With the launch of iOS 14.4, Apple added a new feature for the HomePod mini that's designed to provide haptic feedback when your iPhone 11 or 12 is near the speaker to facilitate the simpler handing off of songs from one device to another.

HomePod mini iOS 14
When moving your ‌iPhone‌ closer to a ‌HomePod mini‌ after installing the iOS 14.4 update, the ‌iPhone‌ vibrates quicker and quicker as it gets closer to the speaker, and ‌HomePod mini‌ controls pop up on the screen. If you happen to keep your ‌HomePod mini‌ on a desk or another location where it's often close to your ‌iPhone‌, the proximity notifications can get frustrating fast.

If you've run into this problem and want the popups and vibrations to stop, follow these directions:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap on "General." homepod mini handoff settings
  3. Tap on "AirPlay & Handoff."
  4. Toggle off "Transfer to HomePod." disable homepod transfer

With this feature, your ‌iPhone‌ will no longer attempt to transfer music or media to your ‌HomePod mini‌ when it's near the speaker, preventing the haptic feedback and song transfer interface from showing up. The haptic vibrations and transfer features are limited to the ‌HomePod mini‌ and the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, but the option can also be disabled on other iPhones to prevent the standard transfer interface from coming up.

Related Roundup: HomePod mini
Buyer's Guide: HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology

Top Rated Comments

Apple_Robert Avatar
Apple_Robert
65 months ago
My phone vibrates every time when placing it on my Mac desk. Ir doesn't really bother me. I think it should only vibrate when there is an actual hand off possibility, instead of vibrating just because the phone is close. Maybe Apple will change that aspect.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
ProfessionalFan
65 months ago
I had to turn it off because I have my mini on my desk and it was happening constantly.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Populus Avatar
Populus
65 months ago
I like how, with iOS 14, Apple is releasing, step by step, new features on each update, instead of cramming all of them into the release build like they did with previous releases (we all remember the disaster of iOS 13 on its launch). This way they can keep polishing the operating system while they add, slowly, some of the remaining features along the year.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Populus Avatar
Populus
65 months ago

This might sound like a stupid/insane question, but is anyone using a HomePod (mini or otherwise) without Siri? I like the idea of a good AirPlay speaker but my wife and I just don't particularly care to have Siri on all the time.
I asked something similar in the past. Some said ”if you don’t want a smartspeaker why are you buying a smartspeaker?”, but there was a useful answer among all of them. Someone told me: “You just ask Siri to stop listening”. I hope this answers your question.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr Lizard Avatar
Mr Lizard
65 months ago

On the other hand why do you buy an apple smartspeaker if you don’t want Siri?
Some people might want the superb sound quality that the HomePod provides, but without the shuttle wreck of a digital assistant that is Siri.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Romeo_Nightfall Avatar
Romeo_Nightfall
65 months ago
I don’t care - BUT WHEN COMES THE HOMEPOD2 - i like the mini and have now appetite for the big one!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Read Full Article • 88 comments
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Read Full Article
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
Read Full Article • 137 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Read Full Article • 25 comments
14 inch MacBook Pro Keyboard

Apple Changes How You Order a Mac

Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
Read Full Article • 127 comments