Apple plans to bring a software update to iOS 16 that will provide support for the Matter connected home standard.

The Home app in iOS 16 makes it easier for users to navigate, organise and view their accessories, and enhancements to the underlying architecture offer users more efficient and reliable control of their smart home.

A software update to iOS 16 will bring support for the Matter smart home connectivity standard once it becomes available in autumn, enabling a wide variety of accessories to work together seamlessly across platforms, helping fulfil the vision of a smart home.

Accessibility updates include door detection, which helps users who are blind or low vision to use their iPhone to navigate the last few centimetres to their destination, and Apple Watch mirroring for users with physical and motor disabilities who may rely on assistive features such as voice control and switch control to control Apple Watch from their iPhone.

A privacy toolcalledSafety Check can be helpful to users whose personal safety is at risk from domestic or intimate partner violence by quickly removing all access they’ve granted to others. It includes an emergency reset that helps users sign out of iCloud on all their other devices, reset privacy permissions, and limit messaging to just the device in their hand. It also helps users understand and manage to which people and apps they’ve given access.

Personalised spatial audioenables a more precise and immersive listening experience. Listeners can use the TrueDepth camera on iPhone to create a personal profile for spatial audio that delivers a listening experience tuned just for them.

“IOS 16 is a big release with updates that will change the way you experience iPhone,” said Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering. “We have reimagined how the lock screen looks and works with exciting new features that make it more personal and helpful, introduced iCloud shared photo library for families, streamlined communication through new capabilities in Messages and Mail, and harnessed enhanced intelligence with updates to live text and visual look up.”

The developer preview of iOS 16 is available to Apple developer programme members now and a public beta will be available to iOS users next month. New software features will be available this autumn as a free software update for iPhone 8 and later.