iOS 16 Introduces Entirely Overhauled Home App to Focus More on Reliability and Ease of Use - MacRumors
Skip to Content

iOS 16 Introduces Entirely Overhauled Home App to Focus More on Reliability and Ease of Use

The Home app on iOS is getting a major overhaul with iOS 16, with Apple saying it's doubling down on reliability and ease of use.

ios 16 home app
Apple says it has made changes to the "underlying architecture" of the Home app to enable "faster, more reliable performance, especially for homes with many smart accessories."

With the new Home app redesign, all users' rooms are displayed on one single page, with easily glanceable widgets that showcase current accessories and their status. Pressing on a room takes users to a dedicated space with more details and controls.

ios 16 home app 1
Along the top of the Home app, users get quick information at categories, such as how many lights are currently on, the temperature range across their house, what doors are unlocked, and more.

Categories are even more helpful, however, when they're tapped. When users tap on a specific category, such as security and cameras, they're shown all the active cameras around their entire home on a single page.

The Home app is also gaining new Lock Screen widgets that provide easy information right on the Lock Screen. iOS 16 is currently available to developers and will be available to all users this fall.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Month With These 12 New Features

Sunday August 9, 2026 1:45 pm PDT by
It is now August, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are just a month away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a...
iPhone 18 Pro Deep Red Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Next Month With These 12 New Features

Thursday August 6, 2026 7:03 am PDT by
It is now August, and that means the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are just a month away. The devices are expected to look similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but there will still be many year-over-year changes, with rumored features including a smaller Dynamic Island, 5G via satellite, and more. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a...
iPhone 18 Pro Dark Cherry Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Max's Larger Battery Capacity Allegedly Revealed

Monday August 10, 2026 9:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max will be equipped with a nearly 12% larger battery compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to an apparent leak. An alleged photo of a battery pack for a Chinese model of the iPhone 18 Pro Max with a SIM card tray lists a capacity of 5,391 mAh, up from 4,823 mAh for the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro Max battery. The photo was shared on the Korean platform Naver...

Top Rated Comments

fwmireault Avatar
55 months ago
This app redesign was long overdue
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CheffyDude Avatar
55 months ago
The overhaul is useless without a Siri overhaul. I get tired of asking Siri to turn on "all lights" and then she plays The Thermadors song "All Blights" Siri is so stupid.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
55 months ago
I'm more excited about this "rearchitected" Home app that's supposed to be more reliable than anything else in iOS 16. Not only is it long overdue, but reliability is probably the single biggest problem holding back HomeKit. I'd love to showcase more HomeKit stuff to friends and family, but it's embarrassing when Siri goes into one of her states where she refuses to execute automations or won't respond to requests.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
55 months ago
I am an early tech adopter, built many PCs, have been using an iPhone since the 3G. And still, I struggled to grasp the design of the existing home app. Even at first glance this redesign seems way better. Hopefully it really is. With this and the Matter support, we may see Apple-compatible smart home devices take off
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TonyC28 Avatar
55 months ago

Thank God, the old one is an embarrassment. Easily one of the worst apps I've used.
Check out Google’s Home app if you want to appreciate Apple’s a little more.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
55 months ago
Responsiveness — I'll believe it when I see it.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)