iOS 16.4 Beta Re-Adds HomeKit Architecture Upgrade

The iOS 16.4 beta that Apple provided to developers today appears to reintroduce the HomeKit architecture update that was pulled from iOS 16.2 due to a wide range of ‌HomeKit‌ bugs that it added.

homekit architecture upgrade
In the Software Update section of the Home app, iPhone and iPad users who have not yet upgraded to the new architecture are seeing a "Home Upgrade Available" option after updating to iOS 16.4.

There were signs that the ‌HomeKit‌ architecture would be reintroduced in iOS 16.4 as early as January, as Apple has been working on it behind the scenes for some time now. Apple has prepared an updated version of the update, presumably with fewer bugs that will impact ‌HomeKit‌ users.

The new ‌HomeKit‌ architecture is meant to improve the reliability and efficiency of communication between smart home accessories and Apple devices, and it is something that Apple has been developing since iOS 16 was announced at WWDC in June 2022.

The initial launch caused some ‌‌HomeKit‌‌ devices to go missing from ‌‌HomeKit‌‌ setups or to be stuck with a "configuring/updating" status. It also resulted in invitations to share the Home with others failing, and it broke ‌‌HomeKit‌‌ Secure Video recording for some.

Related Forum: iOS 16

Popular Stories

m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...
M3 iPad Air

Apple's Next Two Products Are Coming Soon

Thursday February 12, 2026 11:17 am PST by
Apple plans to release an iPhone 17e and an iPad Air with an M4 chip "in the coming weeks," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple retail employees say that inventory of the iPhone 16e has basically dried out and the iPad Air is seeing shortages as well," said Gurman. "I've been expecting new versions of both (iPhone 17e and M4 iPad Air) in the coming weeks."...
Apple Logo Black

Apple Acquires New Database App

Wednesday February 11, 2026 6:44 am PST by
Apple acquired Canadian graph database company Kuzu last year, it has emerged. The acquisition, spotted by AppleInsider, was completed in October 2025 for an undisclosed sum. The company's website was subsequently taken down and its Github repository was archived, as is commonplace for Apple acquisitions. Kuzu was "an embedded graph database built for query speed, scalability, and easy of ...
iPhone 16e Bottom Crop

Apple Reportedly Unveiling a New iPhone Next Week

Tuesday February 10, 2026 1:51 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report said the iPhone 17e will be announced in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website, so do not expect an event for this device specifically. The iPhone 17e will be a spec-bumped successor to the iPhone 16e. Rumors claim the device will have four key...

Top Rated Comments

39 months ago
Very interested to know if people who already upgraded with 16.2 will be asked or required to upgrade again.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
39 months ago
Glad to see Apple is really putting in the work on Homekit Architecture.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Squuiid Avatar
39 months ago

The first time it wiped all my homekit connections, and I'm not up to finding the codes on every lightbulb in my house again...
Yep, same here. It destroyed my HomeKit Home, with over 100 devices. Had to set up from scratch. Fun times.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
csalm87 Avatar
39 months ago
Ever since upgrading to the new artichecture, my Level Lock has decided it no longer wants to respond at random times. Updating all my HomeHubs to 16.3.1 seemed to fix it but now it's right back to where it was. I've tried adding and re-adding, changing the batteries... nothing works.

I also had issues with Phillips Hue. It was so bad I started switching away from Hue... something I've wanted to do anyway.. but I never had any issues until updating the architecture.

I'm at the point where I may just start a new home and begin the tedious process of re-adding everything.

I'm hoping 16.4 squashes these issues once and for all. HomeKit in my opinion is the most finicky Apple service I have ever used.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
basalt5750 Avatar
39 months ago
The first time it wiped all my homekit connections, and I'm not up to finding the codes on every lightbulb in my house again...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BadMacRumours Avatar
39 months ago

DO NOT UPGRADE even when this releases.

It has been a nightmare ever since I did with 16.1, and nothing works.
It’s been fine for me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)