Apple Releases HomePod Software 18

Monday September 16, 2024 10:00 am PDT by Juli Clover

Alongside iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Apple today released new HomePod Software 18 that's designed for the ‌HomePod‌ and HomePod mini.

HomePod 2 and Mini feature 1
The ‌HomePod‌ Software 18 adds the option to choose a Home Hub rather than having HomeKit select one automatically, a useful feature for people with multiple HomePods and Apple TV models.

There is a new SharePlay feature, allowing multiple people to share control of what's playing on a ‌HomePod‌ through Apple Music. To use the feature, bring an iPhone close to another iPhone to add songs to a playlist and control playback.

AirPlay now supports Spatial Audio, providing an immersive audio experience with Dolby Atmos when using ‌AirPlay‌ to stream audio from an iPhone or iPad to the ‌HomePod‌. Apple's release notes:

Software version 18 introduces SharePlay so you can share control of your Apple Music playlist on iPhone or iPad and guests can contribute to what’s playing on HomePod. This update also includes bug fixes and stability improvements.

‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated in the Home app by tapping on the More button, choosing Home Settings, and then selecting the Software Update option.

Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod mini

Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Caution), HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

HomePod minis Apple TV and iPad mini Leak Feature

iPad Mini With A20 Pro, New HomePod Mini Colors, and New Apple TV 4K All Just Leaked

Friday September 25, 2026 8:18 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

The next iPad mini, HomePod mini, and Apple TV 4K models have all leaked, just a few weeks before the devices are expected to be announced. Specifically, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered a few of Apple's official images of the devices, confirming their existence and some new features that are planned. The most notable iPad mini details revealed in today's leak include an A20 Pro ...

• 77 comments

Exclusive: First Look at HomePod Mini 2 in Three New Colors

Friday September 25, 2026 8:17 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Apple's new HomePod mini will share the same design as the original model and come in five colors, MacRumors has found. The information originates from Apple's own code (spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris) and shows clear product images of the new models in all of their colors. The above image contains Apple's own icons, which specifically refer to a "HomePod mini 2." The new...

• 73 comments

New Apple TV, HomePod Mini, and More on Track to Launch This Year

Monday September 14, 2026 2:18 pm PDT by Joe Rossignol

The rumor that never ends: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today reiterated that new Apple TV and HomePod mini models with Siri AI support remain on track to launch this year. Other new products he expects this year: an all-new Apple home hub, an updated entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, an iMac with an M6 chip, and an iPad mini with an OLED display. Apple often announces new products...

• 74 comments

Top Rated Comments

Mother Nature

27 months ago

No Apple Intelligence with HomePod? This could have been a great chance to take down Amazon Alexa. 🤫

If the iPhone 15 with 6GB RAM and A16 doesn't support Apple Intelligence, why you were holding hope that the HomePod would support it?

Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Polinsky

27 months ago

The update we have all been waiting for!

It's funny. Some of you like to think you're being very clever with absurd posts. But you're only showing your desire to hate and demonstrate ignorance.

I have multiple devices that can act as a HomeKit hub. Up until this update, the choice of which device to use as a hub was up to Apple's algorithm, whatever that may be. Sometimes it chooses a device which isn't the best one to use as a hub. To force a change, I have to disconnect all the potential hubs and the carefully plug them in to force the desired device to be the hub. Some of the plugs are in hard to reach areas, so I have to add multiple HomeKit plugs to power off the devices remotely. This happens not infrequently.

With the new feature of being able to select with device I want to be the hub, my life became easier and I can now remove the HomeKit plugs.

So, for me, this update is really welcome. You aren't as clever as you think you are.

Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

sjsharksfan12

27 months ago

After all these years I think the OG HomePod purchase is the one I regret the most. It didn't help that they discontinued it a few months after I bought it. Now I kind of feel trapped with it.

Also, the fact that there is no Home App on TVOS still is deeply frustrating. The Apple TV is such a wonderful product but it could be a whole lot more.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

dannyyankou

27 months ago

The update we have all been waiting for!

Well, yes! I couldn’t manage my HomePod alarms on my iPhone without updating to the HomePod to 18.0. But my first gen HomePod wasn’t eligible for beta updates. It was driving me crazy.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)