Apple has started using the Apple Home label in system menus instead of HomeKit. The change showed up in the tvOS 26 beta settings app. It replaces older references that used the HomeKit name.
The tvOS 26 beta now shows a settings entry that reads Apple Home rather than HomeKit. That wording appears in places where Apple once said HomeKit. The change is visible to users running the beta builds.
Why the name change matters
HomeKit has been the smart home brand for more than a decade. Apple is updating the platform under new technical rules. The company began shifting logos and labels some years ago, and it now uses the Works with Apple Home label for accessories. This step in the tvOS beta continues that transition.
Apple has embraced the Matter standard, and the new branding helps signal broader device support. Matter makes it easier for many brands to work with Apple systems. The Apple Home label may make it clearer that many makers can now work with Apple devices.
The link to a new Home Hub and to homeOS
Reports say Apple plans new home hardware and a homeOS platform. Those plans moved on a later schedule. The expected hub now looks likely to appear in 2026 as Apple refines Siri and the app control features that will shape the hub experience. The tvOS labeling change lines up with that broader roadmap.
For many people, this is mostly a label update. For others, it signals a push to simplify smart home setup and to make cross-brand support clearer. Users who rely on third-party smart devices may see modest changes to setup screens and to accessory logos over time. Developers who integrate with Apple systems should check guidelines and update wording when they list compatibility.
Why Apple may be cautious about a public shift
Apple has moved slowly. The company first updated developer and product badges. It then required a new HomeKit architecture in recent system updates. Apple prefers to test changes before a wide rollout. The tvOS beta shows the change is ready to appear in visible places as Apple prepares other home platform work.
How device makers and retailers will react
Accessory makers will need to follow Apple branding guidance. Retailers who list compatibility may update product pages and labels to say Works with Apple Home. That will make shelf and online listings easier to read for shoppers who want cross-brand compatibility. The shift also makes it easier for Apple to market a single experience for smart home control.
Apple has made a small but notable label change in its latest beta. The shift points to a longer-term plan to simplify the smart home brand and to prepare for broader device support and new home hardware.