HomeKit iOS 13 New Features Explained
HomeKit in iOS 13 introduced several significant new features, including HomeKit Secure Video, HomeKit-enabled routers, and a redesigned Home app interface. These updates changed how you store camera footage, secure your smart home network, and control accessories daily.
Background: What Changed in the Home App
Before iOS 13, the Home app was a simple grid of tiles. iOS 13 brought a major visual overhaul. The app now shows a status bar at the top with suggestions like “Good Morning� or “Good Night,� which you can tap to run multiple scenes at once. The accessory tiles themselves are now grouped by room and show more detail—for example, a light tile displays brightness and color directly, and a sensor tile shows its current reading without opening a separate panel.
This update also introduced a new “Automation� tab at the bottom of the screen, separate from the main Home tab. Automations are now easier to create and edit, with a clearer interface for setting triggers based on time, people arriving or leaving, or accessory state changes. The camera feed view was also improved, with a larger preview and a scrollable timeline of recorded events.
HomeKit Secure Video: How It Works
HomeKit Secure Video is one of the headline features of iOS 13. It lets you record video from compatible security cameras and store it in your iCloud account, with the analysis done on your home hub (an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad). The key point is that the video is encrypted end-to-end and is not uploaded to the camera manufacturer’s cloud service.
To use it, you need:
- An iCloud storage plan (200GB or 2TB) – the recordings count against your storage.
- A HomeKit Secure Video–compatible camera (many major brands added support after iOS 13).
- A home hub running the latest software.
Recordings are kept for 10 days and then automatically deleted. The system uses on-device intelligence to recognize people, pets, and vehicles, and you can set activity zones to only record when motion occurs in a specific area. For example, you could set a camera to ignore a busy street but record your driveway.
HomeKit Routers: Securing Your Network
iOS 13 also introduced support for HomeKit-enabled routers. These routers (from brands like Linksys, Eero, and others) add a layer of security specifically for HomeKit accessories. Normally, smart home devices connect to your Wi-Fi network and can communicate with other devices on that network, which is a potential security risk.
With a HomeKit router, you can set each accessory to one of three security levels:
- Auto – the router decides the best level for that accessory.
- Home – the accessory can only communicate with your home hub and other HomeKit devices.
- Restricted – the accessory can only talk to your home hub, not to any other device.
This prevents a compromised camera or light bulb from being used to access your computer or phone. The feature requires a compatible router, and you must enable it in the Home app under Home Settings > Wi-Fi Network & Routers.
New Automation and Scene Features
iOS 13 expanded what you can automate. One of the most useful additions is the ability to use a sensor as a trigger. For example, you can set a motion sensor to turn on a light, but only if the sensor detects motion after sunset. You can also add conditions to automations—like “only run when someone is home� or “only when the humidity is above 60%.�
Another new feature is the ability to convert a scene into an automation. If you have a scene called “Movie Night� that dims the lights and closes the blinds, you can now make it run automatically when you say “Hey Siri, movie night� or when you arrive home. The automation editor also lets you choose which accessories are controlled, and you can now include multiple conditions with an “Any� or “All� logic.
Common Problems and Fixes
After updating to iOS 13, some users reported that their Home app showed accessories as “Not Responding.� This is often due to the home hub needing an update. Ensure your Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad is running the latest software. Also, check that your iPhone and the hub are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Another issue is that HomeKit Secure Video cameras may not record if you have not set a recording schedule. Go to the camera’s settings in the Home app, tap “Recording Options,� and choose either “Stream� or “Stream & Allow Recording.� You can then select when to record—for example, “Any motion� or “Specific motion� like when a person is detected.
If automations are not running, verify that you have a home hub set up. Automations that rely on location (like “When I arrive home�) require a hub to work when you are away. Also, check that the automation’s condition is not blocking it—for example, if you set “Only when someone is home,� and no one is home, it will not run.
Comparing iOS 13 HomeKit to Later Versions
iOS 13 laid the foundation, but later versions added more. iOS 14 introduced HomeKit camera face recognition, which can identify specific people in recorded video and notify you by name. iOS 15 added support for HomePod mini as a home hub and improved the Home app’s status view. iOS 16 completely redesigned the Home app again, with a new architecture that some users found initially buggy.
If you are still on iOS 13, you are missing out on these refinements, but the core features—Secure Video, routers, and automations—work well. The main limitation of iOS 13 is that it does not support the newer Matter standard, which was introduced in iOS 16.2. Matter allows accessories from different ecosystems to work together more easily, but it requires a home hub with the latest software.
Costs and Requirements
HomeKit itself is free, but some features require paid iCloud storage. HomeKit Secure Video requires a 200GB or 2TB iCloud plan, which costs a monthly fee. The 200GB plan allows for one camera, while the 2TB plan supports up to five cameras. The recordings count against your total iCloud storage, so if you also back up your iPhone, you need to watch your usage.
HomeKit-enabled routers are typically more expensive than standard routers, but you can use any router with HomeKit accessories—you just lose the extra security levels. The router feature is optional, and you can continue using your current router without any issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HomeKit Secure Video work with any camera?
No, only cameras that are specifically certified as “Works with Apple HomeKit� and support Secure Video will work. Check the camera’s packaging or the manufacturer’s website for the HomeKit Secure Video logo. Many popular brands like Logitech, Eufy, and Netatmo added support after iOS 13.
Can I use HomeKit without an Apple TV?
Yes, you can control accessories directly from your iPhone or iPad when you are at home. However, to use automations, remote access, and Secure Video, you need a home hub—an Apple TV, HomePod, or an iPad that stays at home. Without a hub, these features will not work.
How many HomeKit cameras can I have?
There is no hard limit on the number of cameras you can add to HomeKit, but HomeKit Secure Video is limited to one camera with a 200GB iCloud plan and five cameras with a 2TB plan. If you have more cameras than that, you can still stream them, but they will not record to iCloud.
Will my old iOS 12 accessories work with iOS 13?
Yes, all accessories that worked with iOS 12 will continue to work with iOS 13. The new features like Secure Video and router support require newer hardware, but basic control and automations are backward compatible.
How do I update my home hub?
Home hubs update automatically when you update your Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad to the latest software. To check, go to the Home app, tap the Home icon, then Home Settings, and select “Software Update.� You can also manually update each device through its own settings app.
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