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Level 1

23 points

iOS 15 Home app and HomeKit have excessive battery drain

After upgrading to iOS 15, I noticed excessive battery usage caused by the Home app. In the battery usage in settings, it says “accessories” under the home app activity.

I see similar behavior on iPhones and my iPad.

In terms of my HomeKit setup, I have several Phillips hue lights, a Kwikset lock, a temp/humidity sensor and 4 cameras configured as HomeKit secure video. I also have an Apple TV HD that serves as my HomeKit hub.

I am not sure what’s causing this battery usage as it didn’t exist in ios14. I am also not sure how to isolate the guilty accessory.

One theory is to blame on device processing for all the cameras such as activity detection. Not sure if that happens in the hub or in the devices.

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Posted on Oct 10, 2021 5:46 AM

Best reply

MG51015BB

Level 1

14 points

Posted on Feb 12, 2022 7:12 AM

Hey all - let me try to summarize my thoughts on the issue based upon these replies, some research, and digging into Wi-Fi networks.

A few quick notes: this doesn’t appear to be caused by specific HomeKit devices or bridges. There’s no theme to whether you have a Lutron or Hue or other bridge. The issue persists. Additionally, adjusting settings in the Home app or iPhone/iPad doesn’t resolve the issue. I’ve tried every permutation of setting including deleting my entire Home and factory resetting my iPad, and the issue still persists.

Root cause: it seems like the root cause is due to Apple’s implementation of Thread. I’ve noticed that if I am either off Wi-Fi or on a different Wi-Fi network than my HomePod devices that the issue does NOT occur.

Digging into my Wi-Fi logs via Pi-hole (and looking at several other threads on this topic), my iPhone and iPad are constantly sending out requests to HomePodName.openthread.thread.home.arpa.

This is occurring thousands of times a day and I’m guessing it’s impacting battery life.

I contacted the Thread group and they confirmed this is not the expected behavior.

As such, we’ll have to wait for a fix to the HomePod and/or Apple TV to resolve this problem.

Note- the scenario I described above will impact anyone with a HomePod mini or Apple TV 4K (latest gen).

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150 replies

Dagel16

Level 1

8 points

Dec 4, 2021 10:51 PM in response to ktrap

Got a brand new iPhone 13 yesterday. This morning I see home used 75% of the battery. 11h 53minutes in the background.

i am on the latest 15.1.1 iOS release.

something seriously wrong with the OS

teteroon

Level 1

8 points

Dec 12, 2021 7:59 AM in response to magic_ao

Same here. Happening on all devices, home owner and family members, iPads, iPad Pros, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro.

As others mentioned all devices are up to date.

Benzido

Level 1

0 points

Dec 18, 2021 8:54 AM in response to Mccarrot1

Same issue here

ethan397

Level 1

24 points

Dec 18, 2021 4:29 PM in response to Benzido

Same issue in my iPad 11 Pro and iPad 10.5” Pro (2nd Gen). It’s the Home app and it always says Accessories. What does that even mean?

Dec 22, 2021 9:36 PM in response to dornadeluxe

I turned off all the home notifications. iOS 15.2. Battery still drains over 50% over night. Ugh. Apple needs to get this fixed!!! Where the heck is the QA.

Klrbee25

Level 1

0 points

Dec 29, 2021 5:13 AM in response to ktrap

iPad Pro. Same issue. Come on Apple.

kebian

Level 1

8 points

Jan 7, 2022 6:40 PM in response to ktrap

Same issue. I lose a solid 40% of my battery to the Home app. It’s really bad.

Jan 9, 2022 1:39 PM in response to ethan397

Yes, I have a Lurton Caseta. Also having battery drain due to Home Accessories. However, I don’t have any low battery alerts. Just a few switches and Pico remotes. Might check into this further.