Exciting New Features in the Home Assistant iOS App Following the iOS 18 Update

In this latest update to the Home Assistant iOS app, we are delighted to unveil a variety of new features designed to enhance your smart home experience alongside the release of iOS 18. This update also introduces an improved configuration method for the Apple Watch app.

Enhanced App Icons: Dark and Tinted Variants

Apple’s recent iOS update allows users to personalize their home screen with new app icon options. This includes a stylish dark mode and customizable tinted options, enabling users to select a preferred accent color. Home Assistant has embraced this change, offering enhanced visual appeal.

Dark and tinted variants are available for the main App Icon and some custom icons — Explore new dark and tinted icon variants for a fresh look.

Revamped Control Center Features

The new iOS version elevates the customization of the Control Center, introducing five additional controls: Assist, Toggle Light, Run Script, Activate Scene, and Open Page. These enhancements empower users to leverage Home Assistant features swiftly.

iOS 18 Control center options — New options in the iOS 18 Control Center facilitate quicker access to Home Assistant functionalities.

These additional control options are also compatible with the Action button available on the iPhone 15 Pro and 16 series. Previously discussed in our earlier blog, this feature provides easy access to Assist, similar to invoking Siri via the power button. This update further streamlines the process by removing shortcuts from the equation, significantly improving response time.

Comparison of Assist access: iOS 18 control versus Shortcuts.

New Configuration Options for Apple Watch

Previously, the Home Assistant Watch app only displayed the built-in iOS Actions. However, this update now allows users to showcase scripts, scenes, iOS Actions, and more in the Watch app. After updating, navigate to the companion app settings in the iOS app to access the new Apple Watch configuration screen, where customization options for displayed items, their order, and appearance can be adjusted.

One noteworthy feature is the Require Confirmation option. This prompt will ensure that users confirm their actions before execution, preventing accidental operations—particularly valuable for users who may inadvertently trigger incorrect actions, such as opening the garage door instead of turning on the television.

New Apple Watch configuration — Customize your Apple Watch app settings for a seamless experience.

Additional Updates to Note

Introduction of new sensors, including Apple Watch battery status, application version, and location permissions.
A new home screen widget for Scripts has been added.
Work is underway to integrate Assist capabilities into the Apple Watch; current users can try it in beta.
This version also addresses several bug fixes:
- Resolves issues preventing widget functionality on iOS versions 15 and 16.
- Enables Watch LTE to execute actions while distanced from the iPhone (location permissions required).
- Fixes the visibility of the black status bar while using earlier Core versions.
- Addresses issues causing gauge and detailed lock screen widgets to crash.

Join the Home Assistant Community for Support

Home Assistant boasts an active community filled with users eager to assist one another. We invite you to become part of our vibrant ecosystem!

Join our bustling Discord chat server for real-time interactions, and don’t forget to explore our extensive forums. If you encounter any bugs or issues, please report them on our issue tracker to aid in prompt resolution. For more guidance, check our help page for additional resources.