Apple unveiled a revised HomeKit architecture in 2022, intended to boost the dependability of its smart home ecosystem. Initially, users had the choice to upgrade or remain on the original version. However, in March 2025, it came to light that Apple intended to phase out support for the previous architecture, a decision that was subsequently validated by the company.
The revamped Home app, launched with iOS 16, sought to resolve frequent reliability concerns that users encountered, including repeated “accessory is not responding” alerts. The newly designed architecture was aimed at enhancing both responsiveness and reliability, and by now, the majority of HomeKit users have upgraded to this new system.
According to the most recent updates, Apple has announced that support for the original HomeKit architecture will conclude in the autumn of 2025. Users are urged to perform the update to prevent disruptions with their accessories and automations. The iOS 18.6 beta suggests that there will be two pathways for upgrades: some homes will be updated automatically, while others might need to be updated manually. Additionally, users with older hardware may have to upgrade their devices to implement the new architecture.
