Apple has a habit of rebranding its products in subtle ways that often fly under the radar—until they suddenly don’t. From iCloud replacing MobileMe to Apple Account taking over for Apple ID, the Cupertino company knows how to evolve its naming conventions to stay fresh, focused, and user-friendly. Now it looks like HomeKit, Apple’s long-standing smart home platform, is next on the chopping block. In the tvOS 26 beta, the Settings app no longer refers to “HomeKit.” Instead, it simply says Apple Home.
It might seem like a small branding tweak—but knowing Apple, even the quietest changes usually hint at a broader ecosystem play.
What Changed, and Where?
In the most recent tvOS 26 beta release, testers noticed that all system-level references to “HomeKit” were replaced by “Apple Home.” That includes device controls, automation menus, and developer-facing toggles within the Apple TV’s settings. While the Home app already uses the “Apple Home” label on the consumer-facing side, HomeKit has always been the technical framework under the hood—used by developers and power users alike.
Now, it appears Apple is looking to merge the branding into something simpler and more accessible. “HomeKit” might still exist in the background for compatibility and API purposes, but for the average consumer, Apple Home is easier to understand, easier to say, and more aligned with the rest of Apple’s product family.
Why Apple Might Be Doing This Now
Apple doesn’t rebrand things just for fun. Historically, these moves often signal a strategic shift or prepare the ground for something bigger. Consider when MobileMe evolved into iCloud, laying the groundwork for Apple’s entire modern cloud infrastructure. Even smaller rebrands—like switching from “Apple ID” to “Apple Account”—are often about streamlining experiences across devices.
In this case, the timing is interesting. The rebrand comes just ahead of rumored hardware launches, including a 4th-gen Apple TV 4K and possibly a new HomePod-style smart hub, informally dubbed the “HomePad.” By cleaning up the naming ahead of time, Apple might be setting the stage for a renewed smart home push—one that goes beyond just controlling light bulbs.
The name “Apple Home” suggests platform-level importance, akin to Apple Music or Apple Fitness. It’s no longer just a developer framework—it’s a branded product experience.
What It Means for Users and Developers
For most users, the change will likely go unnoticed at first—until you realize that everything feels a bit more cohesive. “Apple Home” is the name of the app, the platform, and now the experience. It lowers the mental friction for users who may have found “HomeKit” too technical or confusing.
For developers and device manufacturers, the core functionality doesn’t seem to be changing—yet. Matter support, automation rules, and accessory control APIs still appear to be operating the same way. But the shift could mean that Apple is laying the groundwork for a more integrated and possibly hardware-agnostic smart home ecosystem, especially as Matter becomes the industry standard.
And yes, the developer docs still mention HomeKit (for now). But as we’ve seen before, Apple’s branding transitions can take a few updates to fully roll out.
Closing Thoughts
Sometimes Apple makes loud announcements. Other times, it quietly rewrites a label—and waits for us to catch on. This rebrand from HomeKit to Apple Home might seem minor, but it’s likely part of a bigger, more cohesive smart home strategy that’s yet to unfold.
Personally, I think it’s about time. “HomeKit” always sounded like something that came in a box with cables and screws. “Apple Home” feels cleaner, more user-friendly, and way more in line with the Apple experience we expect in 2025.
Keep an eye on the next Apple event. This quiet name change may be just the beginning of something a lot louder.
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