Whether you can’t add an accessory to the Home app or the Home app is not working on an iPhone running iOS 17, here’s the troubleshooting guide to fix the issue.
You can use the Home app on your iPhone to securely control and automate HomeKit and Matter-enabled accessories, such as lights, smart TVs, and thermostats. If Home app is not working on your iPhone after iOS 17 update, check out the troubleshooting steps below to fix the issue.
Please note: some accessories, speakers, and smart TVs might require software updates or additional setup with the manufacturer’s app.
13 Ways to Fix Home App Not Working on iPhone in iOS 17
1. Make Sure Your Accessory Supports HomeKit
If Home app is not working on iPhone in iOS 17, make sure that your accessories support HomeKit, AirPlay 2, or Matter. For example, Samsung AirPlay 2-compatible smart TVs don’t support HomeKit and can’t be added to the Home app.
Check the accessory’s manual to see if it needs additional hardware to work with HomeKit or Matter.
2. Close And Reopen The Home App
Sometimes small glitches with the Home app can prevent it from connecting to the internet, and when that happens, it won’t work at all. The first thing to try is to close the Home app and open it again.
To close the Home app, double-click the Home Button on your iPhone to open the app switcher. If your iPhone doesn’t have a Home button, swipe up from the very bottom to the center of the screen. Hold your finger in the center of the screen until the app switcher opens.
You can swipe back and forth to see all the apps that are open on your iPhone. When you find Home, use your finger to swipe it off the top of the screen. It’s not a bad idea to close all of the apps, just in case a different one has crashed.
3. Make sure that your accessory is powered on and nearby
If you are trying to add an accessory to the Home app on your iPhone, make sure that your accessory is powered on and nearby.
4. Restart Your iPhone and Accessory
If the Home app is still not working after trying the above step, the next thing to do is restart your iPhone and accessory, which can occasionally resolve minor software glitches or bugs. To restart your iPhone, press and hold the power button (also known as the Sleep / Wake button) until the power slider shows up on the screen.
If your iPhone has Face ID, simultaneously press and hold the side button and either volume button. Release both buttons when “slide to power off” shows up on the screen.
Drag the power icon from left to right to shut down your iPhone.
Wait about 20 seconds, then press and hold the power or side button again until the Apple logo shows up on the center of the screen.
If your accessory won’t pair, just give it a nice reboot, sometimes nothing works better than a good ol’ power cycle. Most accessories will detail the reset process.
5. Check Apple’s System Status Page
It’s possible the Home app isn’t working on your iPhone because of an issue with Apple’s servers. Check out Apple’s System Status page and make sure the dots are green, particularly the one next to Home.
If this dot or many others aren’t green, Apple is experiencing some issues and there’s nothing wrong with your iPhone. Apple usually resolves these issues pretty quickly, so your best bet is to be patient and try using the Home app later.
6. Turn Wi-Fi Off And Back On
If you use Wi-Fi while using Home app, the app may not be working because of an issue with your iPhone’s connection to Wi-Fi. Just like restarting your iPhone, turning Wi-Fi off and back on can sometimes fix minor connectivity bugs or glitches.
To turn Wi-Fi off, start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Wi-Fi, then tap the switch next to Wi-Fi. You’ll know Wi-Fi is off when the switch is gray. To turn Wi-Fi back on, tap the switch again — you’ll know it’s on when it’s green!
7. Forget Your Wi-Fi Network, Then Reconnect
If Home app is still not working on your iPhone, it’s time to try a more in-depth Wi-Fi troubleshooting. Simply forget your Wi-Fi network, then reconnect your iPhone to it. When you connect to a Wi-Fi network for the very first time, your iPhone stores information about how to connect to that Wi-Fi network.
If any part of that process changes, it may affect your iPhone’s ability to connect to the Wi-Fi network. By forgetting the network and reconnecting, it’ll be like connecting your iPhone to the Wi-Fi network for the very first time.
To forget a Wi-Fi network, start the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Wi-Fi. Now tap the Information button (look for the blue i) next to the Wi-Fi network you want your iPhone to forget. Then, tap Forget This Network > Forget.
To reconnect to the Wi-Fi network, tap on it in the list of networks under Choose A Network… and enter the Wi-Fi password, if the network has one.
8. Try Cellular Data Instead Of Wi-Fi
If Home app is not working on your iPhone while using Wi-Fi, try using Cellular Data instead. If Home app works with Cellular Data but not Wi-Fi, you’ll know it’s your Wi-Fi network that’s causing the problem.
First, start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap Wi-Fi. Turn off the switch next to Wi-Fi.
Next, navigate to the main page of Settings app and tap Cellular. Make sure the switch next to Cellular Data is on.
Open the Home app and see if it’s working now. If Home is working, you’ve identified an issue with your Wi-Fi network. Tap or click here to learn how to fix Wi-Fi issues on iPhone.
9. Update Your iPhone
Updating your iPhone could potentially fix a software issue preventing the Home app from working properly. Start the Settings app on your iPhone and tap General > Software Update. Tap Download and Install or Install Now if an update is available.
After updating your iPhone, open the Home app and see if the problem is fixed. Move onto the next step if the Home app is still not working.
10. Sign In With the Same Apple ID
To use and manage your home in the Home app on all of your devices, sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID on every device. Then turn on iCloud Keychain and Home in iCloud Settings.
11. Add the Accessory to Your Home Using the Accessory’s App
If you’re having trouble getting Apple’s Home app to add your accessory, try adding the accessory to your Home using the accessory’s app. Most apps provide a step-by-step process for setup.
12. Reset Network Settings
If the Home app is still not working on your iPhone, try resetting the network settings. If the issue is related to the network, resetting the network settings can get rid of it.
Start the Settings app on your iPhone and go to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings and then confirm your action.
13. Delete and Reinstall Home App
Yet to troubleshoot the problem of Home app not working on iPhone? Fret not! Now, we will completely delete the Home app and re-install it. Once you delete an app, it removes the associated data, and after reinstalling, everything starts afresh. Since the Home app is not working on your iPhone, let us try this solution as well.
Press on the Home app icon from the Home screen and tap on Remove App > Delete App > Delete.
Now, press on the App Store icon, and tap on Search. Type ‘Home‘ and tap on the redownload icon.
Once the download completes, open the Home app and check if it’s working. If you are still experiencing problems, move on to the next solution.
Fixed Home App Not Working on iPhone Issue
You’ve successfully fixed Home app on your iPhone and you can now use the app to securely control and automate HomeKit and Matter-enabled accessories, such as lights, smart TVs, and thermostats. Next time Home app is not working on your iPhone, make sure to come back to this article for this fix! If you have any other questions, feel free to leave them down below in the comments section.