Problem with the Home app on iPhone

By Barbara Wilson, 6 January, 2024

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

I have just upgraded to an iPhone 15 Pro. I backed up and restored from iCloud and all worked fine. However, whenever I try to open the Home app to manage my devices, it won’t load. I get a screen that says ‘Loading accessories and scenes’ and then nothing happens. I have tried deleting and reinstalling the app, but still no joy. Can anyone help please? Thank you.

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By Brian on Sunday, January 7, 2024 - 22:18

Hi,

I have a few ideas for you to try, if you are willing. The iPhone 15 Pros and iOS 17 are quite temperamental, so your mileage may vary. However, give the following a once over:

iCloud

  1. Go to Settings > [Your name] > iCloud.
  2. On this screen tap on the 'Show All' button, to show all apps using iCloud.
  3. Make sure 'Home' is set to 'On'.

If Home is still not working, proceed below.

Network Settings

  1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  2. tap on the 'Reset' button. Note, do (not) activate 'Erase all content and settings'.
  3. Tap on 'Reset Network Settings in the alert that will popup. Alternatively, you can also reset 'Location and Privacy' settings.

Reboot your iPhone and give Home a try.

There is one last step I would recommend if all else fails, and that is to reset all settings. This is not the same as erase all content and settings. The 'Reset All Settings' will just reset everything in the Settings app back to factory defaults, but will not do anything to your iMessages, emails, applications, etc.

Hopefully one of the options above will get you up and running again.

Good luck. 😃

By Barbara Wilson on Sunday, January 7, 2024 - 22:18

Sadly none of your suggestions have worked but I appreciate your help.

By Brian on Sunday, January 7, 2024 - 22:18

Sorry to hear you are still having issues with this. I do agree that Home is one of those apps that Apple has kind of neglected on the accessibility front.

These days I tend to use Alexa for all my home automation needs. Apple just isn't the end all, be all anymore. 🫤

By Barbara Wilson on Sunday, January 7, 2024 - 22:18

Thank you. I have tried everything suggested here but still no joy. I need the app as I have a HomePod I need to set up. I may have to bite the bullet and contact apple. I am reluctant to do this as my last experience was with someone who clearly didn’t have a clue and just said yes to everything I asked, and it was all proven to be wrong. So if there are any further suggestions I will be very grateful.

By Brian on Sunday, January 7, 2024 - 22:18

I suggested last time to make sure 'Home' was turned 'on' in iCloud.

Now I would like you to try a couple of things.

1. Try running Home and when you get the message about "Loading...", check your Notification Center and see if there are any notifications regarding Home.
2. Go to Settings > [Your name] > iCloud. Disable Home, then back out and reboot the phone.
3. Launch Home again, and check to see if anything pops up in Notification Center.

What I am hoping for here, is that there is a system notification requiring input to continue with the Home app. Perhaps these steps will get things going for ya.

There are 2 categories under Privacy you may want to peek at as well.

• Local Network. If Home requires access it will be here, and possibly turned off. Enable this.
• Homekit. There may also be something here blocking access.

HTH.

By Drew on Saturday, September 21, 2024 - 22:18

Have you been able to solve this? I am honestly in despair at not being able to quickly and easily fix this. I set up my new iPhone 16 Pro and it’s been stuck like this ever since. Luckily have access on my iPad but really do need on my phone too.

Any help welcome as I’m out of ideas.

By Barbara Wilson on Saturday, September 21, 2024 - 22:18

I am really sorry but it’s been awhile ago now and I can’t remember the exact steps. However, I got a callback from Apple via their health and they talked me right through it and it was fairly easy to do. Perhaps give them a call.