Level 1

20 points

Homekit Automations are broken in iOS 16

Since iOS 16 HomeKit automations aren't triggered reliably. Simple timed automations like "Open Shutters at 9am" are triggered randomly. All my Hubs, Homepods, iPhones, etc are up-to-date, restarted, reseted all the devices, recreated all the automations, but still not reliable.

My only solution at the moment is to schedule the automations with the accessories' own hub. (eg. IKEA light automations are set in IKEA's own app, and my Bosch smart home shutters are scheduled within Bosch's app) It works, but would be better to see everything within Apple's Home.

Posted on Sep 16, 2022 1:47 AM

Top-ranking reply

Glennch

Level 1

24 points

Posted on Sep 21, 2022 12:52 PM

I too suffered from my automations no longer working after upgrading my AppleTV's (4K and HD) to TV OS 16. After about 5 days of troubleshooting I cannot say what specifically is wrong but I can provide what seems to be a consistent way to create HomeKit automations that consistently work on IOS 16 / TV OS 16.

First, the iphone / ipad you run this procedure on must be running IOS 16 for this to work.
Delete the automation in question (either via the Home app or the Shortcuts app)
Create the automation in the latest version of the shortcut app (Do NOT use the Home App).
In the shortcut application when you create your automation, do not select your scene or accessory in the first menu, instead scroll down to the bottom and select "Convert to shortcut"
In the shortcut menu select your scene or accessory as you normally would.
Before hitting "Done" in the Shortcut menu, select the small arrow at the very bottom right of the screen to test your script. Assuming it works as desired you can select "Done" in the Shortcut menu.
Now don't panic, it takes approximately 3-5 seconds to copy the new automation to your home hub before it will be listed in the Automations screen.

This has worked consistently for me for both simple automations such as turning on a light at a certain time as well as complex automations based on location that SSH into a remote server.

Good Luck

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442 replies

Kazemi88

Level 1

22 points

Nov 21, 2022 10:58 PM in response to KanyeQU

I can say that all my automations are working. It’s not perfect. Some of the “leaving” scenes, during day or night can’t tell each other apart. But, all my timed automations and arrival automations are working. I think the trick is to delete automations, sign out of iCloud on your phone, then re add automations. Then, run them, like test it. That’s what’s worked for me.

Dec 14, 2022 9:15 AM in response to pbenag01

pbenag01 wrote:

What do you mean by "edit an automation"? Changing the Name of the Automation, Adding/Deleting Accessories, Change Timing, or something else?

I mean, making any change to the automation after you've created it. For instance, an automation that turns on a switch a half hour before sunset and turns it off two hours later. It works if left alone. But change the turn-off to three hours, and it stops working. Disable and re-enable the home hub and it works again, with the new settings. I don't know why this solution is working for me (and others), but some find it doesn't.

Dec 14, 2022 9:19 AM in response to Thomas Easterday

Thomas Easterday wrote:

I’ve tried the “simple solution” you suggested (several times actually). I just now removed my HomePod entirely and now only have one (new) AppleTV as my hub. This time I reset that Apple TV and set it up again. The Home app shows the AppleTV as the only connected hub. I then created a simple ToD automation for the switch. It won’t trigger at the configured time despite working fine when I test it in the automation, or manually control the switch.

Btw, I have a Sunset daily automation using two of these same types of switches that has worked flawlessly for weeks. I had a turn off at midnight ToD automation that stopped working (it worked for several days), which is what started this for me…

Try changing the order of your steps. Disable and re-enable the home hub after you create the automation and see if that works.

Dec 16, 2022 12:20 AM in response to ViaDale

Which supports my thesis that appletv is a problem. Also, what you observe makes sense because when you unplug it home will “connect” another hub as the “leader” (status=connected) in your network. Even powering appletv back on will not change the leader of the home network. Only when the leader has problems connecting (reboots) it will change that leadership (I think). So with you there are now several ppl here that consider the Apple TV is a problematic home hub.

Dec 20, 2022 11:02 PM in response to Mitch Stone

They mean Ventura.

You can find out by stating the upgrade process. It then tells you which of your devices aren’t running supported OS.

Rather unhelpfully, it only tells you about your own devices, not other devices of other users of the home. So you might do the upgrade thinking it is all fine and then later find out that other members of your household have been shut out.

Jan 25, 2023 8:31 AM in response to carrlos_me

Sure, make sure wifi is strong where that particular hub is placed. Or else, your only option currently is to round-robin reboot until a stable hub is connected. It’s crazy that we can’t define a preferred hub order for connectivity ourselves that based on actual connectivity HomeKit cycles through, always beginning with the top one and thereby almost unlikely ending up on the one with worst wlan coverage.

Jan 25, 2023 9:53 PM in response to carrlos_me

You probably tried manually forcing a different channel in your wifi settings (could address intermittent interference). Another wifi tweak is to try assigning a static IP to the ATV in your router settings (dynamic IPs sometimes confuse Homepods and, maybe, ATVs waking from sleep).

Otherwise it could be a wifi/hardware issue with the ATV.

Sep 27, 2022 8:08 AM in response to mumbles2701

I did not delete home. I deleted the the app completely from my phone, rebooted my phone and then reinstalled the home app.

Oct 6, 2022 10:41 AM in response to MEGATOMI

Same problem.

Solution

upgrade latest iOS

Deleted automations

created again using shortcuts menu

worked

Oct 9, 2022 7:50 AM in response to justinusmc02

Try deleting and reinstalling the Home app.

Oct 25, 2022 5:41 AM in response to Kazemi88

And just like that Apple TV update fixed my issues.

Nov 2, 2022 7:33 AM in response to Patrickpp

I can't type a lot as I keep getting auto-moderated, but the latest iOS version (the opt-in version for developers) is working very well for me. The automations are working like a charm.

Kazemi88

Level 1

22 points

Nov 9, 2022 1:49 PM in response to zorkmaracmur181

Don’t do a factory reset. Have you tried to sign out of iCloud and back in?

Dec 15, 2022 8:39 PM in response to dMindFuse

I’m proceeding by disabling HomeKit on my AppleTVs. My HomePod is the hub now and seems to be working fine. I haven’t had the issue you describe with my appleid.

Sep 20, 2022 6:11 AM in response to MEGATOMI

Hey. I have two Mini HomePod, Philips Hue lights, and a Smartmi purifier. Classics automation are working with iOS 16.0.1 but automations like when I’m going out or coming home are not working anymore.

I solved this issue one time by disconnecting all my iPhone from iCloud and resetting my HomePod Mini. Then reconnect iPhone and restart HomePod mini…

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Homekit Automations are broken in iOS 16