Apple's HomePod 12.1 Software Missing for Most HomePod Users [Update: Fixed]

Apple has been updating the HomePod software alongside major iOS updates, so it was something of a surprise when iOS 12.1 was released yesterday with no accompanying HomePod 12.1 software to go along with it.

As it turns out, though, there is a HomePod 12.1 update, it just appears to be bugged for those who updated their HomePod to the version 12 software after updating to iOS 12.

homepod duo
On Reddit, a user who purchased a brand new HomePod running HomePod software version 11 was able to update to the 12.1 software, which apparently includes stability updates and bug fixes.

On Twitter, developer Khaos Tian said that Apple is offering up the HomePod update with an internal URL that prevents people from downloading it.


Apple may be able to fix this HomePod software issue relatively easily, so we could see the HomePod 12.1 software become available for download shortly.

Update: Just after this article was posted, Apple made the HomePod 12.1 software available. It can be downloaded from the Home app on the iPhone and the iPad by tapping on the house-shaped icon in the upper left, tapping on "Home Settings," selecting your home, and choosing the "Software Update" option.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)

Top Rated Comments

Return Zero Avatar
71 months ago
Manually checking and installing these updates on my living room HomePods while I'm away at work doesn't seem like it will ever get old.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
71 months ago
Even Apple didn't know it was bugged and we're just now getting the story a day later. Just goes to show how few people have Homepods. If this were any other Apple device people would be all over asking where the update is.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mike MA Avatar
71 months ago
Just thinking, hope that HomePods can’t brick as massively and non repairable as the Apple Watch does.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SantaFeNM Avatar
71 months ago
Mines showing no update to 12.1. I’m running 12.0. Rebooted phone and HomePod no go.

Strange.
Mine was doing the same. Had to swipe down on the Software Update page and then it showed up.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bbednarz Avatar
71 months ago
Manually checking and installing these updates on my living room HomePods while I'm away at work doesn't seem like it will ever get old.
Wish the Apple TVs could do this too!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MrGimper Avatar
71 months ago
- Hey, Tim, it looks like we’ve never uploaded the update for the HomePod.
- for home what?!
- you know that speaker that we released at the beginning of the year
- oh...
“But we announced it soooo long before the launch, it’s officially obsolete now and that’s why I forgot about it”
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Delta Feature

Delta Game Emulator Now Available From App Store on iPhone

Wednesday April 17, 2024 9:58 am PDT by
Game emulator apps have come and gone since Apple announced App Store support for them on April 5, but now popular game emulator Delta from developer Riley Testut is available for download. Testut is known as the developer behind GBA4iOS, an open-source emulator that was available for a brief time more than a decade ago. GBA4iOS led to Delta, an emulator that has been available outside of...
iOS 18 Siri Integrated Feature

iOS 18 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Friday April 12, 2024 11:11 am PDT by
iOS 18 is expected to be the "biggest" update in the iPhone's history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more...
iOS NES Emulator Bimmy Feature

NES Emulator for iPhone and iPad Now Available on App Store [Removed]

Tuesday April 16, 2024 11:33 am PDT by
The first approved Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) emulator for the iPhone and iPad was made available on the App Store today following Apple's rule change. The emulator is called Bimmy, and it was developed by Tom Salvo. On the App Store, Bimmy is described as a tool for testing and playing public domain/"homebrew" games created for the NES, but the app allows you to load ROMs for any...
iGBA Feature

Apple Removes Game Boy Emulator iGBA From App Store Due to Spam and Copyright Violations

Sunday April 14, 2024 9:22 pm PDT by
Apple today said it removed Game Boy emulator iGBA from the App Store for violating the company's App Review Guidelines related to spam (section 4.3) and copyright (section 5.2), but it did not provide any specific details. iGBA was a copycat version of developer Riley Testut's open-source GBA4iOS app. The emulator rose to the top of the App Store charts following its release this weekend,...
iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Translate

All iPhone 16 Models to Feature Action Button, But Usefulness Debated

Tuesday April 16, 2024 6:54 am PDT by
Last September, Apple's iPhone 15 Pro models debuted with a new customizable Action button, offering faster access to a handful of functions, as well as the ability to assign Shortcuts. Apple is poised to include the feature on all upcoming iPhone 16 models, so we asked iPhone 15 Pro users what their experience has been with the additional button so far. The Action button replaces the switch ...
iGBA Feature

Game Boy Emulator for iPhone Now Available in App Store Following Rule Change [Removed]

Sunday April 14, 2024 8:06 am PDT by
A week after Apple updated its App Review Guidelines to permit retro game console emulators, a Game Boy emulator for the iPhone called iGBA has appeared in the App Store worldwide. The emulator is already one of the top free apps on the App Store charts. It was not entirely clear if Apple would allow emulators to work with all and any games, but iGBA is able to load any Game Boy ROMs that...