Home app automation trigger (sunset/sunrise)

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Home app automation trigger (sunset/sunrise)

Hey Forums,

I've recently run into a new issue that just cropped up recently. Things had been running smooth for a number of years and when iOS 16 dropped, it seems the issues began.

My homekit hub is a homepod mini (there are 2 on my network, one is connected, the other on standby).

In my home settings, i have enabled Location Services (location services enabled during homepod setup).

I configure my accessories on my iPad only. On that iPad I have location services enabled for the home app but I have disabled homekit location services in system services (which allows you to trigger events based on location).

I have 5 triggers configured: one for each -- sunrise, sunset, one hour after sunset, and also 2 time based triggers (hard coded at 10pm and midnight). The hard coded triggers work as expected but the sunset/sunrise triggers do not.

Steps to troubleshoot:

factory reset hue bridge
removed home from home app
removed all triggers, added them back
removed all accessories, added them back
added home hubs first, before accessories

Last night, I spent 4 hours setting up my home app from scratch, after resetting the Hue Bridge. I added each and ever lamp and accessory to the Hue app first before even thinking about opening the Home app to begin that process.

I think that's all. Is there anything I'm missing? is this something failing within the app? On which device are the triggers saved or are they all saved in icloud?

Any help is appreciated.

Apple TV

Posted on Dec 5, 2022 8:50 AM

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Answer 1

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Vancouver22

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37,682 points

Dec 7, 2022 11:05 PM in response to xdracco

Not sure what you’ve disabled in system services for Location. There’s several important ones needed to recognize when sunset and sunrise occur. Try enabling that. You can customize it to suit your taste. I have them all turned on.

I see you’re using Hue Lighting. I’d recommend you try using the Hue App instead to set up Automations and create routines for these to trigger. I find that more reliable. The settings would be saved in the Hue Bridge, as well as iCloud for the reason of using the Home App on other Apple devices to sync edits.

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Answer 2

Vancouver22

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37,682 points

Dec 8, 2022 4:14 PM in response to xdracco

You need to toggle HomeKit back on for best results imo. Location is also needed because sunset is determined by location not times, since it changes daily but you also still need date and time to be in your time zone. HomeKit uses location also. HomeKit uses location in Find My and also needs share my location. I’ll show you in a screenshot below what you also need to have turned on. This is based on my iPhone being the iOS device that set up the HomePods - also important as to which iOS device was used. So you need the location based ones.

ok I see what you mean about using Hue vs the Home App. A few iOS versions ago it really messed up all my automations so I started using the Hue App but I’m home most days so that works for me.

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Answer 3

xdracco Author

Level 1

40 points

Dec 14, 2022 5:32 PM in response to xdracco

I updated every device in the household. iOS/iPadOS 16.2, MacOS 13.2, watch 9.2, etc.... you get it.

The sunset/sunrise events did not trigger until after I deleted "my home" and build it from scratch all over again. I opted for this after coming across this article:

https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/12/14/some-apple-homekit-setups-are-breaking-after-ios-162-update

Anyways, so far it's only been 3 successful triggers based on sunset/sunrise and I'm still on the fence and just waiting for a few more successful sunset/sunrise triggers before I'd be comfortable to say the issue has been resolved.

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Answer 4

xdracco Author

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Dec 15, 2022 7:43 AM in response to Michael Paine

While I can't say with absolute certainty that iOS 16.0 broke Homekit, I am almost certain 16.1.1 did. But that's neither here not there at this point. My guess is homekit settings are stored on hubs because you cannot create automation triggers until you add at least one hub. Just a guess anyways.

I feel the only way apple really hears us is if a large publication brings everything to light and is humiliates the company in public. Individual users like you and me have very little, if any, voice here. We're just one in a billion.

thanks for you insight.

I'm going to go ahead and mark this thread as solved because it does appear that 16.2 fixes the issue presented here.

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Answer 5

xdracco Author

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Dec 8, 2022 2:04 PM in response to xdracco

So it turns out it's a known issue and everyone is waiting for 16.2 to drop. That's according to the support rep i spoke with. awesome.

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Answer 6

xdracco Author

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40 points

Dec 8, 2022 6:47 AM in response to Vancouver22

Thank you for the reply.

Not sure what you’ve disabled in system services for Location.

The specific setting i'm referring to is Settings -> Privacy & Security -> Location Services -> System Settings -> Homekit (toggled off)

I don't need any location based triggers, only time based.

I've tried the Hue app and I'm always finding myself returning to the Home app because of the ability to access accessories while away from home. I know Hue offers the same but then i'll need to create and maintain yet another account on the interwebz, so i digress.

I read an article yesterday that claims the 16.2 update will supposedly rectify many Home bugs. I'll wait for the update and go from there.

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Answer 7

xdracco Author

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40 points

Dec 8, 2022 5:09 PM in response to Vancouver22

oh yea, I am aware that sunrise/sunset triggers are location based.

What's interesting is i've never enabled "share my location".. ever. And my sunset/sunrise automations have always worked. The only change I've made that would fall under this is, while I've added both apple Tvs to the home app, i have since disabled the apple tv's from acting as a home hub when i added the two home pods. Additionally, on both apple tvs, i've disabled location services.

That said, I'm going to try two things here. First, i'll try your suggestions. If that works, i'll backtrack and try enabling the apple tv as home hub again and enable location services.

I'll report back (in case you're interested in results).

thank you for the ideas.

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Answer 8

Dec 14, 2022 11:39 PM in response to xdracco

As I understand it, Homekit settings are stored in a local "cloud" that is shared amongst the Homekit Hubs. They are not stored in iCloud. This way they can continue to work if the internet is down.

OS16 (on various Apple devices) does seem to have broken some features that have worked well for years. It seems all we can do is give feedback to Apple and hope specific bugs (sorry "issues") are fixed. Apple.com/feedback

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Answer 9

Vancouver22

Level 8

37,682 points

Dec 9, 2022 11:37 AM in response to xdracco

Thanks for reporting back to us. Hopefully the next update resolves this for you. You can still submit feedback to Apple with any issues you’re experiencing with HomeKit: Feedback - Home App - Apple

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Answer 10

xdracco Author

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40 points

Dec 9, 2022 9:16 AM in response to Vancouver22

So I reset home app. After resetting home app, I re-enabled location services in both apple tvs and the 2 iOS devices I use to maintain accessories. I added everything back and added a sunset and sunrise trigger and both failed.

Looks like it is Apple's buggy software I'm dealing with. Taking a guess here but I believe 16.1.1 introduced Matter threading for better compatibility. I realize I mentioned that these issues began when iOS 16 dropped but in retrospect, this issue did not begin back in September, rather it began late last month after I added and configured a new home (my mother's home 30 miles away).

Anyways, thanks again for you help. I guess I have no choice but to sit this one out until 16.2 drops. Hopefully it addresses the issue like the Apple rep claimed.

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