HomePod User Guide

Play audio on HomePod using iPhone or iPad

To quickly hand off audio, bring your iPhone near HomePod. HomePod can also play audio sent from an iPhone or iPad using AirPlay and Siri.

For details about using the Music app, the Podcasts app, and Control Center, see the iPhone User Guide or iPad User Guide.

Transfer audio between HomePod and your iPhone

When you’re on a call or listening to media, you can transfer the audio from HomePod to your iPhone and vice-versa.

To change who can hand off audio to HomePod, see Allow others to control audio on HomePod.

  1. Go to the Settings app 👁 Image
    on your iPhone.

  2. Check the following:

    • Wi-Fi: Make sure your iPhone is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as HomePod.

    • Bluetooth®: Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.

    • AirPlay: Tap General, tap AirPlay & Continuity, then make sure Transfer to HomePod is turned on.

  3. To transfer audio, hold your iPhone near the top of HomePod until the transfer is complete.

    👁 An iPhone near the top of HomePod. The iPhone screen shows a song playing, and the song has been transferred to HomePod.

Stream to HomePod from Apple Music or Apple Podcasts

  1. Go to the Music app 👁 Image
    app or Podcasts app 👁 Image
    app on your iPhone or iPad.

  2. While playing music or a podcast, open the media controls.

  3. Tap 👁 the AirPlay button
    ,     then select your HomePod.

    👁 An iPhone screen showing a song playing and a list of HomePod and Apple TV devices. The Office HomePod is selected.

  4. To return to the playback screen, tap outside the AirPlay options.

  5. To add an item to the Playing Next queue on HomePod, touch and hold the item, then tap Play Next or Play Last.

Play audio on HomePod using Control Center

  1. To open Control Center on your iPhone or iPad, do one of the following:

    • On iPhone with Face ID or on iPad: Swipe down from the top-right edge.

    • On iPhone with a Home button: Swipe up from the bottom.

  2. Tap the audio card, tap 👁 the AirPlay button
    ,     then select one or more HomePod speakers.

To play audio from other devices that support AirPlay, see the documentation for that device for details about selecting an audio destination.

Use Siri to play music on HomePod with AirPlay

You can use Siri to play media from media services that aren’t supported on HomePod. HomePod will automatically start an AirPlay session from your nearby iPhone or iPad.

Note: Some music services may not support Siri and AirPlay on iPhone or iPad.

To play music on HomePod using AirPlay:

  1. Set up voice recognition and personal content on your HomePod. HomePod will recognize the preferred music service of each member of the home.

  2. Go to the Settings app 👁 Image
    on your iPhone or iPad.

  3. Check the following:

    • Wi-Fi: Make sure your iPhone or iPad is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as HomePod.

    • Your location: Tap your name, tap Find My, then make sure My Location is set to This Device.

  4. When making your request to Siri, mention the app name.

    Siri on HomePod learns your preferred music service over time and automatically plays music from that app so you no longer need to say the app name in your request.

If your iPhone or iPad moves out of range of your HomePod, media automatically stops playing.

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