Apple Releases New 11.3 Software for the HomePod

Alongside iOS 11.3, watchOS 4.3, and tvOS 11.3, Apple today released a new 11.3 software update designed for the HomePod.

This marks the first software update that's been released for the HomePod since it became available for purchase in February.

homepoddesign
The new HomePod software will be installed automatically on the HomePod after you update to iOS 11.3, but you can also manually update and check your software version by following the instructions in our HomePod software how to.

It's not clear what new features are included in the HomePod software just yet, but we are waiting on both AirPlay 2 and a feature to allow two HomePods to be paired together for stereo sound. Apple's release notes don't divulge any details about what might be included, suggesting these features have not been implemented.

According to the release notes, the update "includes general improvements for stability and quality."

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Blue Feature Tighter Crop

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in Three Months With These 12 New Features

Saturday June 14, 2025 5:45 pm PDT by
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of June 2025:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14 Pro have a...
apple watch ultra 2 new black

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Finally Coming After Two-Year Hiatus

Monday June 16, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple will finally deliver the Apple Watch Ultra 3 sometime this year, according to analyst Jeff Pu of GF Securities Hong Kong (via @jukanlosreve). The analyst expects both the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to arrive this year (likely alongside the new iPhone 17 lineup, if previous launches are anything to go by), according to his latest product roadmap shared with...
apple watch ultra snow

6 Features Coming to the Apple Watch Ultra 3

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:00 am PST by
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to launch later this year, arriving two years after the previous model with a series of improvements. While no noticeable design changes are expected for the third generation since the company tends to stick with the same Apple Watch design through three generations before changing it, there are a series of internal upgrades on the way. By the time the ...
terminal macos tahoe

Apple's Terminal App Gets Colorful Redesign in macOS Tahoe

Monday June 16, 2025 4:12 am PDT by
Apple's Terminal app is getting a visual refresh in macOS Tahoe, and it's the first notable design update since the command-line tool debuted. The updated Terminal will support 24-bit color and Powerline fonts, according to Apple's State of the Platforms presentation at WWDC25. The app will also adopt the new Liquid Glass aesthetic with redesigned themes that align with macOS 26's broader...
Logitech Logo Feature

Logitech Announces Two New Accessories for WWDC

Friday June 13, 2025 7:22 am PDT by
Alongside WWDC this week, Logitech announced notable new accessories for the iPad and Apple Vision Pro. The Logitech Muse is a spatially-tracked stylus developed for use with the Apple Vision Pro. Introduced during the WWDC 2025 keynote address, Muse is intended to support the next generation of spatial computing workflows enabled by visionOS 26. The device incorporates six degrees of...
iPadOS 26 App Windowing

Apple Explains Why iPads Don't Just Run macOS

Friday June 13, 2025 7:46 am PDT by
iPadOS 26 allows iPads to function much more like Macs, with a new app windowing system, a swipe-down menu bar at the top of the screen, and more. However, Apple has stopped short of allowing iPads to run macOS, and it has now explained why. In an interview this week with Swiss tech journalist Rafael Zeier, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that iPadOS 26's new Mac-like ...
iphone 16 pro models 1

17 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone 17

Thursday June 12, 2025 8:58 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models simultaneously, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect from Apple's 2025 smartphone lineup. If you skipped the iPhone...

Top Rated Comments

daveak Avatar
94 months ago
Pretty sure there is more cowbell on Don't Fear the Reaper with 11.3
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BMcCoy Avatar
94 months ago
Just listened to a few familiar tracks on mine.
For me, the bass is slightly down, and there's a bit more mid-range.
Listening to some classical music, there is a bit more definition across the strings.
But listening to some rock, like The Who, the bass is less thumpy.

I think they've smoothed out the EQ curve a smidge.

Which is fine.
It still sounds good.

BUT... I think they'd get a lot of good will if they put an EQ adjust setting within the homepod settings, and allow users to tweak it to suit listener preference.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Benz63amg Avatar
94 months ago
This is a huge problem. Changing the sound signature like this without any EQ's for users to change it back is a awkward state of affers. I bought three HomePod's and that sound signature which I really enjoyed has now been clearly altered and there is no way for me to get it back.
The HomePod uses algorithms to equalize the sound in real time at any given moment in any given environment. It appears that Apple modified that analysis system to create an overall more accurate and cleaner sound. Saying that Apple decreased the “bass” is misleading at best.

Bass in general can be boomy(Some people may like the fact that it’s boomy but it’s far from accurate) in certain rooms because the sound system is not optimized for the room or the real-time audio optimizing algorithm is not functioning properly therefore causing much stronger and louder bass than should be present therefore overpowering the rest of the sound spectrum.

What Apple has done here should be appreciated for optimizing the Audio analyzing algorithms, not mocked.

Just because the average person likes “Boomy” inaccurate sound and bass doesn’t mean that that’s the sound profile Apple should set for the HomePod as the Signature Profile,

Now, I do agree that Apple should introduce an equalizer to OVERRIDE the built in audio analyzing system for these individuals that want inaccurate boomy sound regardless to avoid complaints.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MDF314159265 Avatar
94 months ago
Those not satisfied with audio changes - please let Apple know. With enough noise (pun intended) maybe we can get this fixed!

Let them know here:
https://www.apple.com/feedback/
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
94 months ago
I have a reference song that I test all audio with. I listened to Michael Jackson's Human Nature so often growing up because it was the only vinyl album I owned outside of my dad's collection. Every note, every background vocal and sound, the physical effect of the song on my skin, is burned into my brain.

I was a little disappointed when I first ran it on my HomePod because despite all the stellar audiophile reviews, my Harman Kardon reproduced it better. Wow, they fixed it. The bass is still there, it's still rich, but it's not overwhelming all the details in the song.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
94 months ago
Been listening all day. The new HomePod sound profile is better.

To the average Joe, a powerful bass is impressive and might sound expensive. But if you care about good audio, bass that muddles up the rest of the sound is crap. You want bass where it matters while still allowing the other layers to make it through.

Really loving this more refined sound.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)