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Synchronization and Purchase Restoration

Here is a detailed reset process that resolves generally any issue related to synchronization or purchase restoration. On the main device 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 devices to which you plan to share (that would need to be done on a different device 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 device(s), tvOS devices, and macOS devices as well as any iOS devices 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 devices that applied in step 3.
  5. For each macOS device, 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 device that is logged into your primary iCloud account that owns your subscription. Make sure all of your iOS devices are compatible with at least iOS 16.1. 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 device as well – the subscription must be associated with the same Apple ID as this device. The old app, since you downloaded it when it existed and purchased a subscription within it years ago, is available from your App Store purchase history section in the App Store. Do not install V5 on any device 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 device until you have transitioned your subscription by 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 V8 and use the Restore Purchases button (in V8).
  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 device. Test your Activities.
  13. Assuming everything is now working, install the latest Roomie Remote on any additional device of the same Apple ID, make sure it has at least iOS/tvOS 16.1 (macOS 13.1) and the latest version of Roomie, launch it, and allow time to synchronize with the app open in the foreground and make sure the code sets are complete as per above.
  14. Assuming everything is now working, install the latest Roomie Remote on any devices that use a different Apple ID, launch it. [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 ID to the sharee Apple ID 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 ID as that used by the device designated as your Primary Controller and also the same as the Apple ID that owns your subscription.] Now, you have two sharing choices. The first choice is to use Cloud Sharing: return to the owning Apple ID’s device and share the Roomie home from the Homes panel in Roomie to the Apple ID of the secondary device. Then, use the Messages app for this step to transmit the sharing link from the owning device to the shared device. Alternatively, use the new Instant Home Sharing. Simply open Roomie on the sharee device 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 – it is on by default.) We recommend using Instant Home Sharing instead of Cloud Sharing.
  15. For those using Cloud Sharing, accept the share on the secondary device by tapping it in Messages, and then return to Roomie Remote on that device. The shared home should populate. If not, check the Homes panel to make sure the correct Home is now added and is listed under the “Shared” category, and Activated.
  16. Activate the Home if necessary.
  17. Restore Purchases on the owning device. Then, Restore Purchases on all shared devices. Leave them open for a few moments to ensure full sync and recognition of purchases.
  18. Designate a Primary Controller 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 devices. For macOS, the app should be running and the macOS system should not Sleep. If the device you designate as Primary is not the device used to designate it, make sure to restart the Primary after doing so for the changes to take effect.