How To See What's Playing On Homepod

(Pocket-lint) - Got a HomePod or HomePod mini? Great! Aside from saying "Hey Siri, play me some music", in that location is plenty more these smart speakers can do.

Here we've detailed a load of HomePod and HomePod mini tips and tricks to go you started and evidence you lot what your Apple smart speaker tin do including, how to ensure information technology is upward to date with the latest version of software so you get all the latest features.

squirrel_widget_6165089

HomePod and HomePod mini setup tips and tricks

How to gear up HomePod and HomePod mini

The HomePod set up is like to setting up a pair of AirPods or Apple Television. You demand to be on the latest version of iOS and have your iOS device well-nigh the speaker when you practice.

Turn on the HomePod or HomePod mini and wait for the calorie-free to glow on the top
Put your iPhone or iPad near the HomePod or HomePod mini
Tap Prepare Up
Set up which room the HomePod is going to be
Choose whether or not to Enable Personal Requests. This is whether or not you lot want to be able to dictate text messages, add together reminders, or take notes via the smart speaker.
Concord to transfer your iCloud account, Wi-Fi and other HomeKit settings over to the speaker.
Say "Hey Siri, what can y'all do?" followed by "Hey Siri, play some music"

All-time HomePod alternatives

How to update your HomePod

To update your HomePod to the latest version of iOS and ensure you benefit from whatsoever new features that appear, follow the steps beneath:

Open the Dwelling house app on your iPhone or iPad
Tap the House icon in the upper left-hand corner
Tap 'Habitation Settings'
Roll downward and tap Software Update
Tap the 'Update (All)' button to brainstorm the update or pull down to see if at that place is one
Tap 'Hold' on the Terms and Weather folio.

Don't unplug the cable from the HomePod

Information technology might be tempting if you lot are trying to go the cable downwardly the back of a sideboard, or through a hole, but while possible, it's not recommended to pull the plug out of the back of the HomePod or HomePod mini. According to internal support documents, uncovered past MacRumours, whipping out the cablevision to get the cablevision through a desk hole or backside the back of something isn't recommended:

"The HomePod includes a born power cable that should non be removed. In the rare case that the cable is detached or damaged, do not endeavor to remove or plug information technology back into HomePod. If the cablevision is removed or impaired, impairment could have occurred to the cable or the internal components of HomePod."

Go on with caution.

If your HomePod doesn't audio correct, selection it upwards

The HomePod and HomePod mini both feature an accelerometer that detects when the speaker has been moved and then it can automatically whizz through the audio setup process again.

If for some reason you lot aren't happy with the sound your speaker is creating, choice up the HomePod or HomePod mini, elevator it in the air, and supersede it where yous want the speaker to go. This should automatically strength the speaker to calibrate the sound once more - something that takes seconds, and the sound should be improved. The chances are though, that yous should never take to worry about doing this.

How to create a HomePod or HomePod mini stereo pair

If yous have 2 HomePods or two HomePod minis, you can create a stereo pair. We've got a full feature on this, but in a nutshell, follow the instructions beneath:

Make sure your HomePods or HomePod minis are running iOS xi.four or later.
Open up the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
Touch and hold a HomePod in the list.
Scroll down and tap on the Settings cog.
Tap 'Create Stereo Pair'.
Follow the onscreen instructions, such as selecting which will exist left and right.

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

If you have the Apple Telly 4K, you can use your HomePod and HomePod mini as the default speaker, which is dandy if you don't have a soundbar and your TV sound isn't brilliant. We've got a separate characteristic on this, merely here are the bones instructions:

Using your Apple tree Goggle box

Caput to Settings on your Apple tree TV carte du jour
Select Video and Audio
Select Default Audio Output
Your HomePod mini should appear on the list, allowing y'all to select it.

Using your iPhone or iPad

If y'all desire to connect your HomePod mini to your Apple Television receiver using your iPhone or iPad, yous'll first need to open up the Abode app. Yous'll so need to make sure your HomePod mini and your Apple tree TV are linked to the same room.

Open the Habitation app
Make certain your HomePod or HomePod mini and your Apple Idiot box are linked to the same room
Touch and hold the Apple Television receiver tile
Scroll downward to the settings cog in the bottom right corner
Tap on Default Audio Pick
Select the room with your HomePod or HomePod mini in information technology.

HomePod music tricks and tips

There are a number of ways you tin can control music playback on the HomePod. Either via voice commands to Siri, through the affect panel on the top of the speaker, or via the Apple tree Music app on your iPhone or iPad.

HomePod touch controls

You can tap the top of HomePod or HomePod mini to play, suspension, skip a song, or suit the volume. Touch and hold the top to talk to Siri.

Tap in one case to Play/Pause
Double-tap to skip to the next track
Triple tap to skip back to the previous track
Touch and hold to admission Siri without saying "Hey Siri"
Tap or hold the plus icon to turn the volume up
Tap or hold the minus icon to plow the volume downwardly

HomePod music vocalisation controls

You lot tin control the music playback of music played via the HomePod (ie not via AirPlay) by simply saying "Hey Siri". Here are some basic phonation commands:

Hey Siri, turn the volume up
Hey Siri, turn the book to 85 per cent
Hey Siri, turn the volume downwardly
Hey Siri, stop
Hey Siri, play
Hey Siri, next song
Hey Siri, skip forward thirty seconds
Hey Siri, previous runway

Siri virtually supports a number of more complex music vocalization commands similar asking for specific genres, moods, or activities.

Activities include:

Bedtime
Break Upwardly
Cardio
Cooking
Dancing
Dinner Party
Meditating
Party Music
Studying
Waking Up

Moods include:

Affectionate
Blue
Chill
Lively
Safe for Kids
Soothing
Unwind
Upbeat
Warm
Whimsical

Genres include:

Alternative
Brazilian
Chicago Blues
State Rock
Electric Blues
French Popular
Grunge
Indie
Trip the light fantastic toe
Popular
Stone
Polish
Jazz

You can also go more than specific either with artists or playlists. For example:

Hey Siri, play the latest song by Norah Jones
Hey Siri, play Ed Sheeran
Hey Siri, play this yr'southward Grammy nominees
Hey Siri, play Adele's first anthology
Hey Siri, play a playlist from Pitchfork
Hey Siri, play the song by Jay-Z featuring Justin Timberlake

In one case you're playing a track you tin then ask Siri more than questions about what's playing.

Hey Siri, what song is this?
Hey Siri, when was this released?
Hey Siri, what'southward Taylor Swift's newest anthology?
Hey Siri, who plays drums for Coldplay?

Decision-making HomePod music via your iPhone

You can see what's playing on your HomePod at any fourth dimension either by asking Siri to tell yous or by accessing the HomePod via Control Middle or the Apple Music app on your iPhone or iPad. To do so you have to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Through Control Eye

Open Control Middle
Tap on the small wireless looking icon at the peak of the music panel
Scroll down the screen to run into your HomePod'due south proper noun. If you've already played music, it will have the last track you've played with the accompanying album art.
Tap on the song championship to reveal playback commands
Tap once more to open upward control in the Apple Music app

Through the Apple Music app

Open the Apple Music app
Tap on the current vocal or previous song you were playing
Tap on the AirPlay logo at the lesser centre of the screen
Coil down the screen to see your HomePod's name. If you've already played music, it will have the last track you've played with the accompanying album fine art.
Tap on the vocal title to reveal playback commands
Tap over again to return to the Apple tree Music app and choose the song you want to play.

Reduce the bass on your HomePod or HomePod mini

If you find the HomePod or HomePod mini also bassy, you lot can apply a setting to reduce the low frequency output of the speakers.

Open up the Home app
Tap and hold your HomePod in the Favourite Accompaniment section
Toggle on Reduce Bass

Permit Explicit Content on HomePod

Yous tin set whether you want to listen to music with explicit content or not on the HomePod and HomePod mini. Handy if you've got kids. To turn this feature on or off you lot demand to go to the HomePod or HomePod mini's settings folio in the Abode app on your iPhone or iPad.

Go to the Dwelling house app
Tap on the Abode icon in the top left corner
Tap on Habitation Settings
Tap a user
Toggle Allow Explicit Content

Utilise Listening History on HomePod and HomePod mini

Apple allows music played on the HomePod and HomePod mini to influence your "Listen At present" recommendations and appear on your profile. If yous're worried that other members of your family might disrupt your recommendations (read kids listening to Disney or girl bands too much) you lot tin can turn this feature off. To do this follow the instructions below:

Get to the Habitation app
Tap on the Home icon in the tiptop left corner
Tap on Home Settings
Tap a user
Toggle Update Listening History

AirPlay from your iPhone to HomePod

If you want to play music directly from your device or from another service similar Spotify or BBC radio you can AirPlay content direct from your iPhone or iPad to the HomePod or HomePod mini.

To practice so merely go the app you desire to play, find the AirPlay logo then select your HomePod or HomePod mini from the listing of available devices.

HomePod messaging tips tricks

Beyond music controls the HomePod also has the ability to send letters, set reminders, create lists, and add together to notes using your voice.

Enabling Personal Requests

To enable or disable personal requests - i.e, ship messages, add together to your reminders, or create notes when your iPhone is nearby - you lot have to get to the Home app.

Open the Habitation app
Tap and concord your HomePod or HomePod mini from the Favourite Accessories department
Tap the settings cog in the bottom correct corner
Tap on Personal Requests
Toggle Personal Requests on for each HomePod you want them on for

Creating a bulletin with HomePod and HomePod mini

To create a new message, you simply have to say "Hey Siri, text…" or "Hey Siri, WhatsApp…" Siri supports text messaging through a number of apps, including iMessage, SMS, WhatsApp and WeChat.

Yous can also tell Siri that a certain contact is your brother or partner, for example, and Siri will call back that for the future then yous'll exist able to say "Send a bulletin to my hubby" or "Send a message to my wife" and it will send a message to whoever you have told Siri is your hubby or your wife.

Adding to your Reminders or Lists

For Reminders and Lists, you tin can ask to add items or complete them by telling Siri. You simply say things like: "Hey Siri, mark walk the neighbour'south dog every bit complete" or "Hey Siri, add broccoli to the grocery listing."

HomePod and HomePod mini support Apple tree's own Reminders app likewise as others, like Evernote and Things 3.

Adding or creating Notes

You tin either create or add notes via the HomePod by saying things like: "Hey Siri, create a note Books to Read" or "Hey Siri, add Columns of Burn to my Books to Read note".

HomePod and HomePod mini Intercom tips and tricks

HomePod and HomePod mini can be used as an intercom if you have multiple HomePod speakers in your home or multiple Apple devices. Yous tin send unlike intercom messages to specific rooms and zones or ship the aforementioned message, like "Hey Siri, intercom 'Fourth dimension for dinner!'" to tell anybody to get to the table.

An intercom message will arrive on whatsoever HomePod speakers y'all tell it to, as well as iOS, iPadOS or Apple Watch or CarPlay devices

Ship an intercom bulletin

To send an intercom bulletin on your HomePod or HomePod mini, just try any of the examples beneath or make up your own.

"Hey Siri, intercom 'Who ate the last biscuit?'"
"Hey Siri, announce 'I'thousand home!'"
"Hey Siri, ask everyone where are my glasses?"
"Hey Siri, allow everyone know I found my glasses"
"Hey Siri, tell everyone I'm taking the dog for a walk"
"Hey Siri, intercom 'On my way home, desire me to option anything up?'"

To send a message to a HomePod in a specific room or zone, say something like "Hey Siri, tell the function the film is starting" or "Hey Siri, announce upstairs I'm going to the shops".

Replying to an intercom message

You lot can respond to an intercom message past but saying "Hey Siri reply I'll be right there" or "Hey Siri, announce I am just finishing my homework".

Best speakers for PC gamers 2022: All the sound and RGB lighting yous could ever need Past Adrian Willings · 10 June 2022

If yous're not a fan of gaming headsets and want to fill your room with the sounds of gunfire, engine roars and more and so we've got yous covered.

Plow on, off or limit intercom letters

By default, all members of your home will go intercom bulletin delivered to their devices when they are at abode, though they need to take location services on.

If you want to turn intercom notifications off on your device, or limit them, follow the steps below:

Open the Habitation app on your device
Tap on the Home icon in the top left corner
Tap on Home Settings
Tap on Intercom
Choose your preference

Using HomePod or HomePod mini as a speakerphone

Y'all tin can paw-off calls y'all've started or received on your HomePod or HomePod mini from your iPhone hands. When you're in a call or near to accept a call simply select HomePod or HomePod mini from the audio choices in Phone app in the aforementioned manner y'all would a Bluetooth headset or speaker.

Apple

HomePod and HomePod mini specific controls in Home App

Once fix up you can access the HomePod and HomePod mini settings via the Home app on your Apple iPhone or iPad. To check the settings, find the HomePod in your Favourite Accessories and long printing on the icon.

Setting an alert on HomePod or HomePod mini

You can set up multiple audio alarms on the HomePod and HomePod mini. To exercise so follow these instructions

Get to the Home app
Select HomePod or HomePod mini speaker in Favourite Accessories
Long press on HomePod or HomePod mini icon
Tap New Alarm
Ready fourth dimension, whether you lot want it to repeat, and give it a label
Y'all tin besides cull whether you want it to play a tone or play media

Setting a timer on HomePod or HomePod mini

Like alarms, y'all tin set multiple timers on the HomePod and HomePod mini. Follow the steps beneath:

Go to the Home app
Select HomePod or HomePod mini speaker in Favourite Accessories
Long press on HomePod or HomePod mini icon
Tap New Timer
Set timer and give it a label

Using HomePod to control HomeKit devices

Yous can use the HomePod in the same style you would Siri on your phone to control Homekit devices in your abode either by issuing commands to do something like "Hey Siri, turn on the lights" to "Hey Siri, what's the temperature in the living room?" Any command or device that was previously set upwards with your phone volition work in the same fashion on the HomePod.

Apple Tv tips and tricks

Fine-tuning Siri on the HomePod

You can fine-melody Siri to some extent in the Dwelling app on your iPhone or iPad although the control yous accept is express.

Turning off Hey Siri

There's isn't a concrete button on the HomePod to plough off Siri like the Echo, Sonos I, and Google Home or Nest devices, only you can even so turn off the function if you are worried about Siri listening in on your conversation. To turn Siri off on the HomePod and HomePod mini, you have to do it via the Home app on your iPhone.

Go to the Home app
Select HomePod speaker in Favourite Accessories
Long press on HomePod icon
Tap the settings icon in the bottom right corner
Scroll down to Siri
Toggle off Listen for "Hey Siri"

Pocket-lint

Playing a sound and lighting upwards when using Siri

Past default, the HomePod and HomePod mini lights up a modest part of the touchscreen on the acme of the speaker when you say "Hey Siri".

You can turn this off, as well as have an audible beep when you lot say the control so you know when to commencement speaking. To enable or disable these features:

Become to the Home app
Select HomePod speaker in Favourite Accessories
Long press on HomePod icon
Tap the settings icon in the bottom correct
Scroll down to Siri
Toggle Light When Using Siri or Audio When Using Siri

Irresolute Siri'south voice on the HomePod

Siri will default to the voice of your territory; all the same, you lot can change it if y'all fancy a change. Siri is bachelor in both male person and female person voices in American, British, Australian, Indian, Irish gaelic and South African. To change Siri's voice, exercise the following:

Go to the Dwelling app
Select HomePod speaker in Favourite Accessories
Long press on HomePod icon
Tap the settings cog in the lesser right corner
Curl downward to Siri
Tap to modify Siri's Vocalism

Web Search Handoff to iPhone

Siri on HomePod works seamlessly with your other Apple devices as yous might imagine. You can ask Siri on HomePod or HomePod mini to search the web and the results tin be sent to your iPhone.

To do this simply say "Hey Siri, search the web for Yosemite travel guides" and while you've asked the HomePod or HomePod mini, the search volition be performed on your iPhone.

Writing by Stuart Miles and Britta O'Boyle.