Apple Releases iOS 11.2.1 Update With HomeKit Remote Sharing Fix

Wednesday December 13, 2017 10:03 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple today released iOS 11.2.1, the eighth official update to the iOS 11 operating system. iOS 11.2.1 comes a week and a half after the release of iOS 11.2, the second major update to the iOS 11 operating system, which brought Apple Pay Cash, faster 7.5W wireless charging, and a long list of bug fixes.

The iOS 11.2.1 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings --> General --> Software Update.

The iOS 11.2.1 update addresses bugs and issues that have been discovered since the release of iOS 11.2.

According to Apple's release notes, the update re-enables remote access for shared users of the Home app. Apple broke remote access for shared users when implementing a fix for a major HomeKit vulnerability last week.

The HomeKit bug allowed unauthorized access to HomeKit accessories that included smart locks, and it was fixed server-side by Apple after it was made public. To address the issue immediately, Apple had to disable remote access for shared users, which the company said it would re-enable through an iOS update this week.

Following today's update, the HomeKit vulnerability is fully patched and remote access for shared users has been reinstated.

For more on iOS 11 and its updates, make sure to check out our iOS 11 roundup.

Top Rated Comments

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.starscream

26 months ago

Feels like I‘ve been updating my phone more than actually using it.

Rating: 32 Votes

scrapesleon

26 months ago

What this one gonna break now?

Rating: 20 Votes

deanthedev

26 months ago

You're brave to be updating first :)

I always update immediately. Have been for years and never have issues.

Rating: 18 Votes

thadoggfather

26 months ago

I always update immediately. Have been for years and never have issues.

Years, and never.

Two words that don't fit in the context here

You are a fortunate unobservant user.

If bugs didn't exist, Updates wouldn't be issued (notwithstanding major new releases to appease Wall Street and shoehorn into new hardware releases)

IMO people would be fine with same iOS refined on new hardware. And release the new stuff when it's polished to a T. Instead of being beta testers every fall

10.5/12.9 were excellent examples of this. iOS 11 has been really
good on my 12.9 2017, but Shipping version iOS 10.3 was soooooo polished out the gate with those new hardware releases. I was impressed

Rating: 11 Votes

deanthedev

26 months ago

Sorry, they do go together. I have stated in the past I’ve seen little things here and there on occasion. Maybe when I rotate my iPhone it takes longer to recognize. A piece of text is misaligned. There’s a slight stutter or pause when launching an App. These are not what I call “issues”, as I experience them in every single technology product I’ve ever used (my cars infotainment systems, TVs, cable boxes, digital cameras, iPhones, iPads, Macs, PCs - literally everything that has a processor and runs software has the occasional glitch).

What I haven’t seen is a failure of any of the Apps I rely on, loss of data or anything that affects the ability of me to use my device the way I always have. Those are what I’d consider “issues” as they detract greatly from how your device operates.

What I find funny is a bug that affects a small number of users, yet almost everyone here at MR claims to have seen it. Statistically that’s just not possible. However, me claiming I haven’t had any issues is absolutely believable because I’m in the majority of satisfied iOS users, not the vocal minority claims by their devices are “completely unusable”.
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And they are fortunate unobservant users as aforementioned.

Absolutely false.

Rating: 10 Votes