You might have seen a bunch of articles in the last week issuing some rather ominous sounding warnings around the Apple Home app and smart home devices. If you’ve seen these and you’re wondering what’s going on, we’ve got you covered.
The gist of it is this: Apple is ending support for the previous version of Apple Home February 10, 2026. Users who haven’t yet migrated to the new architecture may experience serious disruptions, including problems with accessories and automations, loss of critical alerts, and in some cases, complete loss of access to their smart home setup in the Home app.
Apple has been gradually pushing users toward the new architecture since October 2022, when iOS 16.2 introduced a completely reworked foundation for the Home app. The redesign was built to improve reliability and pave the way for support of the new Matter standard—which has gone a long way in helping more devices work with and between all the various smart home platforms— and addressing longstanding complaints about HomeKit’s stability.
Why did Apple Release a new Home Architecture?
The updated Apple Home architecture brings several meaningful improvements over the legacy system.
Users gain access to features like robot vacuum cleaner support, guest access controls, and Activity History in the Home app. More importantly, the new framework provides enhanced performance and critical security updates that won’t be available to those stuck on the old system.
Apple initially made the upgrade optional, understanding that users would need time to ensure all their devices were running compatible software. But after multiple delays—including pushing the deadline from fall 2025 to February 2026—the company is finally drawing a hard line.
Who Needs to Update?
If you’re part of a home in the Home app that contains at least one smart home accessory—whether that’s a HomePod, Apple TV, smart light bulb, camera, smart lock or any other HomeKit-compatible device—you’ll need to upgrade. Apple has been sending email reminders to affected users, and the Home app itself displays prompts for those who haven’t yet made the switch.
Some users may be automatically upgraded to the latest version of Apple Home if they’re part of a home still using the older system. However, it’s better to take control of the process yourself rather than leaving it to chance.
Before You Upgrade: Important Prerequisites
Don’t jump into the update without checking a few critical requirements first. All your devices need to be running relatively recent software versions: iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, or watchOS 9.2 or later. Any device that doesn’t meet these requirements will lose access to your updated home until you bring it up to date.
This extends to other people you’ve invited to control your home. If they’re running outdated software, they’ll be locked out after the upgrade.
There’s another crucial change worth noting: iPads are no longer supported as home hubs on the latest version of Apple Home. To share control of your home and receive Home notifications, you’ll need to set up a home hub using an Apple TV or HomePod instead.
Additionally, you must have two-factor authentication enabled for your Apple Account and iCloud Passwords and Keychain turned on. These security measures are non-negotiable for the new architecture.
How to Update Right Now
The upgrade process is straightforward, but don’t wait until the last minute. Here’s what to do:
- Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
- Tap or click the More button (the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner)
- Select Home Settings
- Scroll down and select Software Update
- Tap or click Update Now, then follow the on-screen prompts
If you own multiple homes, all of them will be updated simultaneously. Once the process completes, you should see a message confirming “This home and all accessories are up to date.”
What If You Can’t Update?
Some users report not seeing the Software Update option in their Home Settings. If this is your case, you may have already upgraded without realizing it—particularly if you set up your HomeKit accessories after the new architecture was introduced. Check for a confirmation message indicating your home is up to date.
If you’re having trouble updating and believe you should be able to, verify that you’ve enabled two-factor authentication and iCloud Keychain. These are prerequisites that could block the upgrade if they’re not configured.
For more detailed information, consult Apple’s official support document on updating Apple Home.
