HomePod 17 Issues, Features, Changes, Bugs & More
Posted in News by Patricia on September 18, 2023
HomePod 17 update
HomePod 17 build number 21J354 is available for the original HomePod and the HomePod mini! It brings new features as well as bug fixes and stability improvements! New issues and available workarounds are tracked too!
HomePod 17 Issues
Before updating, you might want to check out problems reported by early adopters:
- 1. To be updated. (Contribute in the comments!)
HomePod 17 Features
According to Apple’s release notes there are three new features included in this update:
- 1. AirPlay from iPhone or iPad directly to HomePod with the help of Siri thanks to the new support feature.
- 2. Mute or unmute a call on HomePod thanks to the new call controls.
- 3. Enhance Dialogue feature gives you the option to hear spoken voices more clearly over background sounds when paired with Apple TV 4K. (Only for HomePod 2nd gen.)
HomePod 17 Bugs Fixed
Issues addressed in this update are tracked here:
- 1. To be updated! (Contribute in the comments!)
More: Resolved issues and known ones are also mentioned in the Developer notes.
HomePod 17 Download
The update is available, over-the-air, in the Home app. To get it you need an iPhone, iPad or Mac running iOS 17, iPadOS 17 or macOS Sonoma:
- 1. Open Home app on iPhone or iPad and browse for Home Settings -> Software Update.
- 2. HomePod Version 17 should show up!
- 3. Tap Update and be patient until the software is downloaded, prepared and installed!
Have you installed HomePod OS 17 on your smart speaker? Do you face any issues or have any questions? Share your feedback in the comments!
Related: Apple has also seeded iOS 17 & iPadOS 17 (21A329), watchOS 10 (21R356) macOS Sonoma 14 RC (23A339) and tvOS 17 (21J354).
I experienced a bunch of new issues with OS 17.
Worst bug is the fact that some songs end before the end. Then there is a silence and a new song starts, but not from its debut. Then the song restarts from the beginning. This is incredibly annoying and it started the day I updated my HomePods to OS 17.
Secondly Siri cannot remember the songs that I tell it to like anymore.
If I ask Siri to raise the volume of Siri on one HomePod, it raises the music volume instead.
Sometimes one or more HomePods are delayed compared to other HomePods.
Some other times one HomePod randomly stops playing or they just disconnect.
I think these are the most important frustrations related to OS 17. I don’t recommend to update, even if you had issues with OS 16. Just keep in mind that OS 17 is worst.
Thanks for the extended feedback. We appreciate your info. Let’s see if 17.1 software will improve these aspects.