Update 1/3: Apple has reportedly added the Home app to an internal database of major issues.
When iOS 16.2 arrived last week, it brought several new features, including Apple Music Sing, iCloud Advanced Data Protection, and the Freeform app, as well as a less-obvious upgrade to a new Home architecture that’s “more reliable and efficient.” However, about a week later, it appears that Apple has pulled the option in the Home app to upgrade.
When opening the Home app in iOS 16.2, users were met with a “Home Upgrade Available” in the Software Update tab in the Home Settings. Now that option is gone. A support document outlining the new feature still says the option has been “temporarily removed” and doesn’t affect users who have already updated to the new architecture. In a statement, Apple said it is “aware of an issue that may impact the ability for users to share the Home within the Home app.”
Several users had reported devices that were stuck in an “updating” or “configuring” status before Apple confirmed the move. Apple hasn’t detailed what the issue is, only that it’s related to sharing and the option to upgrade will return soon. It’s not clear whether it will randomly appear in the app or as part of the iOS 16.3 update expected to arrive early next year.
Macrumors reports that Apple has added the Home app update to a database of both hardware and software issues, which the site describes as a “rare” move for a software issue. When hardware issues rise to such a severe status, it could mean that Apple will issue a replacement program for some models after investigating the issue, such as the MacBook’s butterfly keyboard.
The new Home architecture requires a home hub such as Apple TV (4th generation or later) or HomePod to use advanced features such as HomeKit Secure Video and Adaptive Lighting. Anyone who was using an iPad as a home hub under the previous architecture will need to switch to one of those devices to continue using the Home app to control their devices.
Author: Michael Simon, Executive Editor
Michael Simon has been covering Apple since the iPod was the iWalk. His obsession with technology goes back to his first PC—the IBM Thinkpad with the lift-up keyboard for swapping out the drive. He's still waiting for that to come back in style tbh.