Apple Releases New HomePod 15 Beta Update Following Reports of Sudden Failures

Monday July 12, 2021 10:28 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple today released a new version of the HomePod 15 beta software that's designed to go along with the iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, and macOS Monterey betas.

HomePod Happy Fix Feature
The new software comes as multiple ‌HomePod‌ owners running the original ‌HomePod‌ 15 beta have complained of sudden failures and heat issues that have rendered their HomePods non-functional.

‌HomePod‌ beta software is distributed on an invite-only basis to select users, so there is no update that can be downloaded by developers or the general public.

There are ways to get the ‌HomePod‌ software if you're not a part of Apple's testing group, but because it's designed for a small number of users on an invite-only basis, we do not recommend using any alternate method to obtain the update.

It is beta software and can be unreliable, as the multiple reports of hardware failures demonstrate. These issues have also affected those with the 14.6 release software, but there does not appear to be a new public version of the ‌HomePod‌ software at this time.

The release notes for the ‌HomePod‌ 15 update do not offer any information and do not indicate whether the failure issue has been addressed.

Related Roundup: HomePod

Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)

Top Rated Comments

nrose101

29 months ago

That’s a large HomePod

Nah. It's the real HomePod. The small ones are a joke for audiophiles.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

nvmls

What about people who had to pay out of warranty for another one because of it?

Working as intended. Regards.

-Tim

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

larrylaffer

If 14.6 caused this, I would be demanding a refund.

mcfly88

For people that grew up on CDs and real stereos in their home the old Homepod can compare to a Booom Box from the 80s. These new ones sound like a cheap $20 speaker underwater and maybe compare to a pair of crapy pc speakers.

This has to be one of the most pretentious things I've ever read...

Whose expecting audiophile quality from a 3" speaker?? It's one speaker.. not a surround sound setup. Also, this is just a ridiculous comparison all around. You must have some golden ears.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

The Amazon Echo Studio has good sound quality?. Interesting. I presumed that it would be similar to the rest of the echo line up.

Not at all! It's bigger than the original homepod and sounds amazing...

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Blowback

too late, I already learned a hard lesson I lost one of my OG HomePods, not installing a beta ever again :/

does anyone know if there is any way to fix the flashing volume lights problem? I have no warranty and Apple doesn't offer support for HomePods in my country.

Hmmmm...this one appears to have passed the first test!

For those using beta software on a HomePod, turn off auto update, disconnect from Apple TV, unpair stereo pairing, update each separately and check for any unusual activity such as the top getting hot.
Unless in the middle of an update, if the top is getting hot keep the HomePod unplugged.

Aren't you missing a step? 'Call local Shaman ........first' .