Some iOS 27 users say Siri now asks them to unlock their iPhone before running an Apple Home scene or controlling an accessory. The behavior does not appear consistent across homes, and available reports do not establish that Apple introduced a universal new authentication rule.
In a HomeKit community discussion, one user said a long-running scene began requiring an unlocked iPhone after the iOS 27 update. Other participants reported that similar automations still worked, which makes the thread evidence of a user-facing problem rather than confirmation of its cause or scope.
Apple’s Home automation guide continues to describe automations that run from time, location, sensors or accessory actions. It does not document a new iOS 27 requirement to unlock the phone for every Home automation, although secure actions such as unlocking a door can require authentication by design.
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What to check before rebuilding the automation
First, separate a Home automation from a Siri request or a personal automation in Shortcuts. A Home automation normally runs through the home hub, while a spoken command depends on Siri and the phone’s lock-screen permissions. A personal automation can also have its own confirmation setting, and Apple notes that individual actions may still need permission even when Ask Before Running is disabled.
Review Settings > Face ID & Passcode and confirm whether Siri and Home Control are allowed while locked. Changing those options affects what someone can access from the Lock Screen, so consider the security tradeoff before enabling them. Then open Home, select the automation and use Test This Automation while the iPhone is unlocked.
If the problem affects a door lock, garage door or alarm, an authentication prompt may be expected because the command changes physical access or security. Apple lets compatible home keys use Express Mode, but only on supported locks and only after the owner chooses that mode during setup.
Users seeing a new prompt for ordinary lights or nonsecure scenes should update the iPhone and home hub, restart both, and report the behavior with the exact trigger and accessory type. Avoid replacing the automation with an unofficial bypass that makes a secure accessory act through a dummy switch, since that can weaken the protection the confirmation was meant to provide. Our guide to Apple Home hub requirements can also help confirm that the automation has a supported hub available.
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