Security Camera Snapshots in Home App Failing to Refresh for Some Users

A growing number of iPhone users across the MacRumors Forums, Apple Support Communities, Reddit, and Twitter have reported that security camera snapshots in the Home app have failed to refresh over the last few weeks.

homekit secure video package
HomeKit Secure Video cameras added to the Home app each have a thumbnail that provides a still view of recent footage, and normally these thumbnails automatically refresh on a periodic basis. However, users on multiple iOS versions are experiencing an issue with the thumbnails failing to refresh and showing outdated footage as a result. The issue appears to extend to the Home app on the iPad and Mac for some users.

Importantly, the cameras still function properly when viewed live, but the thumbnails not updating is proving to be an annoyance for affected users.

While users have attempted to come up with temporary workarounds, such as the tedious process of signing out of their Apple ID account and then signing back in on affected devices, the issue appears to resurface for many over time. We've reached out to Apple to see if it is aware of the issue and/or planning a fix, and we'll update this story if we hear back. Users can also report the bug via the Home app feedback page on Apple's website.

Popular Stories

iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 12 New Features

Thursday January 15, 2026 10:56 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not expected to launch for another eight months, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we have recapped 12 features rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro models, as of January 2026: The same overall design is expected, with 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes, and a "plateau" housing three rear cameras Under-screen Face ID...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

These 5 Apple Products Will Reportedly Be Upgraded With OLED Displays

Friday January 16, 2026 7:07 pm PST by
Apple plans to upgrade the iPad mini, MacBook Pro, iPad Air, iMac, and MacBook Air with OLED displays between 2026 and 2028, according to DigiTimes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman previously reported that the iPad mini and MacBook Pro will receive an OLED display as early as this year, but he does not expect the MacBook Air to adopt the technology until 2028 at the earliest. A new iPad Air is...
2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, Macs, and More

Thursday January 15, 2026 11:19 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the United States, according to the company's website. Most of the values declined slightly, but some of the Mac values increased. iPhone ...
Apple Wallet ID Illinois

Apple Plans to Expand iPhone Driver's Licenses to These 7 U.S. States

Friday January 16, 2026 12:12 pm PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
iPhone Top Left Hole Punch Face ID Feature Purple

New Leak Reveals iPhone 18 Pro Display Sizes, Under-Screen Face ID, and More

Wednesday January 14, 2026 7:09 am PST by
While the iPhone 18 Pro models are still around eight months away, a leaker has shared some alleged details about the devices. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo this week, the account Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display sizes as the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Consistent with previous...

Top Rated Comments

ouimetnick Avatar
53 months ago
The Home app as a whole needs some intensive love. It's been lacking for years.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MikeDProducer Avatar
53 months ago
This is 100% true. The workarounds suggested are time consuming and frustrating for people with an elaborate HomeKit setup. Deleting and re-adding the cameras is a pain in the neck. Signing out of iCloud is also a whole ordeal.

But both of these are only a temporary fix where the issue persists.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
uller6 Avatar
53 months ago
I just want HomeKit stuff to work, and every year it seems to get worse and worse. The Home app on Monterey won't let you watch live videos when the app isn't in focus, whereas that worked fine in Big Sur.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dominiongamma Avatar
53 months ago

Since when is signing out of an account
Tedious?
Are the staff writers that incompetent they can’t slick sign out. Enter a password. Continue sign out.

Then sign back in

All without having to reconfigure ****?

They are trying to make the work arounds sound a lot worse than it really is. Like cmon

It can take up to 1-2 mins in a device if that for the entire process of signing out and back in.
Why should anyone have to jump though any hoops to make a product work ?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dohspc Avatar
53 months ago
I find non native HomeKit devices setup in my homebridge server work better than the native HomeKit devices.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Skb3735 Avatar
53 months ago

The tedious part is redoing all of my wallpapers etc. lol Not the end of the world but it’s not fun doing it every day.
Don’t forget about having to re-enter credit cards into wallet as well
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)