It’s the big night, the one when the new back-to-school updates are released for all devices in the Apple ecosystem. Whether it’s the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro, Mac or Apple Vision Pro, they all received their new update simultaneously with a ton of new features. If we tend to talk mainly about these devices, we often forget… the HomePod. Apple’s famous connected speaker is offering a new update tonight called “HomePod OS 18. What to expect?
Don’t forget to update your HomePod
HomePod 1, HomePod 2 or HomePod mini, Apple’s new connected speakers have just received a major update this evening. The Cupertino firm has started rolling out HomePod OS 18, an update that brings several new features.
Added the ability to choose a “Home Hub” manually
Before talking about this feature, you need to know what a Home Hub is, it is a device that serves as a “control center” for the entire HomeKit system in your home. For example, if you have several connected bulbs, thermostats, a device will take care of being the intermediary between the HomePod and the device with which you want to interact. Previously, the Home Hub was automatically chosen by the HomePod, now it is the user who manually selects the device they want to become the Home Hub.
A new SharePlay feature in HomePod OS 18 now lets multiple users jointly control music playback on a HomePod via Apple Music. Simply bring two iPhones together to add songs to a playlist and control the music that plays. A great idea if you’re hosting a party with Apple Music subscribers and iPhone owners!
AirPlay x Spatial Audio
Another new feature that was highly anticipated is support for Spatial Audio music. Apple Music is full of an astronomical amount of Spatial Audio compatible songs, however until today, spatial audio instantly disappeared when sending music via AirPlay to a HomePod.
Now, with HomePod OS 18, music sent via AirPlay to a HomePod retains its Spatial Audio format if the title is compatible with this audio technology. Thanks to this new feature, you will be able to listen to music with maximum immersion.
Bug fixes
Beyond these three new features, Apple developers have worked diligently to deliver a bug-free update with improvements and optimal stability. After installing HomePod OS 18, your HomePod should be even more responsive to your requests.
How to update your HomePod?
To update a HomePod, here are the steps to follow:
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- Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
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- Tap the three dots at the top right of the screen
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- Select “Home Settings”
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- Scroll down to the “Software Updates” section
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- If an update is available, you will see an option to install it. Tap “Update”
HomePods are often set to update automatically, but this method allows you to manually check for and install the latest version.
