HomeKit macOS Home app/widget being hobbled?

[kkclstuff]

Since macOS15.1 (maybe iOS18.1?) my Home app and desktop Home widget has lost certain functions/functionality.

• Theres no longer a 'HomePod accessory' in macOS Home widget

• HomePod no longer has playback controls

• TV no longer turns toggles on and off by pressing the widget— it now opens the Home app from which you must then open the window to turn off (this kills the whole point of a widget toggle button!)

*NOTE: these functions ARE STILL AVAILABLE from iOS on my iPhone and iPad Pro, without any addition hoop-jumping—"It just works". (I have removed and re-added these accessories from macOS, including restarts to no avail.

So the question is WHY? Why are these functions changing/removed for macOS. The Home (HomeKit) ecosystem should be identical across all platforms—and they were until recently. While HomeKit use to be 'buggy and a bit cumbersome' in the past, at least the user experience was predictable and the same across all devices. Bring back the same functionally to macOS Home app and widgets.


Love to hear from others who have seen/experinced the same—or if these functions are still there please prove me wrong with some pics.

 

[kkclstuff]

• TV no longer turns toggles on and off by pressing the widget— it now opens the Home app from which you must then open the window to turn off (this kills the whole point of a widget toggle button!)

well, in iOS18.3 the TV 'button' is working again without opening the home.app.


Though, still no love for homepod playback controls in the Home.widget