If you use the Apple Home app to monitor your devices, turn lights on and off, automate various smart home routines and keep on top of software updates, you might need to make sure you’re running the latest version sooner rather than later.

Apple Home is a popular app pre-installed on all iPhones and iPads, but can run via Mac, Apple TV and Apple Watch too. It is used as a control centre for smart home devices, be that Apple’s own kit such as the HomePod smart speaker line up, but is mainly to set up third-party smart home gadgets such as lights, thermostats, security cameras and even garage doors and window blinds (anything can be ‘smart’ these days).

From the app, you can arrange devices depending on what room they are in and monitor everything to ensure it is working perfectly. When everything is set up and running harmoniously, the Home app is what keeps it all ticking over.

But as spotted by MacRumors, trouble could be afoot if you’re not running the latest software. Apple has started reminding customers who use the Home app that they need to update to the newest version or risk their smart home set up suddenly stop working.

In late 2022, Apple changed the architecture of the Home app entirely to futureproof its stability and improve performance. If you stuck with the old version of the app – which you may have done if you do not have automatic app updates turned on, or if you have an older iPhone – Apple is now warning that you need to update.

Apple has been emailing customers informing them that the earlier version of Apple Home will stop working on February 10, 2026.

“This email serves as your second reminder that support for the earlier version of Apple Home will end next month on February 10, 2026,” the email reads.

“If you do not update to this new version of Apple Home, your access to your home within the Home app might be blocked, accessories and automations might not work as expected, and you will not receive important security fixes and performance improvements. Updating to the new version of Apple Home can also enable new features, such as guest access, support for robot vacuum cleaners, Activity History, and more.”

The new version of Apple Home with the updated architecture requires a minimum of iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS 13.1, tvOS 16.2, and watchOS 9.2. Head to the settings of your chosen Apple device and check which version of software you are running, as if your device is too old you may not be able to update to the new Home app.

For example, the iPhone 8, released in 2017, is upgradable to iOS 16.7.12, so can use the latest Home app successfully. But 2016’s iPhone 7 taps out at iOS 15.8.5, meaning it cannot.