If you’ve been dragging your feet about updating to the latest version of Apple’s Home architecture, good news (sort of), you’re getting a brief reprieve.
In an updated support document spotted by MacRumors, Apple says that it won’t drop support for the older version of its Home platform until February 10, 2026, giving those still using the legacy Apple Home framework a few months’ breathing room.
Previously, Apple had said it would nix support for its old smart home architecture by fall 2025, which is pretty much now.
It’s been nearly three years since Apple first introduced its updated Home architecture, which promised “more reliable and efficient” operation of HomeKit-compatible smart home devices. At the time, switching to the new Home framework was encouraged but still optional.
But shortly after the December 2022 arrival of the revamped Apple Home platform, users who switched began complaining of a variety of problems, such as unresponsive Apple Home hubs and HomeKit devices that were stuck in “Updating” mode.
Apple wound up pulling the Home update and rolled out a retooled version in February 2023. Since then, the new Home architecture has been running relatively smoothly; I made the switch myself in early 2023 and haven’t had any serious issues.
Still, there are plenty of Apple Home users who haven’t moved over to the new architecture, generally for one of two reasons (or a combination of both).
Number one, some Apple users are still leery of the bugs they encountered during the initial new Home rollout, or they’re concerned that their legacy smart home devices won’t be compatible with the updated framework.
And number two, the old Home architecture allowed you to use an iPad as your home hub; with the new Apple Home, only an Apple TV 4K or an Apple HomePod will work as a hub device.
Apple’s move to yank support for its older Apple Home version makes sense, given the ongoing rumors of Apple TV 4K and HomePod updates.
Rumor has it that Apple will soon release redesigned HomePod minis and Apple TV 4K streaming players powered by Apple Intelligence and a new (and delayed) AI-enhanced Siri, although exactly when that will happen remains a mystery.
This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart speakers.
