Finest Apple HomePod and HomePod mini ideas and methods

In the event you’ve invested in a HomePod or HomePod mini, you are most positively in the fitting place. There are many options constructed into these two good audio system, a few of which you’ll not learn about as they arrived with iOS 17 in September. Not solely do you now not should say “Hey” earlier than Siri, however there are some neat methods in case you have an Apple TV, akin to taking calls with HomePod.

We have detailed a bunch of HomePod and HomePod mini ideas and methods to get you began and present you what your Apple good speaker can do, together with how to make sure it’s up-to-date with the newest model of software program, so that you get all the newest options.

HomePod and HomePod mini setup ideas and methods

Ideas and methods for utilizing the HomePod and HomePod mini aren’t any good if you do not know the right way to set it up proper so right here we’re operating by means of our prime ideas for HomePod setup.

Easy methods to arrange HomePod and HomePod mini

The HomePod arrange is much like establishing a pair of AirPods or Apple TV. That you must be on the newest model of iOS and have your iOS gadget close to the speaker while you do.

1. Activate the HomePod or HomePod mini and watch for the sunshine to glow on the highest.
2. Put your iPhone or iPad close to the HomePod or HomePod mini.
3. Faucet Set Up.
4. Set which room the HomePod goes to be.
5. Select whether or not to Allow Private Requests. That is whether or not you need to have the ability to dictate textual content messages, add reminders, or take notes by way of the good speaker.
6. Conform to switch your iCloud account, Wi-Fi and different HomeKit settings over to the speaker.
7. Say “Siri, what are you able to do?” adopted by “Siri, play some music.”

Easy methods to replace your HomePod

To replace your HomePod to the newest model of iOS and make sure you profit from any new options that seem, comply with the steps under:

1. Open the Home app in your iPhone or iPad.
2. Faucet the circle with three dots icon within the higher right-hand nook.
3. Faucet ‘House Settings.’
4. Scroll down and faucet Software program Replace.
5. Faucet the ‘Replace (All)’ button to start the replace or pull all the way down to see if there may be one.
6. Faucet ‘Agree’ on the Phrases and Situations web page.

In case your HomePod would not sound correct, decide it up

The HomePod (1st and 2nd era) and HomePod mini characteristic an accelerometer that detects when the speaker has been moved, so it may well robotically whizz by means of the sound setup process once more. If for some motive you are not pleased with the sound your speaker is creating, decide up the HomePod or HomePod mini, carry it within the air, and change it the place you need the speaker to go. This could robotically power the speaker to calibrate the sound once more – one thing that takes seconds, and the audio ought to be improved. The probabilities are nonetheless, you need to by no means have to fret about doing this.

Easy methods to create a HomePod or HomePod mini stereo pair

If in case you have two HomePods or two HomePod minis, you may create a stereo pair. We have got a full characteristic on this, under – however in a nutshell, comply with the directions under:

1. Ensure your HomePods or HomePod minis are operating iOS 11.4 or later.
2. Open the House app in your iPhone or iPad.
3. Contact and maintain a HomePod within the listing.
4. Faucet on ‘Accent Settings’.
5. Scroll down and faucet ‘Create Stereo Pair’.
6. Comply with the onscreen directions, akin to deciding on which will likely be left and proper.

Associated: How to create a HomePod or HomePod mini stereo pair

Use your HomePod or HomePod mini as a speaker for Apple TV 4K

If in case you have an Apple TV 4K, you need to use your HomePod and HomePod mini because the default speaker, which is nice if you do not have a soundbar and your TV sound is not sensible. We have got a separate characteristic on this too, under, however here is the fundamental directions:

Utilizing your Apple TV

1. Head to Settings in your Apple TV menu.
2. Choose Video and Audio.
3. Choose Default Audio Output.
4. Your HomePod mini or HomePod ought to seem on the listing, permitting you to pick out it.

Associated: How to connect Apple HomePod mini speakers to Apple TV

Utilizing your iPhone or iPad

If you wish to join your HomePod to your Apple TV utilizing your iPhone or iPad, you may first have to open the House app. You will then want to ensure your HomePod and your Apple TV are linked to the identical room.

1. Open the House app.
2. Ensure your HomePod or HomePod mini and your Apple TV are linked to the identical room.
3. Contact and maintain the Apple TV tile.
4. Faucet on Accent Settings.
5. Faucet on Default Audio Possibility.
6. Choose your HomePod or HomePod mini.

It is value mentioning that in case you are operating iOS 17 or later, you can too enhance speech when utilizing HomePods as a speaker along with your Apple TV. Throughout the settings, there may be an Improve Dialogue choice that may scale back bass and give attention to speech.

HomePod music methods and ideas

There are a variety of the way you may management music playback on the HomePod. Both by way of voice instructions to Siri, by means of the contact panel on the highest of the speaker, or by way of the Apple Music app in your iPhone or iPad.

HomePod contact controls

You possibly can faucet the highest of HomePod or HomePod mini to play, pause, skip a track, or modify the quantity. Contact and maintain the highest to speak to Siri.

• Faucet as soon as to Play/Pause
• Double-tap to skip to the subsequent monitor
• Triple faucet to skip again to the earlier monitor
• Contact and maintain to entry Siri with out saying “Siri”
• Faucet or maintain the plus icon to show the quantity up
• Faucet or maintain the minus icon to show the quantity down

HomePod music voice controls

You possibly can management the music playback of music performed by way of the HomePod (ie not by way of AirPlay) by merely saying “Siri.” Observe that in case you are operating iOS 17 or later, you solely should say “Siri” moderately than “Hey Siri”. Listed here are some fundamental voice instructions:

• Siri, flip the quantity up
• Siri, flip the quantity to 85 per cent
• Siri, flip the quantity down
• Siri, cease
• Siri, play
• Siri, subsequent track
• Siri, skip ahead 30 seconds
• Siri, earlier monitor

Siri additionally helps a lot of extra advanced music voice instructions like asking for particular genres, moods, or actions.

You too can go extra particular both with artists or playlists. For instance:

• Siri, play the newest track by Norah Jones
• Siri, play Ed Sheeran
• Siri, play this 12 months’s Grammy nominees
• Siri, play Adele’s first album
• Siri, play a playlist from Pitchfork
• Siri, play the track by Jay-Z that includes Justin Timberlake

When you’re enjoying a monitor you may then ask Siri extra questions on what’s enjoying.

• Siri, what track is that this?
• Siri, when was this launched?
• Siri, what’s Taylor Swift’s latest album?
• Siri, who performs drums for Coldplay?

Apple / Pocket-lint 

Controlling HomePod music by way of your iPhone

You possibly can see what’s enjoying in your HomePod at any time both by asking Siri to inform you or by accessing the HomePod by way of Management Centre or the Apple Music app in your iPhone or iPad. To take action it’s a must to be on the identical Wi-Fi community.

By Management Centre

1. Open Management Centre.
2. Faucet on the small wi-fi wanting icon on the prime of the music panel.
3. Scroll down the display to see your HomePod’s title. In the event you’ve already performed music, it is going to have the final monitor you have performed with the accompanying album artwork.
4. Faucet on the track title to disclose playback instructions.
5. Faucet once more to open up management within the Apple Music app.

By the Apple Music app

1. Open the Apple Music app.
2. Faucet on the present track or earlier track you had been enjoying.
3. Faucet on the AirPlay brand on the backside centre of the display.
4. Scroll down the display to see your HomePod’s title. In the event you’ve already performed music, it is going to have the final monitor you have performed with the accompanying album artwork.
5. Faucet on the track title to disclose playback instructions.
6. Faucet once more to return to the Apple Music app and select the track you wish to play.

Scale back the bass in your HomePod or HomePod mini

In the event you discover the HomePod or HomePod mini too bassy, you may apply a setting to cut back the low frequency output of the audio system.

1. Open the House app.
2. Faucet and maintain your HomePod within the Favorite Accent part.
3. Faucet on ‘Accent Settings’.
4. Toggle on Scale back Bass.

Permit Express Content material on HomePod

You possibly can set whether or not you wish to hearken to music with express content material or not on the HomePod and HomePod mini, which is helpful if you happen to’ve received children or if you happen to simply aren’t a fan of unhealthy language. To show this characteristic on or off you might want to go to the HomePod or HomePod mini’s settings web page within the House app in your iPhone or iPad.

1. Go to the House app.
2. Faucet on the circle with three dots icon within the prime proper nook.
3. Faucet on House Settings.
4. Faucet a person.
5. Toggle Permit Express Content material.

Use Listening Historical past on HomePod and HomePod mini

Apple permits music performed on the HomePod and HomePod mini to affect your “Hear Now” suggestions and seem in your profile. In the event you’re apprehensive that different members of your loved ones may disrupt your suggestions (learn children listening to Frozen an excessive amount of) you may flip this characteristic off. To do that comply with the directions under:

1. Go to the House app.
2. Faucet on the circle with three dots icon within the prime proper nook.
3. Faucet on House Settings.
4. Faucet a person.
5. Faucet on Replace Listening Historical past and toggle off the HomePod audio system you do not wish to affect your Hear Now suggestions.

AirPlay out of your iPhone to HomePod

If you wish to play music straight out of your gadget or from one other service like Spotify, you may AirPlay content material straight out of your iPhone or iPad to the HomePod or HomePod mini.

To take action merely go the app you wish to play, discover the AirPlay brand after which choose your HomePod or HomePod mini from the listing of obtainable units.

HomePod messaging ideas methods

Past music controls, the HomePod additionally has the power to ship messages, set reminders, create lists, and add notes utilizing your voice.

Enabling Private Requests

To allow or disable private requests – i.e, ship messages, add to your reminders, or create notes when your iPhone is close by – it’s a must to go to the House app.

1. Open the House app.
2. Faucet and maintain your HomePod or HomePod mini from the Favorite Equipment part.
3. Faucet on ‘Accent Settings.’
4. Faucet on Private Requests.
5. Toggle Private Requests on for every HomePod you need them on for.

Making a message with HomePod and HomePod mini

To create a brand new message, you merely should say “Siri, textual content…” or “Siri, WhatsApp…” Siri helps textual content messaging by means of a lot of apps, together with iMessage, SMS, WhatsApp and WeChat.

You too can inform Siri {that a} sure contact is your brother or associate, for instance, and Siri will do not forget that for the long run, so you’ll say “Ship a message to my husband” or “Ship a message to my spouse” and it’ll ship a message to whoever you’ve got informed Siri is your husband or your spouse.

Including to your Reminders or Lists

For Reminders and Lists, you may ask so as to add objects or full them by telling Siri. You merely say issues like, “Siri, mark stroll the neighbour’s canine as full” or “Siri, add broccoli to the grocery listing.”

HomePod and HomePod mini help Apple’s personal Reminders app in addition to others, like Evernote and Issues 3.

Including or creating Notes

You possibly can both create or add notes by way of the HomePod by saying issues like, “Siri, create a notice Books to Learn” or “Siri, add Columns of Fireplace to my Books to Learn notice.”

HomePod and HomePod mini can be utilized as an intercom in case you have a number of HomePod audio system in your house or a number of Apple units. You possibly can ship totally different intercom messages to particular rooms and zones or ship the identical message, like “Siri, intercom ‘Dinner time!'” to inform everybody to get to the desk. An intercom message will arrive at any HomePod audio system you inform it to, in addition to iOS, iPadOS or Apple Watch or CarPlay devices.

Ship an intercom message

To ship an intercom message in your HomePod or HomePod mini, merely attempt any of the examples under or make up your personal.

• “Siri, intercom ‘Who ate the final biscuit?'”
• “Siri, announce ‘I am residence!'”
• “Siri, ask everybody the place are my glasses?”
• “Siri, let everybody know I discovered my glasses”
• “Siri, inform everybody I am taking the canine for a stroll”
• “Siri, intercom ‘On my manner residence, need me to choose something up?'”

To ship a message to a HomePod in a particular room or zone, say one thing like “Siri, inform the workplace the movie is beginning,” or “Siri, announce upstairs I will the outlets.”

Replying to an intercom message

You possibly can reply to an intercom message by merely saying “Siri reply I will be proper there,” or “Siri, announce I’m simply ending my homework.”

Activate, off or restrict intercom messages

By default, all members of your own home will get intercom message delivered to their units when they’re at residence, although they should have location providers on.

If you wish to flip intercom notifications off in your gadget, or restrict them, comply with the steps under:

1. Open the House app in your gadget.
2. Faucet on the circle with the three dots icon within the prime proper nook.
3. Faucet on House Settings.
4. Faucet on Intercom.
5. Select your desire.

Utilizing HomePod or HomePod mini as a speakerphone

You possibly can hand off calls you have began or acquired in your HomePod or HomePod mini out of your iPhone simply. While you’re in a name or about to just accept a name, merely choose HomePod or HomePod mini from the audio selections in Telephone app in the identical manner you’d a Bluetooth headset or speaker.

Mute calls on HomePod

With iOS 17, you can too mute calls on HomePod by tapping the highest. The inexperienced standing gentle in the course of the display will shrink, increasing while you faucet it once more to unmute the decision. When you’ve got completed the decision, double faucet the highest of your HomePod and you’ll finish the decision.

HomePod and HomePod mini particular controls in House App

As soon as your HomePod or HomePod mini is about up, you may entry its settings by way of the House app in your iPhone or iPad. To examine the settings, discover the HomePod in your Favorite Equipment and lengthy press on the icon. You will have to faucet on Accent Settings after which scroll all the way down to see numerous choices.

Easy methods to set an alarm on HomePod or HomePod mini

You possibly can set a number of sound alarms on the HomePod and HomePod mini. To take action comply with these directions:

1. Go to the House app.
2. Choose HomePod or HomePod mini speaker in Favorite Equipment.
3. Swipe up on HomePod or HomePod mini Now Enjoying display.
4. Faucet New Alarm.
5. Set time, whether or not you need it to repeat, and provides it a label.
6. You too can select whether or not you need it to play a tone or play media.

Setting a timer on HomePod or HomePod mini

Like alarms, you may set a number of timers on the HomePod and HomePod mini. Comply with the steps under:

1. Go to the House app.
2. Choose HomePod or HomePod mini speaker in Favorite Equipment.
3. Swipe up on HomePod or HomePod mini Now Enjoying display.
4. Faucet New Timer.
5. Set timer and provides it a label.

Utilizing HomePod to manage HomeKit units

You should utilize the HomePod in the identical manner you’d Siri in your cellphone to control Homekit devices in your house both by issuing instructions to do one thing like “Siri, activate the lights,” to “Siri, what is the temperature in the lounge?” Any command or gadget that was beforehand arrange along with your cellphone will work in the identical manner on the HomePod.

Advantageous-tuning Siri on the HomePod

You possibly can fine-tune Siri to some extent within the House app in your iPhone or iPad though the management you’ve got is proscribed.

Turning off Hey Siri

There is not a bodily button on the HomePod to show off Siri just like the Echo, Sonos Era 100, and Google Home or Nest devices, however you may nonetheless flip off the operate in case you are apprehensive about Siri listening in in your dialog. To show Siri off on the HomePod and HomePod mini, it’s a must to do it by way of the House app in your iPhone.

1. Go to the House app.
2. Lengthy press your HomePod speaker in Favorite Equipment.
3. Faucet ‘Accent Settings.’
4. Scroll all the way down to Siri.
5. Toggle off Hear for “Hey Siri.”

Enjoying a sound and lighting up when utilizing Siri

By default, the HomePod and HomePod mini lights up the touchscreen on the highest of the speaker while you say “Siri.”

You possibly can flip this off, in addition to have an audible beep while you say the command, so you already know when to start out talking. To allow or disable these options:

1. Go to the House app.
2. Lengthy press HomePod speaker.
3. Faucet the ‘Accent Settings.’
4. Scroll all the way down to Siri.
5. Toggle off Mild When Utilizing Siri or Sound When Utilizing Siri.

Altering Siri’s voice on the HomePod

Siri will default to the voice of your territory; nonetheless, you may change it if you happen to fancy a change. Siri is obtainable in each female and male voices in American, British, Australian, Indian, Irish and South African. To vary Siri’s voice, do the next:

1. Go to the House app.
2. Lengthy press HomePod speaker icon.
3. Faucet the ‘Accent Settings.’
4. Scroll all the way down to Siri.
5. Faucet to vary Siri’s Voice.

Internet Search Handoff to iPhone

Siri on HomePod works seamlessly along with your different Apple units as you may think. You possibly can ask Siri on HomePod or HomePod mini to look the net and the outcomes will be despatched to your iPhone. To do that merely say “Siri, search the net for Yosemite journey guides,” and when you’ve requested the HomePod or HomePod mini, the search will likely be carried out in your iPhone.

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