Key Takeaways:
- iOS 16 introduces significant updates to the Apple Home app, offering a more intuitive interface and enhanced smart home controls.
- The redesigned Home tab provides a streamlined view of your favorite accessories and scenes, making it easier to manage your smart home.
- New categories and a side-scrolling design in the Rooms tab allow for better organization and quicker access to your smart home devices.
- Automation suggestions and a new shortcut editor simplify the process of creating and managing automations in the Apple Home app.
- Integration with Matter, a new smart home connectivity standard, expands compatibility with third-party devices and enhances interoperability.
Introduction
The Apple Home app has been a central hub for controlling and managing smart home devices in the Apple ecosystem since its introduction in iOS 10. With the release of iOS 16, Apple has made significant updates to the Home app, offering users a more intuitive interface, enhanced controls, and expanded compatibility with third-party devices.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the new features and enhancements in the Apple Home app for iOS 16, helping you navigate the updated interface, customize your smart home setup, and take full advantage of the app’s capabilities.
Redesigned Home Tab
One of the most notable changes in the Apple Home app for iOS 16 is the redesigned Home tab. This update provides a more streamlined view of your favorite accessories and scenes, making it easier to control and manage your smart home devices.
Favorite Accessories
The new Home tab prominently displays your favorite accessories at the top of the screen, allowing you to quickly access and control the devices you use most frequently. To add an accessory to your favorites:
- Long-press on the accessory tile in the Home tab.
- Tap “Add to Favorites.”
You can rearrange your favorite accessories by long-pressing and dragging them to your desired position.
Scenes and Automations
Below your favorite accessories, the Home tab now displays your scenes and automations. Scenes allow you to control multiple accessories simultaneously with a single tap, while automations enable your devices to respond automatically to specific triggers, such as time of day or location.
To create a new scene:
- Tap the “+” button in the top-right corner of the Home tab.
- Select “Add Scene.”
- Choose the accessories you want to include and customize their settings.
- Give your scene a name and an icon, then tap “Done.”
Creating automations follows a similar process, with the app guiding you through selecting triggers, conditions, and actions.
Status Icons
The Home tab also introduces new status icons that provide at-a-glance information about your smart home devices. These icons indicate the current state of your accessories, such as whether a light is on or off, or if a door is locked or unlocked.
Some common status icons include:
- Light bulb: Illuminated when a light is on, dimmed when off.
- Lock: Closed when a door is locked, open when unlocked.
- Temperature: Displays the current temperature reading from a thermostat or temperature sensor.
Reorganized Rooms Tab
The Rooms tab in the Apple Home app has been redesigned to offer better organization and quicker access to your smart home devices. The update introduces new categories and a side-scrolling design that makes it easier to find and control your accessories.
Categories
Accessories in each room are now grouped into categories based on their type, such as Lights, Speakers, or Security. This categorization helps you quickly locate and control specific devices without having to scroll through a long list of accessories.
To view accessories by category:
- Tap the Rooms tab in the bottom navigation bar.
- Select a room from the list.
- Swipe left or right to navigate between categories.
Side-Scrolling Design
The side-scrolling design in the Rooms tab allows you to view more accessories on a single screen, reducing the need to scroll vertically through a long list of devices. This design enhancement makes it easier to manage and control your smart home devices, particularly in rooms with many accessories.
Accessory Icons
The Apple Home app for iOS 16 introduces new accessory icons that provide a more visual representation of your smart home devices. These icons are designed to match the appearance of the physical devices, making it easier to identify and locate specific accessories within the app.
Some examples of accessory icons include:
- Table lamp for lights
- Speaker for audio devices
- Camera for security cameras
- Fan for ceiling fans or air purifiers
Enhanced Automation Capabilities
iOS 16 brings several improvements to the automation capabilities of the Apple Home app, making it easier for users to create and manage automations that control their smart home devices.
Automation Suggestions
The updated Apple Home app offers intelligent suggestions for automations based on your current accessory setup and usage patterns. These suggestions can help you discover new ways to automate your smart home and make your devices work together more efficiently.
To view automation suggestions:
- Tap the Automation tab in the bottom navigation bar.
- Scroll down to the “Suggestions” section.
- Tap on a suggestion to customize and enable the automation.
Some examples of automation suggestions include:
- “Good Morning” scene that adjusts lights, thermostat, and opens blinds when you wake up.
- “Leave Home” automation that turns off lights, locks doors, and adjusts thermostat when you leave the house.
- “Bedtime” scene that dims lights, closes blinds, and sets the thermostat to your preferred sleeping temperature.
Shortcut Editor
iOS 16 introduces a new shortcut editor in the Apple Home app, making it easier to create complex automations that involve multiple accessories and conditions. The shortcut editor provides a visual, drag-and-drop interface for building automations, similar to the Shortcuts app.
To create an automation using the shortcut editor:
- Tap the Automation tab in the bottom navigation bar.
- Tap the “+” button in the top-right corner.
- Select “Add Automation.”
- Choose your trigger, then tap “Next.”
- In the Actions section, tap “Add Action” and select “Home.”
- Use the visual editor to add and customize actions for your automation.
- Tap “Done” to save your automation.
The shortcut editor supports a wide range of actions, including controlling accessories, scenes, and even running shortcuts from the Shortcuts app.
Matter Integration
One of the most significant updates to the Apple Home app in iOS 16 is the integration with Matter, a new smart home connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). Matter aims to simplify smart home setup and enhance interoperability between devices from different manufacturers.
What is Matter?
Matter is an open-source, unified IP-based connectivity protocol that enables smart home devices from various brands to communicate seamlessly with each other. The standard is backed by major tech companies, including Apple, Google, Amazon, and Samsung, as well as numerous smart home device manufacturers.
By integrating Matter support into the Apple Home app, iOS 16 expands compatibility with third-party devices and makes it easier for users to set up and control their smart home accessories.
Setting Up Matter Devices
With Matter integration, adding compatible devices to your Apple Home setup is now more straightforward. To set up a Matter device:
- Open the Apple Home app.
- Tap the “+” button in the top-right corner.
- Select “Add Accessory.”
- Scan the Matter QR code on your device or its packaging.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.
Once set up, Matter devices will appear in the Apple Home app alongside your other smart home accessories, allowing you to control them using the app, Siri, or automations.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Redesigned Home Tab | The Home tab now displays your favorite accessories and scenes at the top, making it easier to control and manage your smart home devices. |
| Reorganized Rooms Tab | The Rooms tab now groups accessories into categories and features a side-scrolling design for better organization and quicker access. |
| Automation Suggestions | The Apple Home app offers intelligent suggestions for automations based on your current accessory setup and usage patterns. |
| Shortcut Editor | A new visual, drag-and-drop interface for creating complex automations that involve multiple accessories and conditions. |
| Matter Integration | Expanded compatibility with third-party devices and simplified setup process for Matter-compatible accessories. |
| SharePlay Integration | Share control of your smart home devices with friends and family during FaceTime calls for a more interactive and collaborative experience. |
| Siri Enhancements | Improved natural language understanding, multiple device control, and contextual awareness for more intuitive voice control of smart home devices. |
Expanded Compatibility
Matter integration in the Apple Home app significantly expands compatibility with third-party smart home devices. As more manufacturers adopt the Matter standard, users will have access to a broader range of accessories that can be easily integrated into their Apple Home setup.
Some examples of Matter-compatible devices include:
- Smart bulbs and lighting fixtures
- Smart plugs and switches
- Thermostats and HVAC controls
- Door locks and sensors
- Security cameras and motion detectors
With Matter, users can mix and match devices from different brands without worrying about compatibility issues, creating a more seamless and customizable smart home experience.
SharePlay Integration
iOS 16 introduces SharePlay integration in the Apple Home app, allowing users to share control of their smart home devices with friends and family during FaceTime calls. This feature enables participants to view and control accessories together, creating a more interactive and collaborative smart home experience.
Accessing SharePlay in the Apple Home App
To access SharePlay during a FaceTime call:
- Start a FaceTime call with one or more participants.
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Control Center.
- Tap the Apple Home app icon.
- Grant access to your home to the call participants.
- You and your participants can now view and control shared accessories.
Note: You can only share control of accessories that you have designated as “Shared” in your home settings.
Controlling Accessories During SharePlay
Once SharePlay is active, all participants in the FaceTime call can view and control the shared accessories in the Apple Home app. Each participant can tap on an accessory tile to adjust its settings, such as turning a light on or off, changing the brightness, or adjusting the thermostat temperature.
Any changes made to the accessories during SharePlay will be reflected in real-time for all participants, allowing everyone to see the updates and collaborate on controlling the smart home devices.
Ending SharePlay
To end SharePlay and revoke access to your home:
- Tap the SharePlay icon in the top-right corner of the FaceTime call screen.
- Select “End SharePlay.”
- Confirm your action by tapping “End SharePlay” again.
After ending SharePlay, participants will no longer have access to your shared accessories, and their view of your home in the Apple Home app will be removed.
Siri Enhancements
iOS 16 brings several enhancements to Siri’s capabilities in the Apple Home app, making it easier for users to control their smart home devices using voice commands.
Improved Natural Language Understanding
Siri’s natural language understanding has been improved in iOS 16, allowing users to control their smart home devices using more conversational and intuitive commands. For example, instead of saying, “Set the living room temperature to 72 degrees,” you can now say, “Make it a little warmer in the living room.”
This improvement makes it easier for users to interact with their smart home devices using voice commands, as they can speak more naturally and still have Siri understand and execute their intended actions.
Multiple Device Control
With iOS 16, Siri can now control multiple smart home devices simultaneously using a single voice command. This enhancement allows users to create more complex and personalized voice-controlled automations without needing to issue multiple commands.
For example, you can say, “Hey Siri, turn off the lights and lock the front door” to control both your smart lights and door lock with a single command.
Contextual Awareness
Siri’s contextual awareness has been improved in iOS 16, allowing it to understand and respond to commands based on the user’s current location or the state of their smart home devices.
For instance, if you say, “Hey Siri, turn on the lights,” Siri will intelligently determine which lights to turn on based on your current location within your home. Similarly, if you say, “Hey Siri, is the front door locked?” Siri will check the status of your smart lock and provide a relevant response.
This contextual awareness makes it easier for users to control their smart home devices using voice commands, as they don’t need to specify the exact devices or locations in every command.
To update your Apple Home app to the iOS 16 version, you’ll need to update your iPhone or iPad to iOS 16 or later. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the latest iOS version.
Yes, your existing smart home devices that are compatible with the Apple Home app will continue to work with the updated version in iOS 16. However, to access some of the new features and enhancements, you may need to update the firmware of your devices. Check the manufacturer’s app or website for any available updates.
To add a Matter-compatible device to your Apple Home setup, open the Apple Home app, tap the “+” button in the top-right corner, and select “Add Accessory.” Scan the Matter QR code on your device or its packaging, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process.
Yes, with SharePlay, you can share control of your smart home devices with friends and family during a FaceTime call, even if they are not physically present in your home. However, you can only share control of accessories that you have designated as “Shared” in your home settings.
If Siri is not responding to your voice commands for controlling smart home devices, try the following:
1. Ensure that your iPhone or iPad is connected to the internet and that Siri is enabled in Settings > Siri & Search.
2. Check that your smart home devices are powered on and connected to your home network.
3. Make sure that your devices are properly set up in the Apple Home app and that they are assigned to the correct rooms.
4. Try restarting your iPhone or iPad and your smart home devices.
If the issue persists, contact Apple Support or the manufacturer of your smart home devices for further assistance.
To create a new scene in the updated Apple Home app:
1. Tap the “+” button in the top-right corner of the Home tab.
Select “Add Scene.”
2. Choose the accessories you want to include and customize their settings.
3. Give your scene a name and an icon, then tap “Done.” Your new scene will now appear in the Home tab, and you can activate it with a single tap or using Siri voice commands.
Conclusion
The iOS 16 update brings significant improvements and new features to the Apple Home app, enhancing the user experience and making it easier to control and manage smart home devices. With a redesigned interface, expanded automation capabilities, Matter integration, SharePlay support, and Siri enhancements, the Apple Home app is now more powerful and intuitive than ever.
As the smart home industry continues to evolve and grow, the Apple Home app is well-positioned to remain a central hub for users to control and automate their connected devices. By staying up-to-date with the latest features and enhancements, users can take full advantage of the app’s capabilities and create a seamless, personalized smart home experience.
Whether you’re a seasoned smart home enthusiast or just starting to explore the possibilities of connected devices, the Apple Home app in iOS 16 offers a range of tools and features to help you create a smarter, more convenient, and more efficient living space.
Hi, I’m Noor Alam, Founder of HomelyItems!
I have created this site to share my knowledge about technological products related to home. I love to research and write on technical devices especially those related to smart home.