Homekit Automation Not Working? – Learn How to Fix

Wondering why is HomeKit automation not working? Let’s find out together!

The HomeKit automation is what makes your accessories execute predetermined actions at a time that was set during their creation.

With iOS 16, however, there are numerous reports that the automation simply stops working due to unknown reasons.

Let’s unwrap this!

In case the HomeKit automation is not working or triggering at random, you’ll need to reboot the iOS device as well as the connected accessories. Then the user has to inspect the WiFi, the Time Zone, and iCloud Account before performing a HomeKit Reset.

Let’s next learn more about HomeKit automation and how to create one:

HomeKit Automation is Not Working – Why?

Here are a couple of reasons why the HomeKit automation is not working:

• Home App iOS Issue
• Outdated iOS Firmware
• Wrong Device Time Zone
• A Bug from the Accessory
• Slow or No Internet (WiFi)
• iCloud Account Issue

We’re going to check each one of these causes later, but first, let’s check how to create a HomeKit automation the correct way!

Creating HomeKit Automation – Correctly

It’s extremely important to know the correct way of creating HomeKit automation, so you can be confident that the issue is not on your side.

Only then, if the automation is not working correctly we’ll proceed with a well-designed troubleshooting guide to solve the problem!

Let’s learn the correct way of creating a HomeKit automation:

1. Open the Home App on your iOS device!
2. From there tap on Add Automation.
3. Select a specific Time, Date, Hour, and Minute.
4. Choose the accessory that you want to automate.
5. Proceed to the Adjust Accessory Page by tapping Next.
6. When you’re ready, tap on Done to complete the automation.

Your accessory should execute the command in the given time.

In case the automation is starting at random or doesn’t work at all, proceed with the solution guide below!

How To Fix When HomeKit Automation Not Working?

In order to fix the problem we’ll first attempt solutions that don’t require any technical steps and in case they don’t help, we’ll move on with more effective methods.

The only important thing is to follow the guide in chronological order without skipping anything.

Let’s jump right in!

Solution #1 Power Cycle HomeKit Setup!

The very first step is to perform a power circulation on your HomeKit device as well as the connected accessories.

If you’ve got quite a lot of accessories, you don’t need to reset them all, simply restart the device with the HomeKit application installed.

• To restart an iOS (Apple) device, hold the power button and slide right!

Alternatively, if you only have a few accessories, feel free to disconnect them from the power as well, while restarting your iOS device.

Keep the devices unplugged for a little while and connect them back to the power.

Tip: Use the steps above to create automation after a few minutes to be able to test.

Solution #2 Adjust Device Time Zone!

The HomeKit automation is working by looking at the time on the device used to host the app!

What that means is if the time on your device is incorrect, the HomeKit automation will execute accordingly.

That’s why sometimes it appears like the automation is not working and later we realize that they trigger at incorrect times.

Here’s how to adjust the date and time on your iOS device:

1. Open the Settings on your device.
2. Scroll down and enter the General tab.
3. In there go down to Date & Time.
4. Tap on the Time Zone and select your city.
5. Alternatively, enable “Set Automatically”.

When ready, feel free to restart the iOS device and then test whether the automation is still not working.

Now, it’s also important to make sure that the configured automation is set on the correct date and correct time to avoid misunderstanding the feature’s functionality.

Solution #3 Check The Internet/WiFi

One of the essential requirements for the HomeKit automation to work is WiFi and internet consistency throughout the day.

Said simply, the internet in your home might have stopped and that’s why the automation did not execute in time or at all.

• Open the Safari browser on your device and try surfing online!

It’s important to make sure that you’re connected to the home WiFi, where all your accessories are also connected.

In case everything appears to be okay, test your internet speed and check whether there is something unusual.

Ways To Improve HomeKit Performance!

1. Relieve your WiFi by disconnecting devices that are not in use.
2. Optimize network speed by stopping any download/upload.
3. Reboot your network router to refresh the operational services.

Tip: Set HoneKit automation that would execute 60 seconds from now to test!

Solution #4 Update iOS Firmware

The next and most important step is to upgrade the iOS firmware version!

As we understood, the HomeKit issue with iOS 16 began with updating your mobile from iOS 15, and typically impacted users that downloaded the beta.

However, Apple quickly released iOS 16.1, then 16.2 and 16.3, hence we expect hotfixes for anything anytime!

Here’s how to update your device’s iOS firmware:

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple device.
2. Go to the General tab and select Software Update.
3. Wait for the “Checking for Updates” message.
4. If you see an available update, tap Download and Install.

The update would require your Apple device to be plugged in and charged so make sure to do so and might take up to 30 minutes.

In case there is no available update but HomeKit automation is not working, then make sure to attempt the next solutions in our guide!

Solution #4 Reset Automation Accessory

It’s not necessary to attempt the most-drastic solution before checking absolutely everything beforehand.

This is why it’s recommended to try and recall whether the HomeKit automation is not working for ALL accessories or just one.

Note: If the automation is not working on ALL accessories, continue with the next solution!

In that set of thoughts if the automation issue is related to one accessory only we can reset that device and check whether this will help.

Let’s learn how:

1. Disconnect the accessory from the power!
2. On most devices, locate and press the Reset button. 
3. Tip: Check the user’s manual on how to Factory Reset.
4. When the device is reset, open the Home app.
5. Tap on Add Device and connect the Accessory to the WiFi.
6. Set a new HomeKit Automation and test.

In case that doesn’t help either, let’s proceed with removing the Home app!

Solution #5 Sign In/Out iCloud Account

Sometimes signing out and in your iCloud account might turn out to be super beneficial and might restore the HomeKit functionality.

Moreover, it’s important to make sure that the device you’re using for the Home app is linked to the correct Accessory setup iCloud account.

• To sign out from the iCloud account go to Settings > Apple ID > Sign Out

When you’re ready, simply sign back in and open the Home app to check whether the automation is now going to work.

In case that doesn’t help, simply keep reading!

Solution #6 Reinstall HomeKit App!

In case nothing else helped and the HomeKit automation is still not working, we will need to perform a clean installation on the Home app.

Sadly, there is no way to export the settings for any of the connected accessories, so this is what is called a “start from scratch”. 

Tip: Take screenshots of all settings pages to be able to configure them later!

To uninstall the Home app from your iOS device, tap and hold the app’s icon and when it starts to “jiggle” tap on the “-” sign in the corner.

The software will ask you whether you want to completely remove the app or simply from the home screen so it’s essential to uninstall it entirely.

When the Home app is gone from your iOS device, go to the App Store and download the app back.

When ready, sign into your iCloud account, and test the HomeKit automation!

Quick Recap:

Hence, whenever the HomeKit automation not working we need to refresh the entire HomeKit setup by power cycling the accessories and updating their firmware.

Further troubleshooting involves checking our WiFi, Time Zone, and application settings!

We hope that this guide was informational and for more similar content, check our blog!