When iOS 16.2 arrived last week, it brought several new features, including Apple Music, the Advanced iCloud Data Protection, and the Freeform app, as well as a less obvious upgrade to a new “more reliable and efficient” home architecture. However, after about a week, it looks like Apple removed the upgrade option in the Home app.
When opening the Home app in iOS 16.2, users encountered “Home Upgrade Available” in the Software Update tab of Home Settings. Now that option is gone. a supporting document Selecting the new feature indicates that the option has been “temporarily removed” and does not affect users who have already updated to the new version.
As previously reported by Mac Rumors, many users have reported devices stuck in updating or configuring state, as well as missing devices. Apple warns that all connected devices that aren’t running the latest software “will lose access to the updated home page until they’re updated”, but that seems to be an unrelated issue . Apple hasn’t detailed the issue, but the upgrade option will be back soon. It’s unclear whether it will appear randomly in the app or as part of the iOS 16.3 update which is expected to arrive early next year.
The new home architecture requires a home hub like Apple TV (4th generation or later) or HomePod to use advanced features like HomeKit Secure Video and Adaptive Lighting. Anyone who used an iPad as a home hub under the previous version will need to switch to one of these devices to continue using the Home app to control their devices.
