See if the HomePod is properly plugged in and the plug has no problems; it is time to analyze the elements that make up the speaker connection. The first thing is the power adapter, which you can rule out as being defective by testing it with other devices. You can also try connecting another adapter to the HomePod to see if the new one works. Sometimes the failures that seem the most serious come from the silliest causes. And one of them is that the speaker is not connected to power.
As we will see later, the device we are using to transmit the content can influence. Even the subscription to the Apple Music service itself. One of the most important features of this speaker is its integration with the proprietary streaming service. Therefore, even the software can be a participant in unexpected problems.
Check if it is updated
Yes, we always insist that our devices must be updated and this is no exception. It should not be surprising to mention that It is super important to keep devices updated to the latest available software version to ensure that its performance is as expected, also in the case of the HomePod. Although any version may contain bugs, they are usually quickly resolved by subsequent updates.
Therefore, as a first step, I would recommend opening the Home app, Access the HomePod settings and check if there are any new versions pending download and installation. It is important to highlight that the iPhone must also be updated, since it can sometimes be the cause of problems with the HomePod. In this case, you should go to Settings > General > Software Update on your iPhone.
If you do not have an internet connection, then your options are much more limited and you will not be able to carry out this action
Restart HomePod
Although it may seem basic, the truth is that, in electronics, the reset technique is a classic that never fails. If you are having operating problems with Apple smart speakers, here we are going to see how to reset the HomePod. Regardless of whether you have a first generation, a second generation or a HomePod mini, the process to carry out is the same.
And how can you reset a HomePod? It will be enough to Unplug your HomePod or HomePod mini for about 15-30 seconds, then plug it back in.. Of course, be patient because it usually takes a while to start up and during the first seconds you may still encounter problems connecting to the internet. In the same way, as also happened in the previous section, it is also recommended that restart the iPhone.
Identify internet problems
When HomePod loses internet connection, Unfortunately, there are no physical indicators on the device itself to indicate this. Therefore, it is necessary to consult the application Home, where a notification will appear under the HomePod with the message ‘Not available’. By clicking on this notification, you will get detailed information about the failure, which could be related to your internet connection.
Another alternative to identify problems on the network is to ask Siri something. If we take into account that Siri always needs an internet connection to function, if we try to ask a question and Siri cannot offer us an answer, it will mean that it does not have internet access. In this way, we can identify the problem easily. In any case, and although it may seem obvious, if Siri does not respond at all, you should make sure that the HomePod is connected to power.
Check WiFi connection
You should keep in mind that the HomePod may have forgotten the WiFi network it was normally connected to. This may be a result of having changed your internet network password and even the location of the HomePod. If we stick to the normal operation of the HomePod, it can connect to the same WiFi network as the iOS device to which it is linked. This is why if you have a good WiFi connection on the iPhone, it should also be transferred to the HomePod automatically. That is, if you change your network password and set it as default, it will be exported to the HomePod. You can verify the connection that the iOS device has from Settings > WiFi, while that of the HomePod is available in the Home application.
But the theory does not always end up being fulfilled, this being something that occurs in iOS 12 or higher versions. In case the WiFi network settings are not exported, you can manually modify it to the WiFi network where you are connected on the iPhone. To be able to do this you simply have to follow the following steps:
- Access the Home application.
- Go to settings by pressing the gear.
- Press the option ‘Change HomePod to…’ You will see the name of the WiFi network you are connected to next.
At this point you can check if it has connected by asking Siri a simple question and waiting for its response, either by using the voice command “Hey Siri” or by tapping on its surface to summon the assistant.
Possible router failure
At this point, if you are having too many problems connecting the HomePod to the WiFi network, it is more than likely that the router is broken. A good way to know is checking from other devices if you have access to the internet. Even if you have a WiFi connection as such, you may not be able to connect. This is due, broadly speaking and so that it is understood, because sometimes they simply receive the signal from the router, but it comes empty.
It can also be the case that there is a connection, but that it is too slow so that the HomePod and/or any other device can connect correctly. Be that as it may, although restarting this usually works many times, it is best to contact your operator and tell them about the problem so that they can run a diagnosis and verify whether or not it is a fault and, if so, offer you a solution.
When your internet connection works again, we recommend that you take into account the distance at which the router is from the HomePod, also if there are elements that may make it difficult to send the signal in the space where both are located. Placing the router in a strategic place so that the signal reaches the HomePod well may be a good idea. It’s also important to make sure your router is configured to transmit on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. Finally, remember to update your router to avoid firmware problems.
Maybe the problem is the iPhone
Beyond restarting the HomePod and checking if it is the router that is not working, you must also keep in mind that the Apple speaker does not work alone: it requires an iPhone or an iPad for configuration and transmission of content.
Therefore, it is possible that what is failing is the content source itself. Check that your device is up to date, with the Apple ID activated and correctly configured, and that it is connected to the internet. Likewise, check that the services you are connected to are active.
Not every time the HomePod fails, it has to be restarted. It is also possible that if we use an iPhone that does not work very well, we will encounter problems. Therefore, we also recommend that you make sure that the phone is in good condition and with all wireless communications turned on.
Apple Music may be the problem
Apple Music is one of the essential parts for the HomePod to work correctly. Its integration with Siri and the iPhone makes immediate content transmission possible. However, it is possible that the HomePod problems come from a poor configuration of this service. Therefore, here we recommend that you carry out the following checks:
- Is your Apple Music subscription active?
- Check your plan. Depending on what you have, you may only have one simultaneous playback, and it is already on another computer.
- Are you using the same Apple ID that you have Apple Music with?
What to do if you can’t get it to connect
At this point, there’s a good chance your HomePod or HomePod mini will need a repair or replacement. However, you should know that all is not lost because you still have one last bullet at your disposal.
Restore HomePod
At this point you can reach the most extreme solutions, which involve restore the speaker completely. This way it will be as if you had taken it out of the box to perform the initial configuration, resolving all possible bugs that could cause this problem in the internet connection. In order to restore the HomePod you simply have to follow the following steps:
- Unplug and plug the speaker back in.
- Press and hold the top of the HomePod.
- The white light will turn red.
- Don’t stop pressing until you hear three beeps.
At this point you can stop pressing the top and start configuring the HomePod from scratch through a device compatible with the Home application.
Go to technical support
If after having done all this you cannot make your speaker connect to the internet, we only find the possibility of go to Apple or a SAT as technical service. If you have made the aforementioned configurations and if you continue to report problems, it is possible that it is a defective component, either due to a factory defect or damage caused by misuse. It is important to remember that Apple, although there may be other establishments that repair it, they are the ones who can offer the best guarantees in order to have original parts, as well as precise diagnostic tools. Likewise, in unauthorized centers you will lose the device’s warranty (if it still had it) and it is possible that the repair will not be a repair, completely losing the warranty and in the event that you take it to an App Store, you will have You have to pay the costs of repairing parts as well as parts damaged by unauthorized technical service.
You should know that it is even possible that they will offer you a free repair If the speaker is still under warranty and it is detected that it is a factory problem or unrelated to misuse on your part. Otherwise, and although there may be several, there is a repair price established for each of them.
- HomePod: 301.99 euros (29 euros if you have AppleCare+ contracted)
- HomePod mini: 91.10 euros (15 euros if you have AppleCare+ contracted)
