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Apple Home
Software framework by Apple for home automation

Apple Home is a smart home platform developed by Apple Inc. that lets users configure, communicate with and control smart appliances using Apple devices. Apple Home communicates with devices using HomeKit, the software framework and communication protocol developed by Apple, and the open Matter standard. By designing rooms, items and actions in Apple Home, users can enable automations in the home through a voice command to Siri or through Apple's Home app or third party apps. With Apple Home, developers are able to create complex applications in order to manage accessories at a high level.

Apple Home primarily competes with smart home platforms from Amazon and Google. As of 2024, Apple lists over 1,000 devices compatible with Apple Home, compared to 10,000 for Google and 85,000 for Amazon.

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Overview

HomeKit standard

Apple's HomeKit framework was introduced on iPhones and iPads on September 17, 2014, with iOS 8. The framework allowed third-party apps to interface with HomeKit devices using Siri and allow remote access through home hubs.6

HomeKit was created to make tasks inside the home easier and provide users with methods and tools to change and adapt certain home capabilities to their specific desires.7 HomeKit manages connected home appliances through the HomeKit Accessory Protocol (HAP). Messages from HomeKit are continuously sent to powered devices, which incorporate fields which recognize the specific accessory and what category it is under. Each category has a code that is used to identify what the device is. It also identifies itself with the Global State Number (GSN). This number is increased each time that the state of the accessory is altered. Like most Apple devices, Apple Continuity Protocols are used. Continuity protocols consist of wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. They can be conducted through device-to-device connection.8

HomeKit uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Thread protocols to communicate with devices.910 Manufacturers of HomeKit-enabled devices are required to enroll in the MFi Program.11 Apple also formerly provided documentation for creating non-commercial HomeKit accessories to any member of the Apple Developer Program.12 Initially, all HomeKit-based products were required to include an encryption co-processor.13 The latter requirement was later changed in iOS 11, which added support for software-based authentication.14 Equipment manufactured without HomeKit support can be enabled for use through a gateway product, such as a bridge that connects those devices to the HomeKit service.15

Matter standard

On December 18, 2019, Apple announced it would be working closely with Samsung, Amazon, and Google to create an open standard for smart home automation called Matter.16 Matter aims to reduce fragmentation across different vendors, and achieve interoperability among smart home devices and Internet of things (IoT) platforms from different providers.17 The project was delayed to fall 2022 due to "unprecedented interest" by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA).18 Version 1.0 of Matter was published on the October 4, 2022.19 Matter has been supported in Apple Home since iOS 16.1 and its forks.20

Home app

The Home app, which unifies all devices into one app, was introduced on iPhones and iPads on September 13, 2016, with iOS 10, and on Apple Watches with watchOS 3.21 The app also added support for automations using an Apple TV, and preprogrammed scenes which can set multiple devices using a single command.22 Home toggles can also be added to the Control Center, allowing control over connected devices without having to use Siri or open the Home app. The Home app was introduced on Macs with macOS 10.14 Mojave, which was released on September 24, 2018.

With the release of iOS 16, iPadOS 16 and macOS Ventura in 2022, Home received a major redesign to make the app easier to navigate. With iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, tvOS 16.4 and macOS Ventura 13.3 released on March 27, 2023, Home received the option to upgrade to a new architecture which was rebuilt from the ground up to be more efficient for users with multiple Apple Home devices.232425 Once a home is upgraded to the new architecture, devices using older operating systems can no longer access the Home app. iOS 18 brought guest access and in-app electricity usage integration. iOS 26 will remove support for the previous Apple Home architecture.26

Apple TV & HomePod

Fourth-generation and newer Apple TVs can control Apple Home devices using Siri voice commands. tvOS 14, which was released on September 16, 2020, added direct control of devices in Control Center and camera feeds and picture-in-picture monitoring for HomeKit-enabled security cameras.27

The HomePod supported Apple Home at launch in February 2018, as did the HomePod Mini in 2020. They lack a graphical user interface to control Apple Home devices and instead use Siri voice commands. Neither HomePods nor Apple TVs can unlock or open secure appliances like locks.28

Home hubs

As of iOS 16, Apple TVs (4th generation or newer) and all HomePod family speakers are fully supported as home hubs to control Apple Home appliances remotely, grant guest access, and set up automations.29 Thread networking is supported by the HomePod Mini, second generation HomePod and Apple TV 4K (2nd generation and later).3031 Automations based on temperature and humidity are supported by the HomePod Mini and second generation HomePod.32 Prior to iOS 18, the Home app automatically selected the home hub.33

iPads were supported as home hubs starting with iOS 10 but were phased out with iPadOS 16; iPads do not support Matter devices and will not function as a home hub in homes upgraded to the new architecture introduced in iOS 16, but retained all functionality introduced before iPadOS 16.3435 Support for the legacy Home architecture will be discontinued in Fall 2025 alongside the release of iPadOS 26.36

The third-generation Apple TV only supports remote access and supported automations before iOS 10.37

Other standards

HomeKit Secure Routers

HomeKit Secure Routers were introduced in 2019 and allow users to limit network access for HomeKit devices, reducing potential vulnerabilities. Routers approved by the program restrict devices from accessing unauthorized services or data to minimize exposure to potential cyber threats.38 By 2024, Apple had reportedly stopped accepting new routers into the program.39

HomeKit Secure Video

HomeKit Secure Video is an API introduced in 2019 that offers enhanced privacy and security for cameras and video doorbells. It allows video from supported cameras to be encrypted and stored securely in iCloud. The service requires a home hub to process videos. Users can also receive intelligent notifications based on specific activities, such as recognizing people, animals, vehicles and packages.4041 Recording from cameras are stored in iCloud for ten days for users with paid subscriptions.42

Home Key

Home Key is a feature introduced in iOS 15 in 2021 that allows iPhones (XS or newer) and Apple Watches (Series 4 or newer) to unlock compatible NFC-equipped smart locks. Home keys are stored in the Wallet app and can be customized to use Express Mode which allows unlocking without requiring the user to authenticate with Touch ID or Face ID.

iOS 18 introduced support for hands-free home keys that use the ultra-wideband chip in iPhones (11 or newer, excluding SE models) and Apple Watches (Series 6 or newer, excluding SE models) to automatically unlock a smart lock when a user approaches it.43 Ultra-wideband home keys will use the Aliro standard being developed by Apple, Google and Samsung.44

HomeKit Adaptive Lighting

HomeKit Adaptive Lighting is a feature introduced in iOS 14 that automatically adjusts the color temperature of compatible color-adjustable smart lights throughout the day to match ambient natural light. Adaptive lighting requires a home hub.4546

Adaptive lighting for some lights using Matter was introduced with iOS 18.47

Device categories

Apple Home currently supports the following device categories (an extended list):484950

  • Air conditioners
  • Air purifiers
  • Bridges51
  • Cameras52
  • Doorbells53
  • Dehumidifiers/humidifiers
  • Fans
  • Faucets
  • Garage door openers54
  • Lights
  • Locks
  • Outlets
  • Programmable switches
  • Audio/video receivers55
  • Range extenders
  • Routers
  • Robot vacuums56
  • Security systems
  • Sensors
  • Shower systems
  • Smoke alarms
  • Speakers57
  • Sprinklers58
  • Switches
  • Thermostats
  • Televisions59
  • Windows

Garage doors, locks, security systems, and windows are categorized as secure appliances, and require a device with authentication such as an iPhone or iPad to unlock.

See also

Notes

References

  1. Fogli, D.; Peroni, M.; Stefini, C. "Smart Home Control through Unwitting Trigger-Action Progreamming". 22nd International Conference on Distributed Multimedia Systems: 194–201. ↩

  2. Ritchie, Rene (August 27, 2014). "HomeKit in iOS 8: Explained". iMore. Retrieved December 26, 2016. /wiki/Rene_Ritchie ↩

  3. Fogli, D.; Peroni, M.; Stefini, C. "Smart Home Control through Unwitting Trigger-Action Progreamming". 22nd International Conference on Distributed Multimedia Systems: 194–201. ↩

  4. Porter, Jon (2019-10-28). "HomeKit might be fading, but Apple's not giving up yet". The Verge. Retrieved 2020-01-05. https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/28/20936292/apple-homekit-hiring-engineers ↩

  5. "Home app - Accessories". Apple. Retrieved 2024-08-28. https://www.apple.com/home-app/accessories/ ↩

  6. Rossignol, Joe. "Getting Started With HomeKit: A Beginner's Guide". www.macrumors.com. Retrieved 2019-12-26. https://www.macrumors.com/guide/homekit-101-getting-started-beginners/ ↩

  7. Fogli, D.; Peroni, M.; Stefini, C. "Smart Home Control through Unwitting Trigger-Action Progreamming". 22nd International Conference on Distributed Multimedia Systems: 194–201. ↩

  8. Guillaume, Celosia; Mathieu, Cunche (2020). "Discontinued Privacy: Personal Data Leaks in Apple Bluetooth-Low-Energy Continuity Protocols". Proceedings in Privacy Enhancing Technologies. 1: 26–46 – via sciendo. ↩

  9. Chin, Monica; Chang 2019-09-27T15:27:35Z, Althea. "Apple HomeKit: What Is It, and How Do You Use It?". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 2020-01-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) https://www.tomsguide.com/us/apple-homekit-faq,review-4195.html ↩

  10. "HomePod mini - Technical Specifications". Apple. Retrieved 2022-01-04. https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/specs/ ↩

  11. "Working with HomeKit". Apple Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2016. https://developer.apple.com/homekit/ ↩

  12. Mikah Sargent (2017-06-07). "How to create your own HomeKit-enabled accessories". iMore. Retrieved 2023-06-28. https://www.imore.com/how-create-your-own-homekit-enabled-accessories ↩

  13. Higginbotham, Stacey (June 10, 2015). "What one startup CEO learned from handling Apple's HomeKit mess". Fortune. Time Inc. Retrieved December 26, 2016. http://fortune.com/2015/06/09/ceo-apple-homekit-mess/ ↩

  14. "How HomeKit's software authentication works". 29 March 2018. https://www.imore.com/how-homekits-software-authentication-works ↩

  15. Ricker, Thomas; Kastrenakes, Jacob (January 8, 2015). "First HomeKit devices confirm Apple TV's limited role in home automation". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved December 26, 2016. https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/8/7510647/first-homekit-devices-confirm-apple-tvs-role-in-home-automation ↩

  16. Lovejoy, Ben. "Apple, Samsung, Amazon, more will agree on open standard for smart home security". 9to5Mac.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022. https://9to5mac.com/2019/12/18/smart-home-security ↩

  17. Kastrenakes, Jacob (18 December 2019). "Apple, Google, and Amazon are teaming up to develop an open-source smart home standard". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 18 April 2022. https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/18/21027890/apple-google-amazon-smart-home-standard-zigbee-connected-ip-project ↩

  18. Pattison Tuohy, Jennifer (17 March 2022). "Matter smart home standard delayed until fall 2022". The Verge. Vox Media. Retrieved 18 April 2022. https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/17/22982166/matter-smart-home-standard-postponed-fall-2022 ↩

  19. Grün, Frank-Oliver (4 October 2022). "Here we go: matter in version 1.0 is ready". matter-smarthome.de. Retrieved 17 October 2022. https://matter-smarthome.de/en/development/here-we-go-matter-in-version-1-0-is-ready ↩

  20. "Matter support in iOS 16 - Apple Home". Apple Developer. Retrieved 2023-06-02. https://developer.apple.com/apple-home/matter/ ↩

  21. "How to add a home to the new Home app in iOS 10". iMore. 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2019-12-26. https://www.imore.com/how-add-home-to-home-app-iphone-ipad ↩

  22. Clover, Juli (23 June 2016). "Here's the New 'Home' App for Controlling HomeKit Devices in iOS 10". www.macrumors.com. Retrieved 2019-12-26. https://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/23/home-app-in-ios-10/ ↩

  23. Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (2022-12-16). "How to upgrade to the new Apple Home architecture". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-08-28. https://www.theverge.com/23512574/apple-home-architecture-new-upgrade-how-to ↩

  24. Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (2022-06-06). "HomeKit gets a new Home app". The Verge. Retrieved 2023-09-13. https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/6/23150367/apple-wwdc-ios-16-homekit-new-home-app-matter ↩

  25. The architecture was originally released with iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, tvOS 16.2 and macOS Ventura 13.1 on December 13, 2022, but Apple pulled the update nine days later after receiving reports of multiple issues.[23] ↩

  26. Christoffel, Ryan (2025-05-12). "Apple confirms iOS 19 will end support for legacy Home app system - 9to5Mac". 9to5Mac. Archived from the original on 2025-05-16. Retrieved 2025-06-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20250516071831/https://9to5mac.com/2025/05/12/apple-confirms-ios-19-will-end-support-for-legacy-home-app-system/ ↩

  27. "What's new in tvOS 14 for Apple TV". Apple Support. Retrieved 2023-03-26. https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/tv/atvb457e13ae/14.0/tvos/14.0 ↩

  28. "Other things you can ask Siri on Apple TV". Apple Support. Retrieved 2019-12-26. https://support.apple.com/guide/tv/other-things-to-ask-siri-atvbb96a3e3f/tvos ↩

  29. "Set up your HomePod, Apple TV, or iPad as a home hub". Apple Support. Retrieved 2019-12-26. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207057 ↩

  30. Writer, Senior. "Nanoleaf puts HomeKit-over-Thread update on back burner". TechHive. Retrieved 2022-07-15. https://www.techhive.com/article/707391/nanoleaf-puts-homekit-over-thread-update-on-back-burner.html ↩

  31. Excluding the 64GB Apple TV (third generation) without an Ethernet port. ↩

  32. "How to Use the Temperature and Humidity Sensors on HomePod and HomePod Mini". MacRumors. 24 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-02. https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/use-temperature-humidity-sensors-homepod/ ↩

  33. Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (2024-06-14). "Apple gives Apple Home users something they've been begging for". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-07-02. https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/14/24178482/apple-home-ios18-preferred-home-hub ↩

  34. Davies, Chris (2016-06-14). "No Apple TV? Your iPad can be an Apple Home Hub - SlashGear". SlashGear.com. Retrieved 2022-07-15. https://www.slashgear.com/no-apple-tv-your-ipad-can-be-an-apple-home-hub-14444271/ ↩

  35. Peters, Jay (2022-06-28). "Apple says iPads will keep working as home hubs in iPadOS 16, but there's a catch". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-06-30. https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/28/23182328/apple-ipad-smart-home-hub-ios-ipados-16-matter ↩

  36. "PSA: Apple Ending Support for Old HomeKit Architecture in Fall 2025, Upgrade Before Then". MacRumors. 2025-05-12. Retrieved 2025-06-11. https://www.macrumors.com/2025/05/12/apple-ending-support-old-homekit-architecture/ ↩

  37. Hall, Zac (2016-09-16). "HomeKit automation no longer works with third-gen Apple TV after iOS 10 (Updated: Apple clarifies)". 9to5Mac. Retrieved 2019-12-26. https://9to5mac.com/2016/09/16/homekit-ios-10-remote-access-automation-apple-tv-2fa/ ↩

  38. Seifert, Dan (2019-06-03). "Apple enables HomeKit support for home security cameras and routers". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-08-28. https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/3/18646453/apple-homekit-support-smart-home-security-routers-wwdc-2019 ↩

  39. Gallagher, William (2024-03-22). "Apple has effectively abandoned HomeKit Secure Routers". AppleInsider. Retrieved 2024-08-28. https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/03/22/apple-has-abandoned-homekit-secure-routers-claim-vendors ↩

  40. Seifert, Dan (2019-06-03). "Apple enables HomeKit support for home security cameras and routers". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-08-28. https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/3/18646453/apple-homekit-support-smart-home-security-routers-wwdc-2019 ↩

  41. "Set up security cameras in Home on iPhone". Apple Support. Retrieved 2024-08-28. https://support.apple.com/en-bn/guide/iphone/iph7bc5df9d9/ios ↩

  42. "Store encrypted security camera footage in iCloud with HomeKit Secure Video". Apple Support. Retrieved 2025-02-02. https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/icloud-homekit-secure-video-mme054c72692/icloud ↩

  43. Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (2024-06-19). "You'll need to buy a new lock if you want Apple Home to "magically" unlock your door". The Verge. Retrieved 2024-08-28. https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/19/24180813/apple-home-hands-free-unlock-smart-lock-uwb-wwdc-2024 ↩

  44. Shakir, Umar (2025-01-09). "The touchless smart locks are here". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-01-23. https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/9/24338451/ces-2025-ultra-wideband-uwb-touchless-keyless-smart-locks-apple ↩

  45. "Control accessories with Home on iPhone". Apple Support. Retrieved 2025-01-30. https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/control-accessories-iph0a717a8fd/ios ↩

  46. updated, Christopher Close last (2022-05-06). "How to use Adaptive Lighting with your HomeKit and Home app-enabled lights". iMore. Retrieved 2025-01-30. https://www.imore.com/how-use-adaptive-lighting-your-homekit-enabled-lights ↩

  47. Tuohy, Jennifer Pattison (2024-08-08). "Adaptive Lighting is coming to Matter smart lights in Apple Home". The Verge. Retrieved 2025-01-30. https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/8/24215517/ios-18-homekit-adaptive-lighting-matter-smart-bulbs ↩

  48. "iOS - Home". Apple. Retrieved 2019-12-26. https://www.apple.com/ios/home/ ↩

  49. Guillaume, Celosia; Mathieu, Cunche (2020). "Discontinued Privacy: Personal Data Leaks in Apple Bluetooth-Low-Energy Continuity Protocols". Proceedings in Privacy Enhancing Technologies. 1: 26–46 – via sciendo. ↩

  50. "Multi Device Ecosystems". Library Technology Reports. 52. 2016. ↩

  51. Supports HomeKit only ↩

  52. Supports HomeKit only ↩

  53. Video doorbells support HomeKit only ↩

  54. Supports HomeKit only ↩

  55. Supports HomeKit only ↩

  56. Supports Matter only ↩

  57. Supports HomeKit only ↩

  58. Supports HomeKit only ↩

  59. Supports HomeKit only ↩