Apple’s upcoming LG home accessories are reportedly getting two iPhone features. Proximity Control brings up a shortcut when an iPhone is tapped on or held near a device, and a tap to set up option starts pairing before the accessory has any power.
The details come from pdfu, who pulled them from iOS 27 code and LG device firmware and shared them in two posts on X, one on Proximity Control and one on tap to set up. Apple has not confirmed any of it. The accessories belong to the LG-built lineup that includes a thermostat, a temperature sensor, a deadbolt lock, a wired video doorbell and several security cameras.
The first photos of the LG lock and thermostat surfaced earlier this week. Code in iOS 27.2 also lists a Schneider Electric thermostat and sensor next to the LG devices.
Bringing an iPhone Near an LG Accessory Will Show an Open Controls Button in the Dynamic Island
Tapping an iPhone on an accessory, or holding it close, puts a hint in the Dynamic Island. For products like thermostats, the hint carries an Open Controls button. Cameras and doorbells open a camera viewer instead.
On iPads and on iPhones without a Dynamic Island, the same interaction shows a notification that stays on screen for 30 seconds. A setting in the Apple Home app turns the behavior off once the accessory is set up. The first tap on a new accessory also shows Dynamic Island feedback while setup begins.
The code has been in iOS 27 since iOS 27.0, according to pdfu, and the options have changed along the way. Earlier builds offered three choices:
- Never suppresses proximity controls
- Ask to Launch shows the Dynamic Island hint or notification, which links straight to the control card
- Launch Automatically shows the control card right away
iOS 27.2 replaced those with a single on/off toggle, and the enabled state works like Ask to Launch. Aaron Perris spotted the Dynamic Island references in iOS 27.2 code earlier this week. The feature is still being revised across beta releases, including iOS 27.2 beta 3, so the final behavior could change.
Apple’s “second-party” LG accessories will debut another Home feature: Proximity Control.
As with HomePod, tapping or bringing iPhone near the accessory shows a hint in the Dynamic Island. An “Open Controls” button opens the accessory’s controls. Cameras and doorbells show a camera viewer.
An iPhone without a Dynamic Island or an iPad will show a 30-second notification instead. You can disable this behavior in the Home app after setup.
You’ll also see feedback in the Dynamic Island as iPhone launches setup when you first tap the accessory to pair it.
Behind the scenes, the accessory writes an “apple-deviceid” in the Matter payload stored on its NFC tag that helps iOS identify it when tapped. It also broadcasts a Bluetooth Low Energy advert for Apple Proximity Control.
The feature appears in code since iOS 27.0. In earlier versions, Apple showed three presentation options instead of the on/off toggle in iOS 27.2:
• Never: Suppresses proximity controls.
• Ask to Launch: Shows Dynamic Island hint or notification, which deep links the control card.
• Launch Automatically: Shows control card.In the current implementation, the enabled state is equivalent to Ask to Launch. Home’s helper text reads: “Show controls when you bring your iPhone near your [accessory].” The feature is still in active development across beta releases, so the final behavior may change.
The Dynamic Island proximity control code in iOS 27.2 was first reported by @aaronp613 and @MacRumors.
— pdfu (@itspdfu) October 9, 2026
Each accessory reportedly writes an “apple-deviceid” into the Matter payload stored on its NFC tag, which helps iOS identify it on a tap. It also broadcasts a Bluetooth Low Energy advert for Apple Proximity Control.
Tap to Set Up Lets an iPhone Pair an LG Accessory Before It Has Power
The second feature starts with an NFC tap, and the iPhone transfers its pairing identity and network credentials into the accessory’s secure element. Once the accessory is powered on, it joins the Wi-Fi or Thread network and a home hub finishes the Matter setup.
According to pdfu, this setup route will be exclusive to HomeKit. Firmware for the LG lock and thermostat identifies an NXP SE051H Secure Element, and LG swaps the Matter NFC applet on that chip for a HomeKit applet, even though iOS 27 also supports standard Matter NFC commissioning. Regular Matter pairing still works once the accessories are powered on.
LG home accessories are set to debut with HomeKit-exclusive “tap to set up without power” feature, according to iOS 27 code and device firmware.
When you tap your iPhone on the accessory, HomeKit pairing happens over NFC. Your iPhone’s pairing identity and network credentials are stored in the accessory’s NFC secure element.
Once powered on, the accessory joins your Wi‑Fi or Thread network, and your home hub completes the Matter setup.
• Apple’s HomeKit-over-NFC implementation is separate from Matter NFC Commissioning.
• Firmware for the LG lock and thermostat identifies an NXP SE051H Secure Element.
• While iOS 27 supports standard Matter NFC commissioning, LG’s firmware replaces NXP’s Matter NFC applet in the secure element with a HomeKit applet. This suggests that NFC provisioning will be a HomeKit exclusive. You can still pair the accessories over Matter once they’re powered on.(Shown here: Setup instruction asset for the LG lock)
— pdfu (@itspdfu) October 8, 2026
Apple announced its Welcome Home event for Tuesday, October 13, where a smart home hub, an updated Apple TV 4K and a refreshed HomePod mini are expected. Apple could preview the LG accessories at the event. They are not expected to reach customers for at least a few more months.
