2023, Apple rolled out a new architecture for its Apple Home platform to deliver improved performance and compatibility, although the rollout came with some hiccups that forced Apple to pull and later re-release the upgrade.

Three years later, Apple is now on the verge of ending support for the old version of the Home architecture, which may result in access to the entire Home platform being blocked for some users if they do not or cannot update. The deadline for updating was originally announced as fall 2025, but in early November, Apple announced that it was pushing back the deadline to February 10, 2026.

It appears Apple will be sticking with that deadline, as the company is sending out fresh reminder emails today to users who have yet to upgrade to the new version of Apple Home.Users can update to the new version of Apple Home within the Software Update section of Home Settings in the Home app. If you have already completed these steps, or "This home and all accessories are up to date" is shown in Software Update, then you are already on the current version and there is nothing more you need to do.

Notably, the new version of Apple Home requires a minimum of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, and watchOS 9.2, and older devices that have not been or cannot be updated will lose access to the Apple Home after updating. This requirement has not sat well with some users who may use older devices as dedicated Home control devices, so many of these users have put off upgrading their Home architecture for as long as possible, but it now appears the reprieve is coming to an end.

Article Link: Apple Reminding Users of Pending Home App Upgrade Requirement

I upgraded back when they first launched the new architecture (prior to them pulling it for a bit)

Safe to say although my home set up is reasonable my HomePods are a let down.

God forbid how bad it would be if I stayed on the old architecture.

 

[thelion7]

I've been trying to update the home app several months ago, but, it requires iCloud sync to be turned on. I do not have any devices that use the home app, so iCloud sync is turned off.
So Apple, just update that (for me useless) app and be done with it ...

Turn it on, update and then turn it back off?

 

[masterleep]

I did this, and then the smart thermostat became dumb, and never recovered. Oh well.

 

[nostaws]

I updated a while ago and my Homebridge setup kept working with little to no problem. I share my home via HomeKit with eight other family members and I did have to touch all their phones to ensure they had the latest updates.

I bring all my Matter accessories directly to HomeKit and anything that’s not matter goes through Homebridge.

I do feel like homekit is a lot like Screentime and that it can be a little disjointed and clunky at times especially when sharing with other accounts. Add me to the voices of people that instead of seeing a ton new stuff added to iOS, make the apps we do have more functional and less buggy.

 

[Nada Ting]

High tech is becoming way too high maintenance.

 

[19callum93]

So I’m all goood?

 

[Radeon85]

I updated when it first came out years ago before they temporarily pulled it, it's been working fine for me. I use a combination of Apple TV's (1080p to 4K versions) 5 HomePod Minis so I can use voice control in each room mainly for my lights, Hue, SwitchBot, Netatmo, Tado and Qingping Air Monitor Lite.

Everything plays flawlessly together along with a few automations, I would have included Eufy in that but Apple hasn't updated the pathetic 1080p video quality limit to 4K yet which is insane in 2026, that needs updating ASAP.

 

[now i see it]

yet another reason to avoid HomeKit. Its going to happen again in the future.. gotta keep buying new
iPhones until you die of old age

 

[librarianscott]

My old HomePod original version has a version 26.2 update it is doing right now. No idea if this is a beta, but it claims it is "performance and stability improvements." I used the Mac Home app to update it.

 

[Tagbert]

I got this notification email and I've opened the Home app on every device I can think to do it on and none of them have the "Software Update" button that is listed in Step 3.

More "lovely" software from Apple.
😐

Mine doesn’t have an upgrade button either but that’s because I already upgraded more than a year ago. Which Home do you have?

 

[Tagbert]

yet another reason to avoid HomeKit. Its going to happen again in the future.. gotta keep buying new
iPhones until you die of old age

This was an architecture change. Much more than the normal software update. Most users could just click “update” and be fine. It’s only if you were really invested in the old setup but never upgraded all of the components that this would be a problem. Not really any reason to avoid HomeKit now.

 

[harryson]

I haven’t upgraded since I’ve been waiting forever for a new Apple TV to be released. Using iPad now which isn’t supported anymore. Hopefully new Apple TV is any day now….

 

[loopy123]

I "upgraded" fairly early on and there were a few glitches especially with family sharing - I had to "delete" my home and start fresh and re-add all my accessories but its solid now.

 

[loopy123]

My old HomePod original version has a version 26.2 update it is doing right now. No idea if this is a beta, but it claims it is "performance and stability improvements." I used the Mac Home app to update it.

Everyone is getting confused between "Software updates" to , say, the HomePod and the HomeKit "upgrade"

You will only see "Upgrade" if you have a really old HomeKit setup.

 

[ipedro]

For what it's worth, I had been having issues with lag and unresponsive devices and the switch to the new system immediately fixed them. I updated as soon as it became available and I'm quite happy with the most stable smart home system I've had in the 20 years I've been tinkering with smart home devices.

Siri is another thing altogether. I've pretty much given up. I cannot wait until March.