[iPadOS 26.1] Home Assistant App Locks Device in Full-Screen Loop — Cannot Exit App, Requires Reboot

[DevOceanIT]

iOS device model, version and app version

Model Name: iPad Pro (current-generation)
Software Version: iPadOS 26.1
App version: Latest available in App Store as of Dec 1, 2025 (version number unknown — app was deleted to regain control of the device)

Home Assistant Core Version
Fresh reinstall (version current as of Dec 1, 2025)
(Backend accessible and working via browser at http://192.168.1.123:8123)

Describe the bug
Opening the Home Assistant app on iPadOS 26.1 immediately forces the device into a full-screen state where system gestures stop working. I cannot exit the app, open multitasking, or swipe up to return to the Home Screen. The app effectively takes over the iPad. The only way to recover the device is a forced reboot. Deleting and reinstalling the app does not resolve the behavior.

To Reproduce
1. Install Home Assistant Companion App on iPad Pro running iPadOS 26.1
2. Launch the app
3. App attempts to connect to local HA instance at http://192.168.1.123:8123
4. Screen becomes locked into the app with gestures disabled
5. Device becomes unusable until force-restarted
6. Reinstalling app results in same behavior

Expected behavior
The app should open normally and allow exiting via standard iPadOS gestures. It should never lock the device into a state requiring a forced reboot.

Screenshots
(None — app prevents device interaction once launched.)

Additional context
Backend loads perfectly in Safari and works without issue. Multiple “mobile_app” device entries existed in Home Assistant for this iPad before deletion. Cleaning those entries did not prevent the full-screen lock behavior. Problem persists even after deleting the app, rebooting, and reinstalling.

[DevOceanIT]

Closing this as a duplicate is incorrect. #3748 is about the app launching itself. My issue is a full-screen lock where system gestures stop working and the device becomes unusable until a reboot. The HA backend loads fine in Safari, and reinstalling the app does not resolve the behavior. This is a separate failure mode and needs its own tracking.

[DevOceanIT]

Please reopen this. My issue is not related to random auto-launching. This bug hard-locks the entire iPad and disables system gestures until a full reboot. The referenced issue does not describe this behavior. This is a separate and severe regression and needs its own tracking.

[bgoncal]

I am aware, it’s all one single bug that is relaunching the app without user input or preventing the app to be dismissed by the user, I am tracking all those behaviors in that issue, if you want I can reopen yours, but, updates will be provided there.