Synchronization and Purchase Restoration

Here is a detailed reset process that resolves generally any issue related to synchronization or purchase restoration. On the main Controller associated with the Apple ID that owns the subscription:

1. Ensure you have a backup of your configuration, the file named ‘RoomieBackup.zip’, and move it out of your iCloud Drive. If your backup is called SimpleControlBackup.zip, that will also work. If you have even older backup files with one of them named Roomie.plist, those will also work. Just make sure you copy them out of your iCloud Drive and have them safe before proceeding.
2. Go to the iOS Settings app, tap the top item for your iCloud account, then tap “iCloud”, then tap “Manage Account Storage”, then scroll down to any items labelled “Simple Control” or “Roomie Remote”, tap them and then tap “Delete Documents & Data”. Also perform this step on any iCloud accounts on Controllers to which you plan to share (that would need to be done on a different Controller logged into the account you will be sharing with later). This step can also be performed on macOS in System Settings in the Apple ID section, tap ‘iCloud’ and then ‘Manage…’ next to Account Storage.
3. Delete all Simple Control and Roomie Remote apps from all of your iOS Controller(s), tvOS Controllers, and macOS Controllers as well as any iOS Controllers to which you plan to share. Make sure this is thorough including any older apps as well as any sister apps such as Intercomm, or Now Showing. If you miss one, this process may fail.
4. Fully restart (power cycle) all iOS, tvOS, and macOS Controllers that applied in step 3.
5. For each macOS Controller, delete these folders: ~/Library/Group Containers/group.com.roomie, ~/Library/Containers/maccatalyst.com.roomie.unified, and ~/Library/Containers/Roomie Remote. Some of those may not exist, that’s fine.
6. Verify after restarting that all iCloud storage has been cleared and all related apps have been deleted by searching for the apps and going to the Settings app and checking again that the iCloud storage items are not listed under the name Roomie Remote, Simple Control, Now Showing, or Intercomm.
7. Install the latest Roomie Remote version fresh on your Primary Controller, which should also be the Controller that is logged into your Apple Account that owns your subscription. Make sure all of your Controllers are compatible with at least iOS 17+, tvOS 17+, or macOS 14+. Click here to download the app.
8. Restore your backup from step 1 via the ‘+ Restore Home’ button at the top level of the Homes panel (if you’re looking at a Home details panel, tap the back button). Select the backup you made in Step 1. You may need to copy it back to your iCloud Drive at this point to select it. Make sure never to create a “Roomie Remote” top-level iCloud Drive directory manually. When your backup file is in whatever place you prefer, use the ‘+ Restore Home’ button.
9. IF AND ONLY IF your subscription was started in the old Simple Control V5 [verify this in Apple’s Settings app], at this point install Simple Control V5 from the App Store on this Controller as well – the subscription must be associated with the same Apple Account as this Controller. The old app, since you downloaded it when it existed and purchased a subscription within it around 2016, is available from your App Store purchase history section in the App Store. Do not install V5 on any Controller other than your Primary Controller. Run V5 and tap Restore Purchases. Nothing else needs to be done in that app. Make sure to turn off Background App Refresh for the old app in Apple’s Settings app and leave the old app on your Controller until you have transitioned your subscription before the next renewal. Every month or more often, open V5 and Restore Purchases again until you have completed the transition. At that point, delete V5.
10. Return to V9 and use the Restore Purchases button (in V9).
11. Verify the “Code Sets” downloaded count in Settings is complete. For instance if the last number is “20”, the first number should also be 20. If it’s already counting, wait for it. Otherwise, press “Force Codeset Update” and wait for it to complete such that it says “20/20” or whatever number is last for you.
12. Verify everything is now working properly from this first Controller. Test your Activities. This is your Primary Controller, make sure it is designated as such in the Homes panel, and make sure it is running for all steps below.
13. Assuming everything is now working, install the latest Roomie Remote on any additional Controller of the same Apple Account on the same home network, make sure it has at least iOS/tvOS 17 (macOS 14) and the latest version of Roomie, launch it, wait a moment for the prompt to join the home over the network from your Primary Controller, allow time to synchronize with the app open in the foreground, and make sure the code sets are complete as you did before.
14. Assuming everything is now working, install the latest Roomie Remote on any Controllers that use a different Apple Account. [If you are attempting to share HomeKit accessories as well, make sure your HomeKit Home is shared via Apple’s Home app from the owning Apple Account to the sharee Apple Account before the next step, and that the HomeKit Home uses the same name as the home in Roomie. Make sure your HomeKit home is owned by the same Apple Account as that used by the Primary Controller and also the same as the Apple Account that owns your subscription.] Launch Roomie on the Controller you want to share with, and accept the prompt to join the home using Instant Home Sharing. Simply open Roomie on the sharee Controller and wait a few seconds for the alert asking if you’d like to Join the home. (Instant Home Sharing must be turned on in the Always-on Services panel on your Primary Controller – it is on by default.)
15. Activate the Home if necessary from the Homes panel. Usually this is automatic.
16. Restore Purchases on the owning Controller. Then, Restore Purchases on all shared Controllers. Leave them open for a few moments to ensure full sync and recognition of purchases.
17. Verify the Primary Controller setting in the Homes panel to ensure that devices limited to a single connection work best (Denon/Marantz receivers, FireTV, nVidia Shield, older Yamaha Receivers), and also certain cloud services including Honeywell and Ecobee. The Primary Controller must be configured as designated in the Setup Guide connected to a charger and optionally use Guided Access for iOS Controllers. For macOS, the app should be running and the macOS system should not Sleep. If the Controller you designate as Primary is not the Controller used to designate it, make sure to restart the Primary after doing so for the changes to take effect. Not using an always-on Primary Controller means several features would not work including Automation, Alexa, and others. Such a configuration would only be best only in a single-Controller environment with no Automation.