iOS 26 Home app guide: Apple release notes, compatible iPhones, after upgrade

Official iOS 26 Home app features and what to do right after you upgrade.

Already on iOS 26 and wondering what changed in the Home app? Start with Apple's release notes for Home, then open the app to set up Apple Intelligence options — camera descriptions, grouped notifications, and natural-language search depend on model, home hub, iCloud+, and region.

This release guide cites only Apple's newsroom and iPhone User Guide for iOS 26 Home app features, compatible iPhones, and the path after you install iOS 26. (Do not confuse the Home app with Home Screen widget updates.)

What Apple ships in the Home app on iOS 26

Apple's "What's new in iOS 26" article highlights Home updates for smart home users. Points below come from Apple release notes and "Use Apple Intelligence with Home cameras and notifications."

Which iPhones get these updates

Home app updates ship with iOS 26. Apple Support's "How to download iOS 26" lists iPhone 11 and later plus iPhone SE (2nd generation and later).

Apple Intelligence Home features additionally need iPhones on Apple's Apple Intelligence list (such as iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 16 and later) with Apple Intelligence enabled. See our Apple Intelligence setup guide and support.apple.com/121115.

Not on iOS 26 yet? Official upgrade path (short)

See our iOS 26 upgrade guide for backup and Software Update. Minimum: iCloud backup → Settings → General → Software Update → install → confirm under About.

After iOS 26: open Home and walk the new options

1. 1

   Launch Home

   Open the Home app. If you have no home yet, follow Apple's Intro to Home to add accessories or accept an invite.

2. 2

   Confirm your home hub

   Apple Intelligence Home features need a HomePod (2nd gen), HomePod mini, or Apple TV 4K hub on supported software. Check hub status in the app.

3. 3

   Enable Apple Intelligence on iPhone

   For camera descriptions and grouped notifications, turn on Apple Intelligence under Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri on a compatible iPhone with supported languages per Apple Support.

4. 4

   Turn on Apple Intelligence in Home Settings

   Home app → Home tab → ⋯ → Home Settings → turn on Apple Intelligence → enable or disable video descriptions per camera.

5. 5

   Manage Reduce Notifications

   In Home Settings → Apple Intelligence, toggle Reduce Notifications to group similar activity alerts.

6. 6

   Try natural-language clip search

   With descriptions enabled on compatible cameras, search recordings in natural language and read merged notification summaries before opening clips, per Apple's guide.

To compare new Home menus remotely, open a browser room on figmeet · guide · features.

# Official starting points
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/06/apple-elevates-the-iphone-experience-with-ios-26/
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/whats-new-in-ios-26-iphfed2c4091/ios
https://support.apple.com/en-us/123705
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/apple-intelligence-home-cameras-bd2gjv2g9nx0/ios
https://support.apple.com/en-us/121115
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/intro-to-home-iph344652def/ios

Install iOS 26 only through Settings → General → Software Update. Manage Home camera and notification privacy in Apple's official Home Settings — avoid unofficial profiles or modified system builds.

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