Startling shift for smart homes: iOS 26.2’s Home app now streamlines adding multiple accessories from a single pack, making the setup process faster and smoother than ever before. As Apple gears up for a renewed emphasis on home automation—amid rumors of five new Home products on the horizon—this update tightens the integration we’ve grown to rely on.
Multipack accessory pairing in the Home app lets you enroll several devices sold together using the same setup code. This feature reduces the tedium of individually configuring each item and helps avoid the common maze of juggling different brands and apps. Over the years, I’ve learned that a unified approach saves time and avoids compatibility headaches. For example, if you’ve collected a handful of smart plugs or sensors from the same manufacturer, this update accelerates the entire installation of those devices as a cohesive group.
If you’re planning a smart home refresh for the holidays or the new year, it’s worth considering bulk buys or multipacks. Today, you can find several accessories offered in multi-pack formats, such as a four-pack of HomeKit-enabled smart plugs, which aligns with the new setup improvements in iOS 26.2. With these changes, configuring an entire set of devices from a single vendor becomes noticeably quicker and more seamless than before.
What are your preferred HomeKit brands for a cohesive ecosystem? Share your go-to multipack choices and setup tips in the comments to help others build smoother, more interoperable setups.
Best iPhone accessories
- AirTag 4-pack (now $69, down from $99)
- AirPods Pro 3 (now $209, down from $249)
- MagSafe Car Mount for iPhone
- 10-year AirTag battery case 2-pack
- 100W USB-C fast charging power adapter
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