iOS 16 Home App Redesign: What Is New?

Apple completely overhauled the Home app in iOS 16 to provide a more intuitive, efficient, and reliable smart home experience. The update introduces a streamlined single-screen layout, category-based device filtering, redesigned interactive accessory tiles, enhanced multi-camera views, and foundational support for the Matter smart home standard. This article breaks down each major change and explains how the redesign improves everyday smart home navigation.

Unified Single-Tab Layout

Prior versions of the Home app required switching between multiple tabs to manage rooms and favorite devices. In iOS 16, the app consolidates everything into a primary Home tab.

Users can view their top accessories, security feeds, and room groupings in a single, customizable feed. Rooms are now organized as distinct sections on this central dashboard, allowing users to scroll vertically through their entire home without diving into nested menus.

Category-Based Navigation

At the top of the Home tab, Apple introduced a persistent category bar that organizes accessories by function:

  • Climate: Thermostats, temperature sensors, fans, and humidifiers.
  • Lights: Smart bulbs, switches, and dimmers.
  • Security: Smart locks, alarm systems, and garage doors.
  • Speakers & TV: AirPlay speakers, HomePods, and smart televisions.
  • Water: Sprinklers, smart faucets, and leak detectors.

Tapping any category filters the display to show all related devices across the entire home, along with summary status information (such as how many lights are currently on).

Redesigned Accessory Tiles

Accessory controls are redesigned for quicker interactions. The updated tiles visually distinguish between device states using background colors and clear iconography:

  • One-Tap Actions: Tapping the device icon instantly toggles the accessory on or off.
  • Detailed Controls: Tapping the name or body of the tile opens the expanded slider menu for fine-tuning brightness, color, or temperature.
  • Variable Sizing: Users can resize tiles in the layout to emphasize frequently used devices.

Multi-Camera Monitoring

Camera management is significantly improved. Up to four live security camera feeds are displayed side-by-side directly on the main screen. If a home has more than four cameras, users can scroll horizontally to view the remaining feeds, eliminating the need to open each camera individually to check a live stream.

Lock Screen Widgets

The iOS 16 Home app integrates directly with the redesigned iOS Lock Screen. Users can add compact widgets that display real-time sensor data (such as indoor temperature or security status) and quickly access their most critical devices without unlocking their iPhone.

Matter Standard Integration

Under the hood, the redesign laid the framework for Matter, the cross-platform smart home connectivity standard. This architecture improves overall responsiveness and allows compatible smart home accessories from various ecosystems to connect seamlessly within Apple Home.