Home Assistant iOS Update Enhances Kiosk Mode but Signals the End for Older iPads

Home Assistant has rolled out version 2026.7.2 for iOS, bringing targeted improvements to its recently refreshed Kiosk Mode and a critical bug fix for sensor data. The Home Assistant app for iOS is widely used by smart home enthusiasts to control their local automation setups, and this latest patch builds upon the major Kiosk Mode overhaul introduced in the 2026.7.0 update earlier in July.

Kiosk Mode is a popular feature that allows users to transform an iPhone or iPad into a dedicated Home Assistant display. It keeps the screen turned on permanently and locks the interface to a specific dashboard of the user's choice, making it ideal for wall-mounted control panels.

With the release of version 2026.7.2, users now have access to two new commands designed to give them finer control over how their dedicated displays behave when idle. These commands allow administrators to manage screensaver states directly.

The new commands are:

kiosk_set_screensaver_mode

kiosk_set_screensaver_brightness

In addition to the new Kiosk Mode functionality, this update resolves a frustrating backend issue. The development team has patched a bug that was actively preventing sensors from updating their data when connected to certain servers, ensuring that dashboard metrics remain accurate in real-time.

While version 2026.7.2 delivers welcome features, the release notes also contain a critical warning for users running older Apple hardware. The previous mid-July release, version 2026.7.1, officially marked the final update compatible with iOS 15 and watchOS 8.

The Home Assistant team has notified users that starting with the upcoming 2026.8.0 release, the app will strictly require iOS 16.4 or later. Users relying on older devices will need to either upgrade their hardware or remain on the current app version indefinitely without future security patches or feature drops.

The decision to drop support for iOS 15 highlights a growing friction point in the DIY smart home community. One of the primary use cases for Home Assistant's Kiosk Mode is repurposing aging, obsolete iPads into wall-mounted smart displays, saving them from e-waste and avoiding the cost of dedicated hardware like an Echo Hub.

By shifting the baseline requirement to iOS 16.4, Home Assistant is modernizing its codebase, but it is also effectively cutting off a large swath of older iPads that cannot be updated past iOS 15. Users who have permanently mounted these older tablets will soon find themselves locked out of future app improvements, forcing them to decide whether a dedicated smart home dashboard is worth the cost of buying a newer iPad.