Setting Up and Controlling the HomePod

The HomePod allows you to play music from your Apple Music subscription or through AirPlay from another device. You set up the HomePod using an iOS device, and then can stream audio from a Mac, iPhone or iPad. You can also play music directly from the HomePod using voice commands and Siri. There are some preferences you can set in the Home app on your iOS device.

Comments: 9 Responses to “Setting Up and Controlling the HomePod”

    Richard Fuhr
    6 years ago

    What about using a HomePod with an Apple TV? I have heard and seen contradictory comments about that. A sales person at the local Apple Store told me that it is not possible to use a HomePod with an Apple TV, but some sources that I have read assert that it is possible. If it is possible, is the sound coming out of the HomePod synchronized with the images being displayed on the Apple TV, or is there a visible lag?

    6 years ago

    Richard: Yes, I have read that you certainly can do that, but I haven't tried it. I'm not sure I see the point. I guess if you have nothing else connected to your TV except an Apple TV, then it could work. Otherwise when you play cable/DVD/etc you'd need to have speakers connected anyway. Anyone with a good TV is going to have a good sound system already, either as part of the TV or a home theater system. And if it not a good TV, then just having great sound from the HomePod isn't going to help the small or low quality sound. See what I mean? But I'm not sure why the Apple store employee thought you couldn't do it.

    Linda Noyes
    6 years ago

    I just got my home pod. I set it up fine and was playing with it. I have several questions. Can you see the home pod on multiple devices or just the one you set it up with? I do not see it on my iPad. I was using Hey Siri and my iPhone and iPad both answered along with the Home Pod. Is there a setting to fix that? The last thing I saw playing around with it and it played music and then I asked Siri what was the news...it started telling me the news and now it is stuck..telling me the news. Help!

    6 years ago

    Linda: I see the HomePod show up on all of my devices as an AirPlay output, but I only set it up on my iPhone. Is your iPad using the same Apple ID? Is it using the latest iOS? When I use Hey Siri, I see my iPad start to react, but stop in a fraction of a second as the HomePod takes over the request. You can just say "Hey Siri, stop" to have it stop something, like reading you the news.

    Linda Noyes
    6 years ago

    All the devices are the same Apple ID. I have the latest IOS. my other devices don't stop after a fraction of a second. They stopped the first time I tried it but not after that. Hey Siri, stop does not work with the news...I appears stuck. Any suggestions? Reinstall? Thanks.

    6 years ago

    Linda: No suggestions, sorry. I just tried "Hey Siri, stop" after starting the news and it worked again for me. What would you re-install? What happens when you use the Control Center on your iPhone to try to stop the news? Also, do you maybe have multiple Wi-Fi networks? You are just going to have to keep investigating and trying things, I guess. Also: Is Bluetooth on and working for all devices?

    Linda Noyes
    6 years ago

    I was going to unplug it, remove device and reset it up. I'm not at home right now so I can't try the control center but I will, thanks. I only have one Wi-Fi network. I will try different things. Thank you.

    Edgar Eckstein
    6 years ago

    Will you be able to add any improvements to Homepad or Siri when it comes out?

    6 years ago

    Edgar: Not sure what you mean. HomePod is out, which is how I have one. I'm sure Apple will continue to improve the software and Apple already does come out with regular improvements to Siri.

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