HomePod 16.1 Features, Problems, Bugs And Fixes
Last updated on November 2nd, 2022 at 05:51 am
Posted in News by Mike on October 24, 2022Apple has released HomePod 16.1 with new features such as Matter support, as well as performance and stability improvements. Check out what’s new, including fresh bugs and unfixed problems.
HomePod 16.1 Update
This release is available, over-the-air, in the Home app:
Go for Menu (top-right corner) -> Home Settings -> Software Update.
HomePod 16.1 should be recognized and download process starts automatically.
Tip: If it doesn’t simply return to the Home Settings and access Software Update once again.
HomePod 16.1 Features
The release notes mention a single new feature:
- 1. Matter support for the new smart home connectivity standard. This allows your HomePod or HomePod mini to become a home hub for smart home accessories and allow them to work together across various ecosystems including HomeKit (Apple), Home (Google) and Alexa (Amazon).
- To be updated! (Contribute in the comments!)
Other changes spotted by users are listed here:
HomePod 16.1 Problems
New issues reported for this version are shared below along with available fixes or workarounds:
- 1. HomePods not connecting to Apple TV after HomePod 16 and 16.1 updates. Reported by Allan and Markus.
- To be updated! (Contribute in the comments!)
HomePod 16.1 Issues Fixed
The release notes also mention performance and stability improvements. However no specific bug fix is mentioned. Below we have a few problems reported for firmware 16.0. Help us check them out:
- 1. Siri not able to set Timer. (Status: -)
- 2. Siri not able to recognize users. (Status: -)
- 3. HomePod mini laggy after update and unable to execute commands. (Status: -)
- 4. HomePods can’t be controlled remotely, users has to be within Bluetooth range. (Status: -)
- 5. Audio cutting out during AirPlay. (Status: -)
Have you installed firmware 16.1 on HomePod or HomePod mini? What’s your feedback? Did you notice any changes not mentioned in this article? What about new issues? Share your findings in the comments!
Related: Apple has also rolled out iOS 16.1 (20B82), iPadOS 16.1 (20B82), macOS Ventura 13 (22A380), watchOS 9.1 (20S75), tvOS 16.1 (20K71), HomePod 16.1, macOS 12.6.1 and macOS Big Sur 11.7.1.
Hi, I am getting very frustrated now, all my gear are updated to IOS 16.1 and still can’t get the HomePods to work again with my AppleTV, I have properly restarted, ungrouped, and reset my HomePods 10 times over the last Month. Very very annoying to use all the money on Apple Products and something as simple as connecting their own brand speakers to Apple TV can’t work! It’s worked fine up until I tried Apple TV OS 16 during the summer. But anyway I have not contacted Apple to report this issue but feel free to do so and I hope I can get this sorted as soon as possible.
Thanks for reporting. If you updated tvOS 16 in the summer you must be running a beta version. Because tvOS 16 was released only mid-September. Try to disable beta updates on your Apple TV. This could be the reason.
Already did that before I updated to TVOS16
Ok reporting this to Apple again. If anyone else has the same issue, please confirm too.
Same Problem here. With no beta software.
Thanks for confirming.
Same problem
I just got a new Homepod mini and have it on my desk. It generates requests on my iPhone all the time! Can I turn them off?
You mean that audio from iPhone automatically switches to HomePod when you don’t want to? Try to increase the distance or disable ‘Transfer to HomePod’ in Settings altogether. Here is how to!
HomePod fails to react to Hey Siri when iPad is in the same room. This used to work properly! Any tips?
Thanks for sharing. Try to restart HomePod. If it doesn’t work you’ll have to keep your other devices screen down if possible until Apple fixes this functionality in an upcoming software update. More details here:
https://www.iphonetricks.org/hey-siri-homepod-priority-issues-in-ios-16-1/
I Pod says “I cannot find apple music”! Before version 16.1 was all OK! Do You have any Tip!
Try to restart your HomePod. Does it help?
No, restart do not help me! Have I try reset?
Yes, you can try resetting and re-adding your HomePod. Let us know if it works.
Hi Patricia, after reset Home Pod, is all OK! Thank you, have a nice day Tomas
That’s great. Happy to hear this! Have a nice weekend.
There is an issue with Siri on HomePod mini not executing shortcuts at all. I got new mini and updated it to v16, while my iPhone was running iOS 15.7. When I ask Siri to start shortcut, it always says that there is a problem and try again later. Same issue with HomePod 16.1. Everything else seems to be working fine. I tried to connect another HomePod mini with v15.3 to my home and it executed all shortcuts without any issue. There was threads on reddit about this problem, but it seems it was fixed with recent iOS 16 updates. But I have a question: iOS 15 owners (who own iPhone that can not be updated to iOS 16) is not supported anymore? Since I can’t downgrade HomePod back to 15.6, I have to buy new iPhone to be able to use HomePod?
Thanks for this detailed feedback. That’s a good question. What iPhone model are you owning? Is it iOS 16 compatible?
Well, in my case I have iPhone 11, which I don’t want to upgrade to iOS 16 yet (at least, until 16.2-16.3), also I have iPhone SE (1st gen) in my account, as well as iPad 2 (iOS 9) and MBP M1 with Monterey. All shortcuts syncing properly through iCloud and execute locally on iPhone/Mac without any issue. Only problem with HomePod mini & Siri. I had a conversation with apple support and all they said – you have to upgrade to iOS 16. Ok, I will do this, when it becomes stable and all major issues will be fixed (especially battery drain), but I asked them – what if I have iPhone se,6,7 ? They had no answer for my question. I understand, that if I convert home to new architecture (matter), older models will be unsupported. But if I’m not going to switch to matter for a next year? Apple broke already working thing and it seems they don’t want to fix this. I filled couple of reports to feedback, but I don’t think anybody read them. Anyway, regardless of iPhone model, I believe that HomePod mini should work with existing iOS 15 devices. At least, things that worked on HomePod OS v15, should work on v16. Otherwise, there must downgrade path available.
Here is few links related to this issue:
https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeKit/comments/mwslaw/siri_shortcuts_not_working_properly_on_the_homepod/
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254219779
https://www.reddit.com/r/HomePod/comments/xoc1k8/homepod_cant_play_siri_shortcuts_after_updating/
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/ios-16-and-homekit-issues-with-siri.2359013/
Thank You.
Seems my previous comment didn’t pass anti-spam due to links in text. so I add it here again:
Well, in my case I have iPhone 11, which I don’t want to upgrade to iOS 16 yet (at least, until 16.2-16.3), also I have iPhone SE (1st gen) in my account, as well as iPad 2 (iOS 9) and MBP M1 with Monterey. All shortcuts syncing properly through iCloud and execute locally on iPhone/Mac without any issue. Only problem with HomePod mini & Siri. I had a conversation with apple support and all they said – you have to upgrade to iOS 16. Ok, I will do this, when it becomes stable and all major issues will be fixed (especially battery drain), but I asked them – what if I have iPhone se,6,7 ? They had no answer for my question. I understand, that if I convert home to new architecture (matter), older models will be unsupported. But if I’m not going to switch to matter for a next year? Apple broke already working thing and it seems they don’t want to fix this. I filled couple of reports to feedback, but I don’t think anybody read them. Anyway, regardless of iPhone model, I believe that HomePod mini should work with existing iOS 15 devices. At least, things that worked on HomePod OS v15, should work on v16. Otherwise, there must downgrade path available.
Thanks for your feedback Sergey. Yes, I get your point and it makes sense. But I doubt that this will happen because Apple is always known for encouraging updates both software and hardware-wise.
The only option is to prevent HomePods from upgrading to OS 16. That’s why I have Automatic Updates disabled for all devices, especially on those that won’t support downgrade.
Well, I have autoupdates disabled everywhere. But when setting up new home with HomePod mini, it always enable autoupdates by default. So, it updated while I was setting up other things. Another point – on v15.3 there was no personal requests support in my language. Added somewhere after. So, anyway, I forced to update to v16 to be able to use it.
Hmm.. what apple devices support downgrade? Except Mac of course :)
iPhone, iPad, HomePod mini (as long as you have a 15 signed version). I checked and there doesn’t seem to be any signed 15.x version for HomePod mini.