White series firmware updates and apple home

[dbdevault]

I asked the support bot Ira if White series switches will get firmware updates. The bot responded with the following response:

It’s not certain yet if White Series switches will automatically update firmware through Apple HomeKit.

However, Apple does have the capability to update Inovelli devices when it detects new firmware that’s been certified by CSA standards. By default, Apple will push these updates automatically, but you can disable this in Home Settings > Software Update > toggle off “Home Accessories” if you prefer manual control.

So while the feature exists in Apple Home, we’re still testing whether it will work specifically with White Series switches.

Has it been determined that the white series switches will get firmware updates if my system is only setup using Apple Home? T

here has been discussions referencing new Matter SDK 1.4 and 1.5 … is the upcoming update for firmware for the White Series dimmer switch going to be built using the newer Matter SDK and that it will be released “soon”. Do we have a definitive date for release of the new firmware? Will I be forced to use Home Assistant ( are there other options ? ) to get firmware updates?

The support robot Ira references the firmware being certified by CSA standards. Is this always done prior to release of a new firmware to production?

[andrewk]

@dbdevault

Has it been determined that the white series switches will get firmware updates if my system is only setup using Apple Home? T

Yes, Personally I would not want this to happen automatically (I don’t let any of my devices update automatically) however it is possible to update production software via Apple Home.

@dbdevault

There has been discussions referencing new Matter SDK 1.4 and 1.5 … is the upcoming update for firmware for the White Series dimmer switch going to be built using the newer Matter SDK and that it will be released “soon”. Do we have a definitive date for release of the new firmware? Will I be forced to use Home Assistant ( are there other options ? ) to get firmware updates?

The upcoming software for the White Dimmer is 1.1.5. It is built against Matter 1.4. The Matter 1.5 SDK was only released in late Nov. 25 so it will come to Inovelli products later (I’m not sure that tvOS 26 even has it yet).

Inovelli has said that 1.1.5 has been certified and that they are preparing release documentation. I would interpret that to mean it will be released within the next few weeks.

@dbdevault

The support robot Ira references the firmware being certified by CSA standards. Is this always done prior to release of a new firmware to production?

Yes. For an organization to say it has a “Matter Certified” product it must be certified by CSA.

[dbdevault]

Thank you. I have turned off automatic updates in Apple Home. I’m assuming that when the firmware is released that Apple Home will let me selectively update switches individually and hopefully not some bulk update of all the switches.

[andrewk]

It will allow you to pick them one at a time. It’s important to only do one update at a time since if you update two switches at the same time but one is routing through the other one of the updates will probably fail. I normally leave 5 mins between each update.