PSA: Apple Ending Support for Old HomeKit Architecture in Fall 2025, Upgrade Before Then

[MacRumors]

Apple will officially end support for the previous version of Apple Home in the fall of 2025, according to an updated HomeKit support document. Apple says that users will need to update to the new HomeKit architecture by then to avoid interruptions with accessories and automations.

The updated HomeKit architecture was initially introduced in March 2023 alongside iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, and macOS Ventura 13.3, but there were some issues with stability that may have prevented some users from upgrading. In fact, it actually came out briefly in December 2022, but there were issues with missing devices, home sharing invitations that didn't work, problems with HomeKit Secure Video, and more, so Apple removed it until 2023.

Since then, Apple has fixed the HomeKit architecture and the problems have been addressed, but it is worth noting that the architecture breaks support for the Home app on devices running older versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

Users will have to upgrade by the end of 2025, though, in order to keep using HomeKit. The upgrade does bring some tangible features like guest access, support for robot vacuum cleaners, and Activity History. Apple says it also provides faster, more reliable performance, especially for smart homes with a lot of HomeKit and Matter accessories installed.

The upgrade can be installed in the Home app by tapping on the More button, choosing Home Settings, and then tapping on Software Update.

Article Link: PSA: Apple Ending Support for Old HomeKit Architecture in Fall 2025, Upgrade Before Then

 

[jz0309]

I have no HomeKit accessories, automations, nothing, and have iCloud turned off. Yet since 18.4 I get a nagging "
1" to upgrade oil the settings app - anyone know how to turn the nagging off?

 

[JosephAW]

Good thing Apple will be releasing new HomeKit support for older iOS devices.

 

[WilliApple]

I was an early adopter of the HomeKit architecture and got to say, I notice no difference from the old one. You guys are safe to upgrade now to the new one if you’re holding off for whatever reason.

 

[xpxp2002]

I was an early adopter of the HomeKit architecture and got to say, I notice no difference from the old one. You guys are safe to upgrade now to the new one if you’re holding off for whatever reason.

The new architecture had tons of issues with my August locks, causing them to stop responding on a frequent basis until they were power cycled by hand by popping a battery.

I ended up replacing the locks because it was so bad.

 

[Think|Different]

This is not such a big deal, TBH. Truly makes it seem much more impactful than it is.

 

[house2000]

I wonder if Apple will do a one-time update for those with the last final generation of iPod Touches?

We have kids who use these (too young for cell phones), but the iPod Touches are on an old iOS that Apple has not updated (and thus the original HomeKit version). If forced to update HomeKit this fall 2025, then our kid's iPod Touches won't work anymore with their HomePods.

 

[tennisproha]

The new architecture really needs to be optimized on Apple Watch. It is so slow

 

[CarlJ]

Just in case anyone is concerned, this is not a switch over to Matter or some other new communications protocol for the devices themselves, it's simply rearranging things so that most communication goes through a home hub of some sort, so that the hub will keep track of what is on/off/etc, and when your iPhone/iPad/etc. needs to know, it asks the hub and gets all the answers at once, rather than asking each individual device in turn.

I was a bit concerned a few months ago when this came up, wondering if some very old HomeKit switches would have problems with the change, but it all worked fine (yes, apparently there were some issues when the new architecture rolled out, but those seem to have been cleared up long ago).

 

[Lurker-Monkey]

It doesn’t Matter.

 

[EightyEight]

Is there a list of (good) products that support HomeKit Secure Video?

 

[rforno]

It doesn’t Matter.

I see what you did there.

No wait, I didn't ... Homekit turned on the Hue lamp too dimly to see anything again.

 

[mountain.spider]

Dumped it after it kept making duplicate smart lights on Homekit (multiple occasions) Nothing fixed it.Be working fine and than randomly double everything.

 

[JarvisMeier]

Is there a list of (good) products that support HomeKit Secure Video?

Any camera of you are running Scrypted

 

[sandman42]

Is there a way to tell if you’re already upgraded? I purposely delayed upgrading when this came out, and don’t recall ever actually doing it, but when I click “Home Settings” there’s no “Software Update” selection now. Mebbe it happened by default with some iOS or hardware upgrade.

 

[Radeon85]

I upgraded to the new HomeKit architecture from day 1, I have quite a few devices added from different companies and so far everything has been working flawlessly together, automations as well.

Bridges I have paired, along with 2x Qingping air monitor lite. Some devices running matter, some not.

Philips Hue - 59 devices
Switchbot 2 - 3 devices
Tado for my central heating - 13 devices
Netatmo weather station - 3 devices

Siri has been behaving pretty well lately which is a nice change, whether I ask to turn the lights on/off, heating on/off or adjust the temperature, check the weather station, or even ask Siri to open and close my blinds and run automations.
So far this year, Siri has been 99% reliable at running my voice command on the first try from home or remotely.

 

[PHXHow?]

My original first gen HomePods have never worked properly since this home upgrade. They sit in configuring state.

 

[BigBlur]

Is there a way to tell if you’re already upgraded? I purposely delayed upgrading when this came out, and don’t recall ever actually doing it, but when I click “Home Settings” there’s no “Software Update” selection now. Mebbe it happened by default with some iOS or hardware upgrade.

Apple has never forced the update. In iOS/iPadOS 18.4, they added a banner in the Settings app and a red badge...it's pretty hard to miss. If you don't see that, or any way to update in the Home app based on Apple's article, you must have accidentally done it. Or if you ever deleted your Home and set up a new one, the new Home would have used the new Home architecture that way.

 

[urnotl33t]

Ah so this will be the ultimate nail for my iPhone SE, I guess. Hmm. Decisions decisions… so far the wallet vote isn’t looking good for Apple. Not that they’d miss my few hundred dollars, anyway.

Edit to add:
Granted, I never understood why they couldn’t create some “basic” version of, say iOS 16, with the basic APIs and minimum items needed to keep some devices alive; especially when they do this. They already do device-specific items with higher end models. “We care about the environment” falls rather flat with certain things. Yeah they rip devices apart when you turn them in, but that’s gotta be a low participation count, tho. Handing down devices to Little Junior is a thing in many families.

We know they CAN; they just choose to not.

 

[TVreporter]

I’ve taken several years to get all my home accessories in sync and working great.

No way am I updating and suddenly have items not working.

 

[azhava]

Updated my HomePod mini to 18.5 tonight, everything in Home is working fine.

Is there a way to tell if you’re already upgraded? I purposely delayed upgrading when this came out, and don’t recall ever actually doing it, but when I click “Home Settings” there’s no “Software Update” selection now. Mebbe it happened by default with some iOS or hardware upgrade.

Open the Home app, click on the "More" icon (3 dots in upper right corner), choose "Home Settings", scroll down to "Software Update". You'll either get a prompt to upgrade or it will say "This home and all accessories are up to date".

 

[allenvanhellen]

I wonder if Apple will do a one-time update for those with the last final generation of iPod Touches?

We have kids who use these (too young for cell phones), but the iPod Touches are on an old iOS that Apple has not updated (and thus the original HomeKit version). If forced to update HomeKit this fall 2025, then our kid's iPod Touches won't work anymore with their HomePods.

I think you’ll be ok… if you never update any of your devices.

 

[oldmacs]

Good thing Apple will be releasing new HomeKit support for older iOS devices.

When people defend Apple arbitrarily dropping support for hardware, saying "it's not like the device will just stop working", this is another great example of how these devices are rendered unusable through the services that stop working.

 

[oldmacs]

Ah so this will be the ultimate nail for my iPhone SE, I guess. Hmm. Decisions decisions… so far the wallet vote isn’t looking good for Apple. Not that they’d miss my few hundred dollars, anyway.

Edit to add:
Granted, I never understood why they couldn’t create some “basic” version of, say iOS 16, with the basic APIs and minimum items needed to keep some devices alive; especially when they do this. They already do device-specific items with higher end models. “We care about the environment” falls rather flat with certain things. Yeah they rip devices apart when you turn them in, but that’s gotta be a low participation count, tho. Handing down devices to Little Junior is a thing in many families.

We know they CAN; they just choose to not.

The iPhone SE could have supported 16 - the iPad 5 did (with the same A9 + 2GB Ram). Plenty of examples of Apple doing this. iPhone 7 has the same chipset and ram as the iPad 6 (so should have gotten iOS 17), iPhone 7+ has the same as the iPad 7 (So should have gotten iOS 18).

Maybe battery life wouldn't have been amazing, but they should instead have some sort of a waiver/warning/make people enrol in a program etc for continued support (with the option to downgrade).

 

[d686546s]

We have a single smart thermostat from Hive in our house which I've set up in Apple Home and for which I've shared control with my wife.

With the new architecture, I would need to buy another Apple device to act as a hub to achieve the same result because the new architecture would require it. I guess we'll have to stop using Apple home then because I'll not invest more money into a device I don't need because of this.