How to Reset Your Apple Home App

To reset your Apple Home app, you'll need to remove your existing Home configuration and then reset each of your connected accessories individually before setting up a new Home. This process effectively clears all your previous settings and allows you to start fresh.

Understanding the "Reset" Process

When you "reset" the Apple Home app, you're essentially deleting the current "Home" setup, which includes all your rooms, scenes, automations, and paired accessories. This doesn't factory reset the app itself but rather clears its stored configuration. Crucially, your smart home accessories retain their pairing information until they are individually reset to their factory settings. This two-part approach ensures a complete fresh start.

Step-by-Step Guide to Resetting Your Home App

Follow these steps carefully to completely reset your Apple Home setup:

1. Access Home Settings:

   • Open the Home app on your Apple device.
   • In the top-left corner, tap the Home icon (often represented by a house or three dots).
   • From the menu that appears, select Home Settings.

2. Remove Your Existing Home:

   • Scroll to the very bottom of the Home Settings screen.
   • Tap Remove Home.
   • Confirm your decision by tapping Remove again when prompted. This action will delete your Home configuration from the app and iCloud.

3. Close the Home App:

   • After removing the Home, close the Home app completely. On an iPhone or iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-click the Home button), then swipe the Home app card upwards to close it.

4. Reset All Home Accessories:

   • This is a critical step often overlooked. You must physically find all your home accessories (e.g., smart lights, smart plugs, thermostats, cameras) that were previously connected to your Home.
   • For each accessory, reset it to its factory settings. The method for doing this varies by manufacturer and device.
     • Check the device's manual: The quickest way to find the specific reset instructions.
     • Look for a physical reset button: Many devices have a small button you might need to press and hold.
     • Unplug and replug: Some simple devices reset by being unplugged for a few seconds and then plugged back in.
     • Manufacturer's app: Some accessories require you to use their dedicated app to perform a factory reset.
   • Why this is important: If you don't reset accessories, they may still try to connect to the old (now non-existent) Home or remain in an unpairable state.

5. Create a New Home:

   • Once all accessories are reset, open the Home app again.
   • The app should prompt you to create a new home. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your new Home environment.
   • You can then begin pairing your now factory-reset accessories as if they were brand new devices.

Important Considerations After Resetting

• Re-pairing: You will need to re-pair every single accessory with your new Home.
• Re-configuring Scenes and Automations: All your custom scenes, automations, and room assignments will need to be recreated from scratch.
• Inviting Others: If you shared your previous Home access with family members or other users, you will need to reinvite them to your new Home.
• Home Hub: If you used an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad as a Home Hub, ensure it's still configured correctly and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your accessories after the reset.

For more detailed information on securely managing your home accessories, you can refer to Apple's support resources: Securely control your home accessories.

Reset Checklist

To ensure a smooth reset process, consider the following: