HomeKit iOS 16 and HomeKit issues with Siri

[x-evil-x]

Is anybody else having issues since iOS 16 and siri not being able to launch certain scenes and devices like before?

siri not working for my doorbell to lock it.
siri asking me about a device called living room that worked before fine but not doesn’t understand and asks if it’s two separate lights instead of an actual device

 

[Thomas Weber]

Something like that. I am having multiple issues after the new software updates.

• My HomePod minis in the living room are sporadically not working as a stereo pair (only the left side is playing audio, but I can pause it with the right side)
• Siri takes super long to respond to requests...if at all. Mostly it replies "oh, this takes too long"
• also the responsiveness of volume adjustments via iPhone is terrible and showing a very recognisable delay
• selecting and de-selecting multiple speakers fails regularly

I was thinking of getting three more HomePod minis for my other rooms but that won't happen now I guess.

 

[Marco Klobas]

I noticed long delays or complete faults executing some scenes after the iOS/tvOS updates.

I somehow solved by restarting the Apple TV.

 

[andrewsugg]

All of my Homekit connected devices have crashed. Despite being connected for Airplay TV speakers, and to play Apple Music, my Homepods will not accept commands from the Home app, and all connected devices (Lifx, Hue, Wemo) either show "updating" or "no response." Attempted workarounds have not worked. The last resort suggested by the Apple rep was to delete the Home app, and thus delete everything associated with it. The Apple rep wasn't 100% certain this would even fix this issue. Supposedly Apple engineers are working on an open case, but who knows when something like this will be resolved. No schedules or scenes work now. No control of a few lights as they were all set up in Homekit, and not in a native app. Useless, and worthless all after the iOS16 update for phone & homepod. Was working perfectly before. If anyone else has experienced this, please reply and let me know anything that might be helpful to resolve this. Thank you.

 

[dotme]

The last resort suggested by the Apple rep was to delete the Home app, and thus delete everything associated with it.

Going nuclear is really a last resort and if I did that, I'd spend the next 10 hours setting everything back up. So if you haven't followed that rep's suggestion yet, I wouldn't...

Everything you describe almost sounds network related. I would first make sure all HomePod and AppleTV devices that are hubs are running the latest OS, and the same with your iPhone. Then, I would power-cycle all wifi routers/access points, followed by HomePods and AppleTV, then finally power cycle the iPhone. Wait 3 mins after the phone boots back up, open the Home app, and see if things look any better.

 

[andrewsugg]

Thank you "dot me." I received this reply from Starling support today. They are 3rd party that offers a bridge to bring in Nest devices to the Home platform. They suggested this: "We don’t think this issue is caused by any specific device (cameras or otherwise). HomeKit devices are isolated from each other and the HomeKit back end itself (controlling remote access and so forth) isn’t really connected to the devices themselves. It’s designed this way so that issues with devices can’t impact system functionality as a whole. So, we do think that the issue is something getting stuck or corrupted on the Apple TV. This would explain everything that you’re experiencing. When you arrive home, you can try restarting the Apple TV, signing out of iCloud on the Apple TV and then back in (this is probably the step that will fix things), and do further ‘in person’ troubleshooting." Dot me, I will try their method first, and then try yours next. I don't plan to go nuclear anytime soon which, like you, would require 10 hours of setting things back up. I've spent so much time tweaking my current setup, that I hate for it to be bombed by deleting the app. Regardless this is all too frustrating, and clearly has something to do with the update I just did. Thank you.

 

[dotme]

You can try restarting the Apple TV, signing out of iCloud on the Apple TV and then back in...

If that's your only hub, then it's a good step. Doing that can force the AppleTV to reload the HomeKit data from iCloud. Order should be: Log out of iCloud on AppleTV, then go to System and restart it. Once restarted, log back in. Good luck!

 

[andrewsugg]

Well my Apple TV isn't my only hub available in my home. I have a 2nd ATV in a bedroom, and a total of 3 Homepods. I have an ATV & two HomePod minis in my 2nd home, which is associated with this Home account, although designated as a 2nd location. Should I just go with your procedure or still give the first one from Starling a shot? Thanks.

 

[andrewsugg]

Unfortunately neither worked. I was “connected” for a couple of hours after going through your suggestions but then everything started dropping out again. During that time I was able to reset my HomePods and get them so they can connect via Airplay properly. I have one device at my 2nd home (Apple TV) that is a part of my Home app, but it is set up separately within the app. That AppleTV has not been updated to TVOS16. I can’t update it remotely. Don’t know if that could be the issue or if Apple is going to have to ultimately resolve this. If you or anyone else has any other recommendation of a work around, please share. Thank you.

 

[dotme]

Unfortunately neither worked.

Sorry to hear that. Back to the network then... It should be "flat" meaning that Wifi 2.4, WiFi 5 and Ethernet should all be treated by the networking gear as ONE network, no filtering between them. The fact that you state that everything initially works, but then "started dropping out again" is interesting though. Do they all drop at once? Can you elaborate on that? Can you also verify that you have only ONE device handing out IP addresses (DHCP server) on the network? No chance you have multiple DHCP servers by accident? Because that could also explain this behavior.

 

[andrewsugg]

Hi. Thank you again for your time and for sharing your knowledge. Yes, I only have one device assigning IP addresses. I believe it is my primary router that is connected to my modem, and not the modem itself. There is a setting between them (can't remember) that prevents both from assigning IP addresses. I believe that Wifi 2.4 & Wifi 5.0 and ethernet are operating as one network as UPnP is selcted on my Google Home managed Google Nest devices under advanced settings. I believe they all drop at once, but on the app it will revert to "updating" and eventually "no response" over several minutes as I'm looking at the screen. I will note that my schedules on Hue, set up through the Home app originally did fire this morning as they should have. But the app is seemingly not communicating. I changed the room name for one of my HomePods last night, thinking that Home was finally operating, but I must have made the change after it had disconnected. Although I selected the new room, it is showing in the old room this morning. Just FYI all 3 HomePod were reset to factory settings and set back up last night. They may have been communicating with the Home app at that time, but they are not now. I'm gathering that my one ATV using the previous tvOS version (can't update remotely) isn't contributing to this issue?? I can send a neighbor over to the cabin this weekend, and ask them to do a manual update. Automatic updates never happen as the device sleeps when we aren't there, and I suppose can't. If you need me to check any specific settings, I'm happy to do so.

 

[Karma*Police]

My homepods that were working perfectly fine no longer work with my ATV and I can no longer airplay anything to them after upgrading to iOS 16. They’re also not pairing properly… even after I pair them as stereo speakers, only one works at a time. I swear, every couple of years Apple always does something to brick these things. So annoying.

If anyone has a solution or hears back from Apple on this issue, please share.

 

[Thomas Weber]

What a mess…worst thing IMO is that after those “update related issues” happen to an otherwise perfectly running set up, the question is redirected to your network or other devices.
“Have you checked your WIFI set up?” Etc etc

 

[applwh*re]

I am also having issues with the iOS 16.0 Update, nothing works correctly or consistently since then (although I can control devices from Mac OS 12.6 on a 14" MBP), automations don't run, and when I can control from my mac it is incredibly slow. Interestingly I have no issues controlling devices responsively with the partner apps (Lutron, Hue, Nest etc.) it seems to be an issue with Homekit acting as the base for all these commands. For networking, I have ubiquiti system that is rock solid, and I would be able to see from there if it was an issue with the hub(s) connections or some multicast type issue, all smarthome devices are on the same network.

The home kit widget on the lock screen no longer loads, and sometimes the Home app is just a cropped view of the background image and is totally unresponsive.

Any ideas?


Device List if useful:
- Lutron Caseta Switches, Mix of Standard and the PD-5NE for ELV Track Heads (Firware 8.8)
- Starling Hub for Nest Control (Firmware 11.6)
- Hue HUB (Firmware 1.53.1953xxxxx)
- 2021 4K ATV as Hub (Updated to TV OS 16.0 (20J373)
- iPhone 14 Pro Running iOS 16.0.1 (All other phones in my house are running iOS16

 

[aMmOOooR]

Yeah, it's been a circus since 16.0 updates. Where to begin?
Generally, a lot of the times Siri doesn't get it right. Doesn't complete the scene, although she says "All Set" and "no it's not all set dear, parts of the house are still dark honey!" Or activates the wrong scene even if she heard me correctly (sometimes on the iPhone I can read she heard me correctly and still activated another scene!) .. A lot of the times Siri answers me on more than one device, sometimes my iPhone, sometimes the iPad, and a lot of times on different HomePods at the same time.. Really even I only have one in the office, sometimes the one in the bedroom (which is accross the hall) is triggered as well as the one in the office.. What? I can't even hear what she's saying back. They both perform, lets say changing the light, they both keep working, and they both do the same thing! Never happened on earlier versions for me. Also sometimes I get the "Aha" or "Ummhmm" thing after she's got my message and already starting doing what I asked her to do. Also several times I had to repeat my command a few times before she's convinced it's something that she should do, she simply lights up, hears it all, and turns off like she's never heard anything, no comment, no replies, nothing. And it becomes a power-struggle, I keep repeating myself and she shuts down on me, and I repeat all over again with a tone of "You'll do this, whether you like it or not!" :-D

So, I'm waiting for the new updates. And until these arrive, I'm currently mainly preferring to use the Home app on whichever device I'm on. Manual tapping works much better for the time being.

 

[themick4u]

Me too, new iphone 14 pro max, ios 16.0.1.... Arriving home automations do not work at all

 

[andrewsugg]

Has anyone been in communication with Apple Support in the last few days about any ongoing/identified issues with Homekit/Home app? Schedule 1 (I have basically 2) has failed for the last couple of days. I can control the devices via the Home app, but no firing at the appointed time. They are all Wemo devices. Schedule 2 includes Wemo devices, Philips Hue and Lifx ones. Schedule 1 is exclusively Wemo devices. Schedule 2 has not failed for the last few days. Any ideas? I have to admit when these things happen, the notion of only setting up new devices directly with Homekit (add accessory), instead of starting with the native app makes the process more difficult. If I've got them in a native app to fall back on, I can turn on or off. When the item is only set up in Homekit (like new Wemo devices seem to be), then when something does go wrong, there is no way to attemtpt to control it.

 

[dotme]

Schedule 1 (I have basically 2) has failed for the last couple of days. I can control the devices via the Home app, but no firing at the appointed time.

If the "Test this Automation" button works in HomeKit when you are in the Automation properties, but the automation doesn't fire on schedule, try editing the automation, and simply slide the "Enable This Automation" toggle to off.

Wait a good 30 seconds with it in the off position, then turn it back on and wait a few seconds before pressing "Done"

This should prompt HomePods and other hubs to "refresh" their HomeKit data from iCloud. I assume the automation doesn't have any other conditions like, for example, presence? As you can see above, some automations that have presence as a trigger or condition don't seem to be reliable for some people under iOS 16

 

[andrewsugg]

Thank you. I will try this tonight. This schedule is just a simple time of day one.

 

[x-evil-x]

Anybody have a fix for coming home automations/proximity based?
ive tried deleting the automation. Trying to do them in shortcuts and then back to homekit and nothing seems to be working.

 

[RowellE]

I have one of my lamps set to turn on at 6am via automation but ever since the iOS16 update, it no longer works. 😭😡🤬

 

[howing]

same boat, some timer works some don't, no idea what's going on, but mine failed after TVOS 16 update

 

[StumpyBloke]

I hope all of you with these problems are reporting them to Apple? It’s the only thing we can do. They have absolutely destroyed HomeKit over the last couple of years and along with Siri is the most unreliable piece of garbage Apple have ever released. Please do get these issues reported.

 

[MiddKid]

Cautiously optimistic this morning...
Since iOS 16 my HomeKit devices have been a disaster. My Sonos Arc sound bar has come on by itself playing a random playlist multiple times (and Sonos says it was started via AirPlay). A lamp in my daughter's room on a Meross switch randomly has turned on at night while she's sleeping (again, multiple days in a row). Then the most consistent issue is that I have outside landscape lighting across 3 outlets. Each "sunset" they turn on. Each "sunrise" they turn off. Since iOS16 they all turn on just fine at sunset. Then in the morning only one of the three is off (which makes no sense as they are on the same automation...and two of those three are even the same device)!

I was considering deleting my Home and starting over last night (wasn't looking forward to that) when I went into my Home Settings. I noted that under Software Update it said "Automatic" but I clicked on it anyway. On the next screen I noted that my HomePod Mini had its update to 16 pending. I had manually updated the various AppleTVs but I had forgotten about the HomePod. I hit the update button and this morning all my landscape lights turned off at sunrise. MAYBE this fixed it? Fingers crossed.

 

[TVreporter]

This thread and the endless list of issues is reinforcing my decision not to update to ios 16 just yet.

My HomeKit setup is finally working flawlessly - I don't want to jinx it.

Besides, I don't think I'll be a fan of HK's new layout.