How To Set Up Home Pod

You've got your Apple HomePod or HomePod Mini banging out the tunes, with their impressive 360-degree audio, and you've got Siri turning on your smart lights and whacking up your heating.

Merely that's just scratching the surface of what Apple tree'due south smart speakers tin do.

Here are 30 of the hottest Siri tips, tricks and features – and don't forget to check out our round-up of the essential HomePod commands.

i. Stream Spotify on your HomePod (other streaming services are available)

In the United states, Pandora has already 'gone alive' for HomePod users - meaning that you tin set it as the default playback service and use Siri to navigate its digital itemize.

Spotify wasn't listed as ane of the music streaming partners in the Mini'south keynote presentation, only information technology was confirmed in a conference with The Ambient that Apple "would love to work with Spotify."

There is a workaround for using Spotify and other streaming services non fully on board though

But open the app on your iPhone and choose the song you want. Click the Devices Bachelor button at the lesser, select More Devices and and so choose your HomePod speaker. With AirPlay two, you can fifty-fifty have the HomePod play with other AirPlay 2-supporting speakers, like the Sonos I or the Libratone Zipp ii.

2. Play radio stations that aren't Beats 1

The higher up method also works with any radio stations that have a web-based app, whether it's through the BBC iPlayer, TuneIn, or using a radio station'southward dedicated iOS app.

Just await for the AirPlay logo in the app you're using and choose your HomePod from the list of available devices.

3. Create stereo HomePod sound

Music enthusiasts may tell you to ignore claims of 360-degree audio and the similar - for the purist'southward music experience you need a stereo setup, with a left and right pair delivering the sounds artists intended.

The expert news is that'southward possible with your HomePod - forth with multi-room audio as well.

If you're setting upwardly a new HomePod, and y'all cull to add together 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. You can only pair the aforementioned models of HomePod though, so no Mini and original mixing.

As for multi-room audio, you lot can go ahead and pair your HomePod to your Sonos speakers cheers to AirPlay ii.

four. Ship and read messages through HomePod

Greasy fingers? Only tin can't be bothered to find your phone? You can send a message through the HomePod. Simply say, "Hey Siri, transport a message to Sophie" then tell it what you want you want the personal assistant to say. It'll ask you lot if you're gear up to send before it does so.

You tin can even have Siri on HomePod read your latest text messages to you, but you lot'll demand to take 'Personal Requests' switched on. Caput into the Home app, go into the settings for the home in which the HomePod lives. Tap on the icon with your name on it nether People then select Personal Requests at the bottom. You'll be able to ask Siri things like, "Read the latest message from Jeff".

Note that below information technology there'south a second option for adding authentication. You can switch this on to terminate other people sending messages and causing other havoc with your account.

5. Brand calls on HomePod with Siri

A more than contempo feature of the HomePod lets you ask Siri to make and take calls on the speaker. So commencement of all, make certain your HomePod is upward to date. Starting time you lot'll need to enable Personal Requests. Get to your HomePod settings and curl downward, you'll discover Personal Requests under Siri. Switch it on.

So, just say, "Hey Siri, phone call [Name]". You can as well say, "Hey Siri, answer my phone" to pick upwards and "Hey Siri, hang up" when you're washed. Talking on your iPhone and struggling to hear the other person? You can transfer a call to the HomePod. Tap the audio icon on the iPhone and select the HomePod from your listing of devices.

6. Use Siri as a HomePod translator

Wondering how to say something in another language? Wonder no more than – Siri can translate English language to French, German, Italian, Spanish and Mandarin.

Simply ask, "Hey Siri, how do you say [word] in [language]?" to expand your vocabulary.

7. Change Siri'due south voice on your HomePod

Siri's British accent is very, very robotic, and after a while it can also become very, very irritating. Much more than natural are the American ones on offering – both male and female – and the Australian one definitely has the well-nigh personality.

Caput into your iPhone or iPad'south Home app, long press or 3D Touch the HomePod'south tile and yous get the options to switch up some of Apple's personal assistant's settings – linguistic communication, default voice and the like. You can also cull to mute the Apple digital assistant, if you lot want.

8. Abound your music trivia knowledge

Siri'south musicologist skills aren't express to skipping tracks, rewinding and fast forwarding. Apple's digital assistant is quite the music buff – it'southward got all the noesis (well, it's got a direct link to Wikipedia, at to the lowest degree).

While listening to a vocal, you can enquire things like, "Hey Siri, who plays the drums in this band?"… "What year was this album released?"… "Tell me something about this artist" and so on. Every day is a school twenty-four hours with Siri.

9. Automate your smart domicile with Siri

Siri tin can control your HomeKit enabled kit from your HomePod, that's a given. But a much more natural, and cool, way of getting Siri working harder in your smart abode is to create scenes that information technology tin can control.

For example, fix up a bedtime routine in which Siri turns off all the lights, activates the alarm and locks the front door – where a simple, "Hey Siri, information technology's bedtime," gets the scene started. Any scenes created in the Habitation app tin can be activated using Siri on your HomePod.

10. Control HomePod music with an iPhone

1 of the big selling points of HomePod is plainly voice command for music playback, simply at that place are times when using your phone makes more sense. Apple tree has you covered on this front.

From within the iOS Music app, cull the vocal you want, click the AirPlay logo and cull your HomePod. Or, from the lock screen, you'll run into the Music widget – again, merely tap that AirPlay icon and practice the aforementioned as above.

Finally, from the Command Centre, either long-press or 3D Touch on the music tile and yous'll get a screen with all your electric current music playbacks on your Apple devices. Once more, just striking the AirPlay push button to transfer a song over to your HomePod, or choose the HomePod section if something is already streaming on your smart speaker.

Remember, with AirPlay 2 you tin pair two HomePods together easily from the AirPlay menu or fifty-fifty pair the HomePod with another AirPlay 2-supporting speaker.

xi. Using HomePod every bit a Television set speaker

Boob tube speakers are crap – that's a fact. And while a HomePod isn't necessarily designed to exist a TV speaker, information technology does a pretty practiced job of room-filling audio for your movies and TV shows.

Until at present this has only been available with the Apple tree Idiot box, merely with AirPlay two landing on TVs from the likes of Samsung, LG, Vizio and Sony - the HomePod can exist paired with third-political party sets.

When watching something from your Apple TV, you tin can agree down the play/interruption push on the Apple Television set remote and choose the HomePod option. If you want it to be the default speaker permanently, become to your Apple Goggle box settings, select the Video and Audio section, choose Sound Output and pick your HomePod.

It gets even better when using the Apple Telly 4K though - Every bit part of Apple's new 'Home Theater with Apple tree 4K' the commencement-gen HomePod can be used to form an immersive environment sound experience, with virtual 2.one, 5.1, seven.1 and Dolby Atmos all on offer.

The caveat here is yous only go that surround sound action when you're watching stuff via your Apple Tv 4K; you lot can't just plug your HomePod direct into your Idiot box and become Atmos activeness on everything.

However, with Apple tree Tv at present supporting pretty much all the major streaming services - Netflix, Prime, HBO, Disney+, Hulu and more than - it's a pretty compelling statement to brand that single HDMI input switch for your AV setup.

12. Get the headlines from your HomePod

Simply say, " Hey Siri, what's in the news?" and your smart speaker will read you the news bulletin – and there's a range of sources on offer likewise.

The skilful news is that these news readings are region-specific too - for case, BBC or Sky News in the UK.

13. Go assist with your spelling from Siri

Not certain how to spell a word? Have no fright, Siri'due south got your back. Simply inquire, "Hey Siri, how do yous spell [word]?" and your smart speaker will tell you lot what's what.

xiv. Beef upwards the security of your HomePod

A lot has been made of the lack of support for multiple users on HomePod, and while in that location's no hidden iPhone settings menu for changing that, there is a multi-user menu of note, although it's centred around AirPlay playback.

Using the iOS Home app, yous can limit your speaker's streaming to just people in your Apple Dwelling house or people on your network. Y'all can also add a password, if you lot similar, or throw caution to the wind and go out it open up so every bit anyone close enough with an iPhone could stream their music.

15. Cake explicit content on your HomePod

To become to the meatier HomePod settings, you'll desire to head into your iPhone's Dwelling app. Within the HomePod's menus you'll see options to fix alarms, modify up some of the default settings and block explicit content.

The restrictions available are dependent on which state's store you use. In the States, you'll be able to block any music with a Parental Advisory Label from the Recording Industry Association of America. Basically, music with naughty words.

16. Factory reset your Apple HomePod

If your HomePod is acting up, is unresponsive, or you desire to sell it or give it away, so yous'll want to hard reset it.

You've got ii methods for resetting your HomePod. Firstly, on the Home app, press and hold the HomePod tile, tap 'Details', scroll to the lesser and select 'Remove Accompaniment'.

From the HomePod itself, you tin reset it past unplugging information technology, waiting five seconds, then plugging it back in. Later some other five seconds, hold your finger on the top of HomePod until the white spinning light turns red. Keep belongings your finger downwardly and you'll hear Siri say that your HomePod is near to reset. Y'all'll hear three beeps, so you can lift your finger, as it'south all done.

17. Add a song to a Apple Music playlist

When you're listening to Apple tree Music or Beats Radio yous tin simply say, "Hey Siri, add this song to [proper noun of playlist]" and information technology'll be added on to the end of that playlist.

18. Plough on a HomePod Siri tone

If you have your HomePod on a shelf above your eye level, the chances are you'll struggle to find that Siri has heard you. If that's the example, the Siri tone may be useful.

To plough it on, head into the HomePod'due south settings bill of fare within the Home app on your iPhone and check the Audio When Using Siri option.

xix. Stream sound from Mac to HomePod

The Spotify app itself doesn't list AirPlay speakers in the devices list, and the Mac AirPlay pick in the menu bar only lists Apple TVs. But you tin play any audio from your Mac – Spotify and more – over AirPlay to your HomePod. Dive into your System Preferences. From at that place, choose Sound and select your HomePod as the device for sound output.

xx. Use your HomePod as your HomeKit hub

An easy tip here – ane that requires no effort on your office. HomePod works every bit a hub for HomeKit, letting you control your smart HomeKit appliances with your voice via Siri.

And the expert news is that information technology volition automatically add itself every bit a Hub within the Home app. Patently, with the HomePod most likely to stay in ane place, it makes more sense to have it every bit your HomeKit hub than an iPad (although an Apple Goggle box is all the same preferable, as there are a few extra features).

The HomePod Mini is actually the all-time Domicile Hub yous can use as it also boasts Thread connectivity.

21. Enable VoiceOver

Apple'due south best accessibility feature is also on the HomePod, meaning Siri tin announce which controls you're touching.

To enable it, caput into the HomePod settings, curlicue down to Accessibility and select VoiceOver. Here's a guide that dives deeper into the feature and what it can do.

22. Become Siri to be your sous chef

If you're similar us, Siri is massively helpful in the kitchen. At that place'due south nothing like trying to manually gear up a timer with flour on your fingers to teach you the value of a voice banana.

To give you an actress leg-upwards when doing the mental math, endeavor asking Siri on your HomePod, "Hey Siri, how many ounces in a cup?" Or, if you lot're feeling similar a different type of evening, maybe try, "Hey Siri, what's in a White Russian?"

23. Share your HomeKit admission for HomePod

Having a HomePod is well and proficient, but you might want to make sure that other people in your home tin take advantage of it, likewise.

If y'all're using your HomePod as a smart home hub, you tin too add together other users in your 'Domicile' app, allowing them to control the smart speaker and all its paired devices just like y'all might. You'll practically experience the responsibleness slipping off your shoulders.

24. Family grocery list

If you lot want anyone in your home to be able to contribute to your grocery list, information technology just takes a unproblematic tweak. Head to your iPhone's Settings app, then click Reminders and so iCloud. Choose Family and everyone volition have admission to the grocery list.

25. Tell Siri what you similar

While Siri is playing music for you, don't exist afraid to say "Hey Siri, I like this" or "Hey Siri, I hate this." Siri will take your gustation into account and accommodate what music it plays for you based on your likes and dislikes.

26. Set up multiple users

The HomePod and HomePod Mini tin can now recognize individual voices from up to six users, then you ever go your ain data – like calendars and playlists – when interacting with it.

Yous should actually get a prompt to set this up automatically, provided yous've met certain criteria that Apple tree has fix out here (updating your iPhone to the latest iOS, having Bluetooth and "Hey Siri" turned on, and so on).

To customize how your HomePod interacts with your personally, head to the Home app on your phone, and tap the Home icon, Home Settings, then your home setup and your user profile nether People.

27. Rename your HomePod / HomePod Mini

There are all kinds of ways you tin can customize your HomePod or HomePod Mini, and you might not have come across them all yet.

Something quick and piece of cake you can do is to rename your HomePod smart speaker – merely long press on the device in the Dwelling house app, then tap on Settings, then tap on the current title.

28. Get physical with your HomePod

The HomePod smart speakers tin can be operated through physical touch besides as through voice commands and your other Apple devices.

As well every bit the book controls, you can tap the summit of the speaker to play or suspension your music (or Siri), double-tap to skip a track, triple-tap to skip back a track, and touch on and hold to activate Siri.

29. Observe songs past their lyrics

Siri on your HomePod is smart enough to be able to identify songs based on their lyrics (as long equally you lot haven't misheard them and can get them right, of course).

Say "Hey Siri, what's that song that goes..." followed by a line or two to go a lucifer – y'all tin then ask to hear the vocal straight away besides, if y'all like.

thirty. Utilize your HomePods in multiple rooms

If you've got more than 1 HomePods, yous can assign them to different rooms and use your telephone or a Siri control to move audio from ane room to some other – very handy if you're moving from the kitchen to the living room and want your music to follow you.

Go to Control Center on your telephone and long printing on the music playing tile, and you're able to configure the multiple room setup farther.

HomePod must-reads

Source: https://www.the-ambient.com/guides/apple-homepod-tips-tricks-secrets-408