How to set up the apple homepod

HomePod and HomePod mini are smart speakers with the intelligence of Siri. With Siri, it’s easy to control HomePod through natural voice interaction, allowing you to play your favorite music and podcasts, get help with everyday questions or tasks, and control your smart home accessories—all with just your voice.

Before you begin, update your iPhone or iPod touch to iOS 14.1 or later, or update your iPad to iPadOS 14.1 or later. Make sure that your iOS or iPadOS device has Bluetooth® turned on, and that it’s connected to the Wi-Fi network that you want HomePod to use.

Set up HomePod for the first time

Plug in HomePod and wait until the light on top pulses white.

Hold your unlocked iOS or iPadOS device within a few inches of HomePod until the setup screen appears.

Tap Set Up and follow the onscreen instructions.

If the setup screen doesn’t appear automatically

Open the Home app on your iOS or iPadOS device, then tap .

Tap Add Accessory, then tap “I Don’t Have a Code or Cannot Scan.”

Tap HomePod in the Nearby Accessories list.

Tap Set Up and follow the onscreen instructions.

If HomePod doesn’t appear in the Nearby Accessories list, see the Apple Support article If you can’t set up HomePod.

Set up voice recognition

You can teach Siri to recognize different voices in your home. If you’ve invited others to share your home (in the Home app), members of your home can request their own music and make Personal Requests. To learn more about Personal Requests, see the task below.

To learn how to add someone to your home, see Allow others to control accessories in your home in the iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch User Guide.

Note: Voice recognition is not available in all languages and regions.

To set up voice recognition on HomePod, each member of the home must do the following on their iOS or iPadOS device:

Go to Settings > [user name] > Password & Security, then make sure Two-Factor Authentication is turned on.

In the Home app, touch and hold a HomePod, tap , then make sure Listen for “Hey Siri” is turned on.

Tap , then follow the onscreen instructions.

If setup instructions do not appear, tap , tap Home Settings, tap a user profile under People, then turn on Recognize My Voice.

During setup, each person is asked to enable Siri and change their device language to match the HomePod language, if they haven’t already done so.

Set up Personal Requests

Personal Requests are Siri commands that use info from apps on your iOS or iPadOS device, including Messages, Reminders, Contacts, Calendar, Notes, and other apps you’ve installed that work with Siri.

Before you can turn on Personal Requests, you need to set up voice recognition. See the task above.

To set up Personal Requests, do the following on your iOS or iPadOS device:

Connect your iOS or iPadOS device and HomePod to the same Wi-Fi network.

Go to Settings > Siri & Search, then turn on the following:

Listen for “Hey Siri”

Press Side Button for Siri (on an iPhone with Face ID), Press Top Button for Siri (on an iPad with Face ID), or Press Home for Siri (on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with a Home button)

Allow Siri When Locked

Go to Settings > [your name] > Find My, then make sure My Location is set to This Device.

In the Home app, tap , then tap Home Settings.

Note: If you have more than one home, you see settings for your current home (based on your location). To edit a different home, tap Homes, then tap the home you want to edit.

Tap your name, tap Personal Requests, then turn on Personal Requests for your HomePod.

If you don’t see Personal Requests, turn on Recognize My Voice to set up voice recognition. Personal Requests can be turned on during setup.

If you want to use HomePod to access the contents of Calendar, Notes, Reminders, voicemail, and call history, choose Never under Require Authentication.

To learn more about what you can do with Personal Requests, see Make Personal Requests on HomePod.

For enhanced security and network performance you may be asked to enable two-factor authentication for your Apple ID, or set your Wi-Fi network to use WPA/WPA2 security, if you haven’t already done so.

During setup, the Wi-Fi settings, Siri preferences, Apple ID, Analytics preferences, Location Services preferences, and Apple Music subscription currently configured for your iOS or iPadOS device are copied to HomePod. You’ll also set up Siri, if you haven’t already done so. After HomePod is up and running, you can use the Home app to change its name, its room assignment, and other settings.

This guide is for HomePod software version 14.2.

A quick guide to getting the most from Apple’s flagship AirPlay 2 smart speaker

A big part of the new HomePod Mini 2 launch was Apple reinforcing its credentials as a multi-room audio specialist to take on Sonos and co.

Apple launched its multi-room audio assault back in May 2018 when it released iOS 11.4 into the wild.

That’s because the iPhone / iPad – along with some the HomePod 11.4 software – brought AirPlay 2 to the masses after a long wait.

Fast forward a couple of years and a multi-room speaker setup consisting of HomePods, HomePod Minis and other AirPlay 2 speakers has never been easier, nor more affordable, to set up.

Users now have the ability to sync multiple Apple HomePod devices; creating stereo HomePod pairs and set up multi-room audio.

AirPlay 2 not only allows for songs to transfer between rooms, it lets you play them in all rooms at the same time on any iOS device, Apple TV or HomePod – and it can all be powered by Siri as well.

And, if you’ve got a pair of HomePods in the same room, it’s also possible to create a left / right stereo speaker setup – although be aware that you can only create dedicated stereo pairs of HomePods or HomePod Minis; you can’t have one of each in a pair.

How to create a stereo HomePod pair

Music purists will tell you to ignore boasts of 360-degree sound and the like – for the ultimate music experience you need a proper stereo setup, with a left and right pair delivering the sounds artists (well, their producers) intended.

The good news, with a couple of HomePods, or HomePod Minis, is that you won’t need to be faffing around with speaker wire – AirPlay 2 takes care of everything wirelessly.

• If you’re setting up a new HomePod, and you choose to add it to a room where a HomePod already lives, then you’ll see a pop-up asking you if you want to create a stereo pair.

• If you already have two HomePods in a room, open the Home app, press and hold the HomePod icon, then tap ‘Details’.

• Tap ‘Create Stereo Pair. ‘ and then select the HomePods to be included.

• Configure the speaker which will be the left, and which one will be the right by carrying out a simple tone-test. Tap the orange button to switch them if they are the wrong way round.

That’s it – you’re all set, you’ve successfully created a pair of stereo speakers. The pair will essentially be treated as one HomePod speaker, so any music you ask Siri to play, or select on your iPhone’s Control Center, will play through both in stereo mode.

You can’t just play through one while they are paired, but you can unpair them by tapping the ‘Ungroup accessory’ option within the Home app.

How to set up HomePod multi-room speakers

You don’t actually have to set up anything to make the most of the multi-room skills that AirPlay 2 brought to the HomePod 2 party.

Once you’ve successfully set up a HomePod speaker, and it’s showing up in your Home app you can simply ask Siri to play music from a certain speaker (or room). Simply say something like, “Hey Siri – play The Bluetones in the kitchen,” or “Hey Siri, play my 80s playlist in the dining room and the bedroom” and you’ll be away.

You can even get super complex with Siri, setting up different songs in different rooms – at different volume levels. Something along the lines of, “Hey Siri, play Frightened Rabbit in the kitchen at 70% and my sad songs playlist in the office at 30%,” will not cause Apple’s digital assistant any bother.

You can, of course, group speakers and control playback using the AirPlay button on Apple Music or Control Center too – check out our guide to controlling your Apple HomePod using your iPhone for more details.

Be aware though, although HomePods grouped together in a multi-room setup are pretty seamless and you won’t notice any latency or lag, the same can’t be said for adding non-Apple devices into an AirPlay group.

It’s not too bad, but it’s definitely not perfectly in sync either.

@craigelloyd
Feb 9, 2018, 8:23 pm EST | 2 min read

Apple’s HomePod smart speaker is finally here. If you bought one and are eager to get going, here’s how to set it up.

First off, before you even think about taking it out of the box, you need an iPhone or iPad in order to set one up, and your device needs to be updated to at least iOS 11.2.5. Furthermore, you’ll want to make sure that the Home app and Apple Music app are both installed on your device, since the former is needed to customize and adjust settings for the HomePod, while the latter is required during setup.

Once you plug in the HomePod, a white light will begin circling on the display, followed by a short bass tone. From there, the white light will begin to oscillate and it’ll be ready to set up.

Make sure you are near the HomePod and have your iPhone or iPad (with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on). Unlock your device to get to the home screen and you should see an automatic pop-up to set up the HomePod. Tap on “Set Up” at the bottom.

Next, select where you’ll put the HomePod and then hit “Continue”.

After that, you can subscribe to Apple Music, since it’s the only music service that you can voice control with the HomePod. However, it’s not required that you subscribe to it. So if you choose not to, just tap “Not Now”. (If you get a blank white screen here, it’s probably because you don’t have the Apple Music app installed.)

Next, choose whether or not you want to enable Personal Requests. If you do, keep in mind that anyone will be able to ask Siri to read back your latest text messages, as well as access your reminders, notes, and other info just by asking Siri as long as your iPhone is connected to your Wi-Fi network.

On the next screen, tap “Agree”.

Tap “Transfer Settings”.

Your HomePod will begin the setup process. During this time, the HomePod will emit a few different tones as an “audio password” of sorts. Try not to make any other noise during this process.

Once your HomePod is connected, Siri will begin to guide you through the different things you can do with the HomePod, so feel free to play around with it at this point to get comfortable. Otherwise, just say “Hey Siri, stop”.

Hit “Done” on your iPhone or iPad to complete the setup process.

From there, you should be able to ask your HomePod for just about anything that Siri could normally do—including playing music, creating reminders, controlling your smarthome devices, and hearing the news.

To access the HomePod’s settings, open up the Home app and you’ll see your HomePod listed under “Favorite Accessories”.

Tapping on the HomePod icon will play/pause music. Long-pressing or 3D Touching the icon will open up more options where you can select “Alarms” or “Details”.

Tapping on “Details” will give you access to the HomePod’s settings, like customizing Hey Siri and changing around some music settings.

As for interacting with the touchpad on the top of the HomePod, tapping on it will pause and resume music playback, and long-pressing will activate Siri. Whenever you have music playing, volume controls will continuously appear on the touchpad until you stop the music.

Other than that, it’s actually a pretty simple device, and it’s clearly focused on playing music rather than being the end-all voice assistant like the Amazon Echo or Google Home. In any case, enjoy your new Siri-powered speaker and let us know what you think of it in the comments if you have one!

By Charlie Sorrel • 11:00 am, February 16, 2018

• How-To
• Top stories

If this panel turns blank, you’re in trouble.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Some folks are having trouble getting their HomePods set up. For most of us, Apple’s streamlined setup is fantastic. The HomePod and your iPhone see each other, and the iPhone tells the HomePod everything it needs to know about your home network, and your iCloud ID. But this simplicity means that troubleshooting failed setups is hard. If you’re faced with nothing but a blank white screen when you plug in, here’s how to fix HomePod.

Why you’re seeing the HomePod blank white screen

The problem is that the HomePod assumes a lot about your iPhone setup. In order for the initial setup to run smoothly, you need to have the following apps installed, or services enabled, on your iPhone: –>

• Apple Music app
• Home app
• iCloud Keychain enabled
• Two-Factor authentication enabled
• Latest version of iOS installed (iOS 11.2.5 or iOS 11.3 beta a the time of writing)

If any of these is not present, then you won’t be able to use your HomePod. You should also make sure Bluetooth is switched on on your iPhone.

How to fix the blank white screen during HomePod setup

Not all of the above problems will trigger the dreaded Blank White Screen of HomePod Death. If you don’t have Two-Factor authentication enabled on your Apple ID, for example, you will be prompted to set it up. The main problem comes from not having the Apple Music or Home apps installed.

The HomePod uses Apple Music to play tunes, so you need to have an active subscription running. If not, then your iPhone will flash up a panel inviting you to sign up. However, if you have removed the Music app from your iPhone, then this invitation panel just shows up blank.

To fix this blank white screen, you need too tap the little X at the top right of this panel, and then head to the App Store to re-install the Music App. Here’s a link to the Apple Music app so you don’t need to search for it.

Reinstall the Home app

The HomePod’s settings are all accessed through the Home app, which you may also have uninstalled at some point. To re-download the Home app, head to this page on the App Store and grab it.

Restart the HomePod setup process

Now you can just restart the HomePod setup process by holding your iPhone near the HomePod and waiting for the setup “wizard” to launch again. If that doesn’t work, you can perform a factory reset of your HomePod, to ensure you’re starting from scratch.

To perform a factory reset on your HomePod, the easiest way is to remove the HomePod from your Home setup using the Home app. That’s it. You should be able to go ahead and start over.

If not, the physical reset process is as follows:

1. Unplug the HomePod, then plug it in again.
2. Press and hold the top of the HomePod, keeping your fingers there while the white light turns red.
3. Keep going!
4. Eventually you’ll hear three beeps. Your HomePod is now reset.

Hopefully all this information will be enough to get your HomePod hooked up, and running properly.

After unboxing and plugging in Apple’s fancy HomePod smart speaker, just how do you set it up? Easy peasy.

After a slight delay, Apple’s HomePod is here. The Siri-touting speaker began arriving at customers’ homes and on store shelves on Friday.

Once you get home, you need to set up the speaker before it’s time to jam out with one of the best-sounding speakers out there. The process takes just a couple of minutes, just make sure you have an iOS device handy — you can’t set it up without one. Also, make sure it’s up to date; 11.2.5 is required to interact with the HomePod.

Jason Cipriani/CNET

After clearing shelf space and plugging in the HomePod, it will take a few seconds for it to boot up. Eventually, the top display will show a white pulsing light. Once you see that light, unlock your iPhone or iPad and place it next to the HomePod.

A second or two later you’ll be prompted to set up the HomePod on your device. From here, follow the rest of the prompts. First up is assigning your HomePod to a room.

Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET

Then you’ll be asked if you want to use Personal Requests — a feature that uses your iCloud account to send and read iMessages, create reminders and notes whenever your iPhone is on the same Wi-Fi network as your HomePod. Keep in mind, with this enabled anyone within shouting distance of the HomePod can send messages as you, or have your messages read aloud. You can always go back and turn this feature on or off after setup if you change your mind.

Finally, you are asked if you want to use your iCloud account to sync settings like Wi-Fi networks to the HomePod.

Setting up my HomePod this afternoon took under 5 minutes from unboxing to listening to some music. Not too bad, Apple.

Source: Rene Ritchie / iMore

The HomePod and HomePod mini are fantastic ways to elevate your binge-watching or movie night experiences when combined with the Apple TV. Whether it is using a single HomePod for all of your audio, pairing two HomePods together for bigger sound, or using a HomePod mini as a replacement for your TV speakers, setting it all up only takes a few clicks on the Siri remote. Here’s how to set up HomePod with Apple TV.

What you need

HomePod or HomePod mini must be set up with a compatible iPhone or iPad. Currently, you can’t connect one directly to your Apple TV. So, you’ll first need to complete the HomePod setup process on your iPhone or iPad.

You’ll also need a compatible Apple TV, the fourth-generation Apple TV or newer, and your HomePod or HomePod mini must also be on the same Wi-Fi network as your Apple TV.

How to set your HomePod as your default speaker on Apple TV

Note: This feature is only available with the Apple TV 4K and the original HomePod. It doesn’t work with the Apple TV HD or the HomePod mini.

Starting in iOS and tvOS 14.2, you can set your HomePod up as the default speaker for all of your Apple TV’s audio. This method means that you won’t have to remember to switch over to it on your next movie night.

Open Settings on your Apple TV.

Click Video and Audio.

Source: iMore

Select your HomePod with a click.

Source: iMore

Alternatively, you can set up your HomePod as your default speaker through the Home app on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

How to set up HomePod or HomePod mini with Apple TV via AirPlay

If you want to use your HomePod as a speaker temporarily or want to use a HomePod mini with your Apple TV, you can do so via AirPlay. With this method, you can link your Apple TV content with multiple AirPlay 2 speakers, not just the HomePod, allowing you to create a makeshift surround system.

1. Hold down the Home Button on the Siri Remote for around 3 seconds to bring up Control Center.
2. Click the AirPlay icon.

Select your HomePod or HomePod mini with a click.

Source: iMore

How to stop using AirPlay with your HomePod or HomePod mini

1. Hold down the Home Button on the Siri Remote for around 3 seconds to bring up Control Center.
2. Click the AirPlay icon.

De-select your HomePod or HomePod mini with a click, then select your TV.

Source: iMore

How to set up two HomePods for Stereo sound

Source: Lory Gil / iMore

Since iOS 11.4 for iOS and tvOS added support for AirPlay 2, you can pair two HomePods for a full stereo experience with your Apple TV. Through Stereo Pairing, audio quality is significantly better than a single HomePod, but it only works with the original HomePod, not the HomePod mini.

If you have a second HomePod and want to create stereo audio, it’s just about as simple as plugging in your HomePod and waiting for technology to take its course!

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about using your HomePod or HomePod mini with your Apple TV? Let us know in the comments below!

Updated November 2020: Updated steps for setting up HomePod and HomePod mini with Apple TV.

Source: iMore

The HomePod is an excellent way to create a more immersive experience with the Apple TV, and with the release of tvOS 14.2, you can finally set it as the default speaker. Now, with just a few simple steps, you can route all of your Apple TV 4K’s audio to a solo HomePod or a Stereo Pair, including apps and games, without having to jump through menu after menu. Here’s how to set your HomePod as your default speaker for Apple TV.

Requirements

To get started with using your HomePod as your default speaker on Apple TV, you must be running iOS 14.2 or later on your HomePod and tvOS 14.2 or later on Apple TV 4K. You will also need to have a home set up in the Home app, and both your Apple TV 4K and HomePod must reside in the same room.

How to set your HomePod as your default speaker on Apple TV

Note: This feature is only available with the Apple TV 4K and the original HomePod. It doesn’t work with the Apple TV HD or the HomePod mini.

Open Settings on your Apple TV.

Click Video and Audio.

Source: iMore

Select your HomePod with a click.

Source: iMore

How to set your HomePod as your default speaker on Apple TV through the Home app on iPhone and iPad

In addition to setting up your HomePod as a default speaker directly on the Apple TV 4K, you can also use the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.

1. Launch the Home app.
2. Tap the House icon (on iPad, skip to the next step).

Tap on the name of the Room that your Apple TV is located in.

Source: iMore

Tap Default Audio Output.

Source: iMore

Tap the X button to save your selection.

Source: iMore

By setting your HomePod as your default speaker for your Apple TV, you no longer have to worry about switching to it every time you want a more immersive experience. Switching to the HomePod as the default speaker also moves all of the Apple TV’s audio to the smart speaker, including navigation sounds, HomeKit camera audio, and even sounds from games.

Questions?

Need any help setting up your HomePod with your Apple TV? How has your experience been with the latest home theater feature? Let us know in the comments below!

· 29 December 2020 ·

– It’s easy!

(Pocket-lint) – You can use a HomePod smart speaker with your Apple TV 4K set-top box. Since the release of the tvOS 14.2 software update in 2020, you’ve been able to set the HomePod as a default speaker in just a few simple steps. That means your Apple TV 4K’s audio can be pumped through to a singular HomePod or even a Stereo Pair – including audio from all your favourite apps and games. Here’s how to set your HomePod as your default speaker for Apple TV.

How to get started

First, you need to make sure you have all the necessary hardware running up-to-date software. You need a HomePod running iOS 14.2 or later and an Apple TV 4K running tvOS 14.2 or later. You will also need to have a home set up in the Home app, and both your Apple TV 4K and HomePod in the same room.

Need help?

• How to check for updates on HomePod – Apple Support
• How to check for updates on Apple TV 4K – Apple Support
• How to create rooms or zones in the Home app – Apple Support

Note: This feature is only available for the Apple TV 4K and the original HomePod. It doesn’t work with the Apple TV HD or the HomePod Mini.

How to set HomePod as your default speaker

Once you’ve followed the steps above, you can quickly set your HomePod as your default speaker with Apple TV in a couple different ways. You can do it through your Apple TV 4K or through the Home app on your iPhone or iPad. Either way is really easy and can be done in less than a minute.

Through Apple TV 4K

Here’s how to set your HomePod as your default speaker directly through your Apple TV 4K set-top box:

1. Open Settings on your Apple TV 4K.
2. Click Video and Audio.
3. Select your HomePod.

Through the Home app on iPhone and iPad

If you don’t want to set up your HomePod as a default speaker through your Apple TV 4K, you use the Home app on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Launch the Home app.
2. Tap the House icon on your iPhone
   • On iPad, go to the next step.
3. Tap on the name of the Room with your Apple TV 4K.
4. Tap and hold on your Apple TV 4K.
5. Tap the Settings icon.
6. Tap Default Audio Output.
7. Select the HomePod that you want to use.
   • Only HomePods in the same room as the Apple TV 4K will be available.
   • HomePods in a “Stereo Pair” can also be used as your default speaker.
8. Tap Back after selecting your HomePod.
9. Tap the X button to save your preferences.

And that’s it! Now, all of your Apple TV 4K’s audio will be routed through your HomePod smart speaker, including navigation sounds and sounds from games.

If you own an Apple TV as well as a HomePod, you can integrate these two devices and reach a whole new level of audio experience. More precisely, you can now turn your HomePod into a soundbar, creating an immersive audio experience that supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital 7.1, and Dolby Digital 5.1. Let’s see how you can connect your HomePod to Apple TV and set up home theater audio.

Here’s What You Need for Apple’s “Home Theater Audio”

This feature (introduced in tvOS 14.2) requires you to have a group of compatible devices. Therefore, before we jump into our step-by-step guide, here’s what you need for Apple’s home theater audio experience.

• Apple TV 4K, running the latest version of tvOS.
• Single HomePod or a pair of HomePod speakers. Your smart speaker(s) must be running the latest software available as well.
• iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch updated to the latest version of iOS.

Note that HomePod Mini speakers don’t support this feature. The same applies to any other speaker that supports AirPlay 2. In other words, you can only use Apple’s (standard) HomePod to set up home heater audio.

Make Sure Your Devices Are in the Same Room

Your Apple TV and HomePod should be in the same room (physically). However, it’s also crucial to mention that those devices should be in the same “room” in your Home app, too. Make sure to do the following:

1. Launch the Home app on your iPhone. Make sure the “Home” tab is active in the bottom-left corner. You should see an overview of all your smart devices at this point.

2. Press and hold the Apple TV icon until a new panel appears. Scroll down until you see your Apple TV’s settings (or tap on the cogwheel icon in the bottom-right corner). Tap on “Room” and make sure to select “Living Room,” or whatever is applicable for your specific use case.

3. Repeat the steps above for your HomePod. Press and hold the HomePod icon until a pop-up window appears. Scroll down, tap on “Room,” and pick the room you selected moments ago.

That’s it – you’ve now grouped your Apple TV and HomePod, so let’s proceed to the next step.

Create a HomePod Stereo Pair (Optional – If You Have Two Speakers)

Those of you who own two HomePod speakers will need to create a “stereo pair.” You need to group those two devices using the Home app (so that they can act as one), as explained below.

1. Launch the Home app on your iPhone. Make sure the “Home” tab is active in the bottom-left corner. Also make sure that your two HomePod speakers are in the same room (in the Home app, as explained above).

2. At this moment you should see two HomePod speakers on your screen. Press and hold on either of those two icons until a new window appears. Swipe until you reveal a list of options.

3. Tap “Use as Stereo Pair” or “Create Stereo Pair” (depending on the version of iOS you’re running). Follow the on-screen instructions to finish this procedure.

Set Up Apple’s Home Theater Audio

Once you’re sure that everything is set, it’s time to finalize this procedure. Here’s how to enable home theater audio via your Apple TV.

1. Make sure you’re on the Home Screen of your Apple TV. From there, open the Settings app and select “Video and Audio.”

2. Scroll down until you see a group of settings called “Audio.” You need to select the “Default Audio Output” option. This will show you a list of possible audio outputs where you should see your HomePod.

3. Finally, go ahead and select your HomePod. It may take a few moments until your Apple TV switches its audio output. You’ll see a confirmation on your screen once it’s done. That’s it!

Apple’s home theater audio truly changes the way you experience movies and music. With that said, we’re more than sure you’re going to love this feature. If you’d like to learn more about using your Apple TV to its full extent, here’s how to wirelessly stream your Mac to a TV.

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Isaac is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience covering the latest technological innovations. Mainly focused on Apple-related software and hardware systems, his aspiration is to explore all the ways today’s digital world intertwines with our everyday life.