iOS 26 gives Apple’s Home app new automation features

One of the promises of the smart home is that it, in theory, should intelligently adapt and respond to your needs. iOS 26 provides a key upgrade in that department with new Adaptive Temperature features in the Home app to automate your thermostat.

Adaptive Temperature in iOS 26’s Home app provides two benefits

During the iOS 26 beta cycle, evidence in code revealed new Adaptive Temperature features in the works for Apple’s Home app. It was unknown if these features would be ready for iOS 26’s launch or arrive in a future software update, but now per Apple’s website the features have officially arrived.

Here’s how Apple describes Adaptive Temperature:

Set your thermostat to automatically adjust when you’re on your way home, when you go to sleep, or when you’re away for an extended period of time. Your iPhone uses on-device intelligence to predict when you’re on your way home to bring it to the correct temperature by the time you get there, and adjusts the thermostat to save energy when you are far away from home. It also responds to the sleep schedule created on iPhone to adjust the temperature for when you go to sleep and wake up.

There are two basic components to Adaptive Temperature:

1. Your thermostat can automatically adjust when you’re away and coming back home
2. And it can also adjust based on your sleep schedule

Certain smart thermostats have offered similar functionality in the past, to varying degrees of success, but there’s never been support directly from Apple.

The advantage of building Adaptive Temperature into the Home app is that Apple’s user privacy stance is strong, and it can tie into your existing iPhone or Apple Watch sleep routine.

There are some key requirements worth noting though. Apple says the feature “Requires a home hub, such as Apple TV or HomePod and a compatible Matter thermostat.” You also need to have location services enabled for the Home app and accessories.

It’s unclear which Matter thermostats qualify as compatible, but if you are able to try out Adaptive Temperature with your thermostat, let us know in the comments.

Best Apple Home accessories

• TP-Link Tapo 2K camera with HomeKit Secure Video
• Smart air purifier with Matter
• HomeKit Garage Door Opener
• HomeKit smart plug 4-pack
• ecobee Smart Thermostat Essential

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