Apple has not given up on updating the underlying architecture for its Home app. After initially pulling the upgrade, the company is working on version 2 and could release it soon.
Apple already pulled the HomeKit upgrade once
The company first released the optional Home app upgrade with iOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.1 in December 2022.
Soon after the release, though, reports surfaced of HomeKit accessories getting stuck in “upgrading” or “configuring” status. This led Apple to pull the upgrade, though the architecture again made a comeback in iOS 16.3 beta. Now, new code spotted by two Twitter users points to the company’s ongoing work on the second iteration of the Home app upgrade.
Definitely seems like it https://t.co/6ENJtP8pGJ pic.twitter.com/cFHQ7f1IZF
— Aaron (@aaronp613) January 24, 2023
The code indicates that Apple continues to work on ironing out all the bugs — and plans to rerelease the upgrade in the near future.
It remains unclear what changes and improvements Apple is making with the underlying architecture change in the Home app. The company promises the upgrade “will improve the performance of your home.” The new architecture could be related to adding support for cross-platform home automation standard Matter to HomeKit and iOS.
Wait before upgrading to the new HomeKit architecture
The upgrade to the Home app’s underlying architecture is a one-way process. Rolling back to the older version is not possible once the update is done. So, if you rely heavily on the Home app to control your smart home, consider waiting for early feedback before upgrading once the rereleased architecture arrives.
At the moment, it is unclear when Apple will push the revised Home app architecture to iPhone users. Initially, it should be available as an optional upgrade before the company rolls it out to everyone.
