Switch to a new smart architecture in the Apple Home app to make your HomeKit devices faster and more reliable than ever before.
Apple had to abandon the new Home app architecture in iOS 16.2 due to bugs and issues, relaunching it in iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4 and macOS Ventura 13.3 as part of the ongoing transition to the new Matter smart home connectivity standard.
The new core architecture should improve the performance of your smart home and increase the reliability of any smart device. Follow the steps below to upgrade your smart home to the new architecture in the Home iOS 16.4 app.
How to upgrade your smart home to the new Apple architecture
If the splash screen prompting you to update your smart home does not automatically appear when you open the Home app after updating to iOS 16.2, you can manually update using Software Update in the Home app.
Here are the steps to follow:
- Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
- Click the button with three dots (Advanced), then select “Main Settings”from the menu. If you have multiple homes, select one of them first before choosing Home Settings.
- Select Software Update.
- Click “Learn More”under Home Upgrade Available.
- Click “Continue”to continue, or “Update Later”if you don’t want to do it now.
This feature will update all the houses in the Home app at the same time. After a few seconds, you will see a message confirming the successful update.
“This home can now take advantage of a new core architecture that delivers improved performance and reliability,” the post reads. Touch Done to finish. Any devices not running the latest software will lose access to your home until they are updated.
“This includes the people you invite to manage your home,” Apple notes.
I lost control of my smart home with my old Apple Watch Series 2, which is not compatible with watchOS 9. While updating the Home app, I got a warning message, but I ignored it and continued the process. I don’t mind not using the Home app on my Apple Watch because I usually control my accessories through Siri on my HomePod or through the Home app on my iPhone.
Your smart home is now more reliable
There is nothing else to do. The Home app interface hasn’t changed since this update, and all your smart devices are still in the app, but they should now respond faster and work more reliably than before.
Do you need a home center
The new architecture requires a home hub to control your smart home, receive notifications in the Home app, add Matter accessories, and more.
You must set up a home hub in order to add Matter accessories to the Home app. Thread-enabled Matter accessories require a Thread-enabled home hub such as HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) Wi-Fi + Ethernet, or a supported third-party edge router.
When you set up your Apple TV, HomePod, or HomePod mini, it automatically becomes your home hub. To manually turn your Apple TV 4K into a home hub, go to Settings → AirPlay & HomeKit and scroll down, then choose Room and select an existing room that will use this Apple TV or add a new one.
Note that the iPad, which can still be configured as a home hub, is not supported when used with the new Home app architecture.
A quick tip for solving many problems with HomeKit
And finally, if you are still having issues with smart home appliances after migrating to the new architecture, try deleting all HomeKit bridges from the Home app and then re-adding them. This will force HomeKit to load factory settings, which may help resolve your issues.