30 top Apple HomePod and Siri tips and tricks

Make Siri a Famous person DJ and fewer of a sensible house dunce

You’ve received your Apple HomePod or HomePod Mini banging out the tunes, with their spectacular 360-degree audio, and also you’ve received Siri turning in your good lights and whacking up your heating.

However that’s simply scratching the floor of what Apple’s good audio system can do.

Listed here are 30 of the most popular Siri suggestions, methods and options – and don’t neglect to take a look at our round-up of the important HomePod instructions.

1. Stream Spotify in your HomePod (different streaming companies can be found)

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Within the US, Pandora has been stay for HomePod customers for a while – which means which you can set it because the default playback service and use Siri to navigate its digital catalog.

Nonetheless, Spotify nonetheless isn’t one of many music streaming companions accessible by way of HomePod – although it was confirmed method again in 2020 in a briefing with The Ambient that Apple “would like to work with Spotify.”

There’s a workaround for utilizing Spotify and different streaming companies not totally on board, although.

Merely open the app in your iPhone and select the music you need. Click on the Units Out there button on the backside, choose Extra Units after which select your HomePod speaker. With AirPlay 2, you’ll be able to even have the HomePod play with different AirPlay 2-supporting audio system, just like the Sonos One or the Libratone Zipp 2.

2. Play radio stations that aren’t Beats 1

The above technique additionally works with any radio station that has a web-based app, whether or not it’s by BBC Sounds, TuneIn, or utilizing a radio station’s devoted iOS app.

Simply search for the AirPlay brand within the app you’re utilizing and select your HomePod from the record of accessible units.

3. Create stereo HomePod sound

Music lovers might inform you to disregard claims of 360-degree sound and the like – for the purist’s music expertise, you want a stereo setup, with a left and proper pair delivering the sounds artists meant.

The excellent news is that’s potential together with your HomePod – together with multi-room audio, as nicely.

If you happen to’re organising a brand new HomePod, and also you select so as to add it to a room the place a HomePod already lives, then you definitely’ll see a pop-up asking you if you wish to create a stereo pair. You’ll be able to solely pair the identical fashions of HomePod although, so no Mini and unique mixing.

As for multi-room audio, you’ll be able to go forward and pair your HomePod to your Sonos audio system due to AirPlay 2.

4. Ship and browse messages by HomePod

30 top Apple HomePod and Siri tips and tricks
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Greasy fingers? Simply can’t be bothered to search out your cellphone? You’ll be able to ship a message by the HomePod. Simply say, “Hey Siri, ship a message to [X]” then say what you need the non-public assistant to say. It’ll ask you if you happen to’re able to ship it earlier than it does so.

You’ll be able to even have Siri on HomePod learn your newest textual content messages to you, however you’ll must have ‘Private Requests’ switched on. Head into the House app and go into the settings for the house wherein the HomePod lives. Faucet on the icon together with your title on it beneath Folks then choose Private Requests on the backside. You’ll be capable to ask Siri issues like, “Learn the newest message from [X]”.

Notice that under it there’s a second possibility for including authentication. You’ll be able to swap this on to cease different individuals from sending messages and inflicting different havoc together with your account.

5. Make calls on HomePod with Siri

A newer function of the HomePod enables you to ask Siri to make and take calls on the speaker. So initially, be certain your HomePod is updated. First, you’ll must allow Private Requests. Go to your HomePod settings and scroll down, you’ll discover Private Requests beneath Siri. Swap it on.

Then, simply say, “Hey Siri, name [Name]”. You too can say, “Hey Siri, reply my cellphone” to select up and “Hey Siri, hold up” if you’re accomplished. Speaking in your iPhone and struggling to listen to the opposite particular person? You’ll be able to switch a name to the HomePod. Faucet the audio icon on the iPhone and choose the HomePod out of your record of units.

6. Use Siri as a HomePod translator

Questioning easy methods to say one thing in one other language? Marvel no extra – Siri can translate English into French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Mandarin.

Merely ask, “Hey Siri, how do you say [word] in [language]?” to increase your vocabulary.

7. Change Siri’s voice in your HomePod

Siri’s British accent could be very robotic, and, after some time, it may additionally get very irritating. Way more pure are the American ones on supply – each female and male – and the Australian one undoubtedly has essentially the most persona.

Head into your iPhone or iPad’s House app, lengthy press, or 3D Contact the HomePod’s tile and also you get the choices to change up a few of Apple’s private assistant’s settings – language, default voice and the like. You too can select to mute the Apple digital assistant, if you need.

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8. Develop your music trivia data

Siri’s musicologist abilities aren’t restricted to skipping tracks, rewinding and fast-forwarding. Apple’s digital assistant is kind of the music buff – it’s received all of the data (nicely, it’s received a direct hyperlink to Wikipedia, at the least).

Whereas listening to a music, you’ll be able to ask issues like, “Hey Siri, who performs the drums on this band?”“What yr was this album launched?”“Inform me one thing about this artist” and so forth. Each day is a college day with Siri.

9. Automate your good house with Siri

Siri can management your HomeKit-enabled package out of your HomePod, that’s a given. However a way more pure, and funky, method of getting Siri working tougher in your good house is to create scenes that it may management.

For instance, arrange a bedtime routine wherein Siri turns off all of the lights, prompts the alarm and locks the entrance door – the place a easy, “Hey Siri, it’s bedtime,” get the scene began. Any scenes created within the House app might be activated utilizing Siri in your HomePod.

10. Management HomePod music with an iPhone

Apple HomePod tips and tricks
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One of many large promoting factors of HomePod is clearly voice management for music playback, however there are occasions when utilizing your cellphone makes extra sense. Apple has you lined on this entrance.

From throughout the iOS Music app, select the music you need, click on the AirPlay brand and select your HomePod. Or, from the lock display, you’ll see the Music widget – once more, simply faucet that AirPlay icon and do the identical as above.

Lastly, from the Management Heart, both long-press or 3D Contact the music tile and also you’ll get a display with all of your present music playbacks in your Apple units. Once more, simply hit the AirPlay button to switch a music over to your HomePod, or select the HomePod part if one thing is already streaming in your good speaker.

Keep in mind, with AirPlay 2 you’ll be able to pair two HomePods collectively simply from the AirPlay menu and even pair the HomePod with one other AirPlay 2-supporting speaker.

30 top Apple HomePod and Siri tips and tricks
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11. Utilizing HomePod as a TV speaker

TV audio system are crap – that’s a truth. And whereas a HomePod isn’t essentially designed to be a TV speaker, it does a reasonably good job of room-filling sound in your films and TV exhibits.

Till now this has solely been accessible with the Apple TV, however with AirPlay 2 touchdown on TVs from the likes of Samsung, LG, Vizio, and Sony – the HomePod might be paired with third-party units.

When watching one thing out of your Apple TV, you’ll be able to maintain down the play/pause button on the Apple TV distant and select the HomePod possibility. In order for you it to be the default speaker completely, go to your Apple TV settings, choose the Video and Audio part, select Audio Output and decide your HomePod.

It will get even higher when utilizing the Apple TV 4K although – As a part of Apple’s new ‘House Theater with Apple 4K’ the first-gen HomePod can be utilized to kind an immersive encompass sound expertise, with digital 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, and Dolby Atmos all on supply.

The caveat right here is you solely get that encompass sound motion if you’re watching stuff by way of your Apple TV 4K; you’ll be able to’t simply plug your HomePod immediately into your TV and get Atmos motion on the whole lot.

Nonetheless, with Apple TV now supporting just about all the most important streaming companies – Netflix, Prime, HBO, Disney+, Hulu, and extra – it’s a reasonably compelling argument to make that single HDMI enter swap in your AV setup.

12. Get the headlines out of your HomePod

Merely say, Hey Siri, what’s within the information?” and your good speaker will learn you the information bulletin – and there’s a spread of sources on supply as nicely.

The excellent news is that these information readings are region-specific too – for instance, BBC or Sky Information within the UK.

13. Get assist together with your spelling from Siri

Unsure easy methods to spell a phrase? Haven’t any concern, Siri’s received your again. Simply ask, “Hey Siri, how do you spell [word]?” and your good speaker will inform you what’s what.

14. Beef up the safety of your HomePod

best Apple Hom tricks
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Quite a bit has been product of the dearth of help for a number of customers on HomePod, and whereas there’s no hidden iPhone settings menu for altering that, there’s a multi-user menu of word, though it’s centered round AirPlay playback.

Utilizing the iOS House app, you’ll be able to restrict your speaker’s streaming to simply individuals in your Apple House or individuals in your community. You too can add a password, if you happen to like, or throw warning to the wind and go away it open in order that anybody shut sufficient with an iPhone might stream their music.

15. Block specific content material in your HomePod

To get to the meatier HomePod settings, you’ll need to head into your iPhone’s House app. Throughout the HomePod’s menus, you’ll see choices to set alarms, change up a number of the default settings and block specific content material.

The restrictions accessible are depending on which nation’s retailer you utilize. Within the States, you’ll be capable to block any music with a Parental Advisory Label from the Recording Business Affiliation of America. Mainly, music with naughty phrases.

16. Manufacturing facility reset your Apple HomePod

In case your HomePod is performing up, is unresponsive, otherwise you need to promote it or give it away, then you definitely’ll need to exhausting reset it.

You’ve received two strategies for resetting your HomePod. Firstly, on the House app, press and maintain the HomePod tile, faucet ‘Particulars’, scroll to the underside and choose ‘Take away Accent’.

From the HomePod itself, you’ll be able to reset it by unplugging it, ready 5 seconds, then plugging it again in. After one other 5 seconds, maintain your finger on the highest of the HomePod till the white spinning gentle turns pink. Preserve holding your finger down and also you’ll hear Siri say that your HomePod is about to reset. You’ll hear three beeps, then you’ll be able to carry your finger, because it’s all accomplished.

17. Add a music to an Apple Music playlist

Whenever you’re listening to Apple Music or Beats Radio you’ll be able to merely say, “Hey Siri, add this music to [name of playlist]” and it’ll be added on to the top of that playlist.

18. Activate a HomePod Siri tone

You probably have your HomePod on a shelf above your eye degree, the possibilities are you’ll battle to note that Siri has heard you. If that’s the case, the Siri tone could also be helpful.

To show it on, head into the HomePod’s settings menu throughout the House app in your iPhone and examine the Sound When Utilizing Siri possibility.

19. Stream sound from Mac to HomePod

The Spotify app itself doesn’t record AirPlay audio system within the units record, and the Mac AirPlay possibility within the menu bar solely lists Apple TVs. However you’ll be able to play any sound out of your Mac – Spotify and extra – over AirPlay to your HomePod. Dive into your System Preferences. From there, select Sound and choose your HomePod because the machine for sound output.

20. Use your HomePod as your HomeKit hub

A simple tip right here – one which requires no effort in your half. HomePod works as a hub for HomeKit, letting you management your good HomeKit home equipment together with your voice by way of Siri.

And the excellent news is that it’ll mechanically add itself as a Hub throughout the House app. Clearly, with the HomePod almost certainly to remain in a single place, it makes extra sense to have it as your HomeKit hub than an iPad (though an Apple TV remains to be preferable, as there are just a few additional options).

The HomePod Mini is definitely the very best House Hub you should use because it additionally boasts Thread connectivity.

homepod and homepod mini
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21. Allow VoiceOver

Apple’s greatest accessibility function can be on the HomePod, which means Siri can announce which controls you’re touching.

To allow it, head into the HomePod settings, scroll all the way down to Accessibility, and choose VoiceOver. Right here’s a information that dives deeper into the function and what it may do.

22. Get Siri to be your sous chef

If you happen to’re like us, Siri is massively useful within the kitchen. There’s nothing like making an attempt to manually set a timer with flour in your fingers to show you the worth of a voice assistant.

To offer you an additional leg-up when doing the psychological math, attempt asking Siri in your HomePod, “Hey Siri, what number of ounces are in a cup?” Or, if you happen to’re feeling like a unique kind of night, perhaps attempt, “Hey Siri, what’s in a White Russian?”

23. Share your HomeKit entry for HomePod

Having a HomePod is nicely and good, however you would possibly need to make it possible for different individuals in your house can benefit from it, too.

If you happen to’re utilizing your HomePod as a sensible house hub, you too can add different customers in your ‘House’ app, permitting them to manage the good speaker and all its paired units identical to you would possibly. You’ll virtually really feel the duty slipping off your shoulders.

24. Household grocery record

In order for you anybody in your house to have the ability to contribute to your grocery record, it simply takes a easy tweak. Head to your iPhone’s Settings app, then click on Reminders after which iCloud. Select Household and everybody can have entry to the grocery record.

25. Inform Siri what you want

Whereas Siri is enjoying music for you, don’t be afraid to say “Hey Siri, I like this” or “Hey Siri, I hate this.” Siri will take your style under consideration and regulate what music it performs for you primarily based in your likes and dislikes.

26. Arrange a number of customers

The HomePod and HomePod Mini can now acknowledge particular person voices from as much as six customers, so that you all the time get your individual info – like calendars and playlists – when interacting with it.

You must truly get a immediate to set this up mechanically, supplied you’ve met sure standards that Apple has set out right here (updating your iPhone to the newest iOS, having Bluetooth and “Hey Siri” turned on, and so forth).

To customise how your HomePod interacts with you personally, head to the House app in your cellphone, and faucet the House icon, House Settings, then your house setup and your person profile beneath Folks.

27. Rename your HomePod / HomePod Mini

There are all types of how you’ll be able to customise your HomePod or HomePod Mini, and also you may not have come throughout all of them but.

One thing fast and straightforward you are able to do is to rename your HomePod good speaker – simply lengthy press on the machine within the House app, then faucet on Settings, then faucet on the present title.

28. Get bodily together with your HomePod

The HomePod good audio system might be operated by bodily contact in addition to by voice instructions and your different Apple units.

In addition to the quantity controls, you’ll be able to faucet the highest of the speaker to play or pause your music (or Siri), double-tap to skip a observe, triple-tap to skip again a observe, and contact and maintain to activate Siri.

29. Discover songs by their lyrics

Siri in your HomePod is sensible sufficient to have the ability to determine songs primarily based on their lyrics (so long as you haven’t misheard them and might get them proper, after all).

Say “Hey Siri, what’s that music that goes…” adopted by a line or two to get a match – you’ll be able to then ask to listen to the music right away as nicely, if you happen to like.

30. Use your HomePods in a number of rooms

If you happen to’ve received multiple HomePods, you’ll be able to assign them to totally different rooms and use your cellphone or a Siri command to maneuver audio from one room to a different – very useful if you happen to’re transferring from the kitchen to the lounge and need your music to observe you.

Go to Management Heart in your cellphone and lengthy press on the music enjoying tile, and also you’re capable of configure the a number of room setup additional.

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