Impressive sound and build quality aside, probably the best part about HomePod is the deep integration with the Apple ecosystem. The Siri-powered smart speaker seamlessly connects with Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, and Mac, allowing you to control and manage your connected smart home devices with ease. To get started, let me show you how to set up HomePod mini or HomePod and also customize the settings to your liking.
Apple allows you to set up your HomePod both automatically and manually. While the automatic setup should be the preferred choice, the manual method comes in handy when the setup animation doesn’t appear.
Quick and Easy Way to Set Up Your HomePodSet Up Your HomePod ManuallyUse HomePod Touch ControlsIdentify Status Lights on HomePod
White Pulsing LightWhite Spinning LightRed Spinning LightMulticolored Spinning LightGreen Pulsing LightIdentify Status Lights on HomePod mini
White Pulsing LightWhite Spinning LightOrange Flashing LightGreen Pulsing LightMulticolored Spinning LightCustomize and Manage HomePod Settings
White Pulsing LightWhite Spinning LightRed Spinning LightMulticolored Spinning LightGreen Pulsing Light
White Pulsing LightWhite Spinning LightOrange Flashing LightGreen Pulsing LightMulticolored Spinning Light
Quick and Easy Way to Set Up Your HomePod
First off, make sure to place your HomePod on a solid surface with at least 15cm of space around it.
Next, unlock your iPhone or iPad and hold it next to your HomePod. Then, tap Set Up when it shows on your device’s screen. After that, follow the prompts to set up your smart speaker.
When prompted, make sure to center your HomePod in the viewfinder on your iPhone/iPad to complete the pairing process.
That’s done! Once the setup is done, Siri will greet you and offer you a few examples of things you can ask.
If the setup screen doesn’t show up, you can set up your HomePod manually.
Open the ‘Home’ app on your iPhone and tap on the ‘+’ button on the top-right. Here, tap on ‘Add Accessory‘.
In the scanning screen that pops up, tap on ‘More Options‘. Your iPhone will now look for nearby HomeKit accessories (including your HomePod mini) and the set up should start.
Use HomePod Touch Controls
HomePod offers some pretty handy touch controls that you can use to perform many common tasks faster.
Identify Status Lights on HomePod
Different status lights appear at the top of the HomePod at different times. You need to identify each one of them to know what exactly is happening with your speaker.
When the white pulsing light appears, it means your HomePod is ready to be set up or an alarm/timer is going off.
White Spinning Light
The white spinning light shows up when the HomePod is turning on or updating the software.
Red Spinning Light
A red spinning light appears on the top of the HomePod when you are resetting the smart speaker.
Multicolored Spinning Light
When Siri is listening, you will see the multicolored spinning light.
Green Pulsing Light
A green pulsing light appears on the HomePod when you transfer a phone call to it.
Identify Status Lights on HomePod mini
White Pulsing Light
White pulsing light shows on the top of the HomePod mini when the smart speaker is playing audio.
The white spinning light at the top of the HomePod mini suggests that the smart speaker is turning on or updating the software.
Orange Flashing Light
An orange flashing light shows up when the HomePod mini is updating the software while being connected to a Mac. Besides, it also appears if the HomePod mini is plugged into a power adapter that didn’t come with the smart speaker and isn’t rated 20W.
When you transfer a phone to HomePod mini, a green pulsing light appears.
You will see a multicolored spinning light when Siri is listening.
Customize and Manage HomePod Settings
The Home app lets you customize and manage your HomePod settings with the desired control. For instance, you can fine-tune the individual settings for each HomePod you have, customize settings that apply to all the HomePod speakers, reset HomePod, allow/disallow access to personal requests, and more.
- Scroll down and tap on ‘Settings’. You can now customise all the available settings for your HomePod or HomePod mini easily.
