Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Support Come to HomePod With 15.1 Software Update - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Support Come to HomePod With 15.1 Software Update

by

Alongside the iOS 15.1 update that was released today, Apple has introduced a new 15.1 software update that's designed for the HomePod and the HomePod mini.

HomePodandMini feature
The ‌HomePod‌ update introduces Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio to Apple's HomePods, bringing them in line with other devices that have supported the features since earlier this year. Lossless Audio is available on both the ‌HomePod‌ and ‌HomePod mini‌, while Spatial Audio is available on the larger-sized and now-discontinued ‌HomePod‌.

Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos can be enabled through the Home app. Open up Home Settings, tap on your profile, and then under Media, tap on Apple Music. From there, toggle on Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos. Note that these options appear in the iOS 15.1 beta, but the ‌‌HomePod‌‌ 15.1 beta seems to be needed to actually use the features on the ‌‌HomePod‌‌.

‌‌‌‌‌‌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 following the instructions in our ‌‌HomePod‌‌ update how to.

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

Popular Stories

HomePod 2 and Mini feature 1

Apple Releases HomePod Software 26.5

Monday May 11, 2026 9:59 am PDT by
Alongside iOS 26.5, iPadOS 26.5, and macOS Tahoe 26.5, Apple has released new HomePod 26.5 software for the HomePod and the HomePod mini. The update comes a little over a month after Apple released HomePod Software 26.4. According to Apple's release notes, HomePod Software 26.5 includes performance and stability improvements. ‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed...
Read Full Article • 28 comments
Four iPhone 18 Pro Colors Mock Feature

iPhone 18 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Tuesday May 26, 2026 6:32 am PDT by
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are not launching until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. It was initially reported that the iPhone 18 Pro models would have fully under-screen Face ID, with only a front camera visible in the top-left corner of the screen. However, the latest rumors indicate that only one Face ID component will be moved under the...
Read Full Article • 52 comments
Apple Watch Blood Glucose Monitoring Feature 2

Apple Watch for Diabetes: The Latest on Apple's Plans for Non-Invasive Blood Sugar Monitoring

Tuesday May 26, 2026 9:30 am PDT by
For many years now, it has been rumored that the Apple Watch will eventually gain non-invasive blood sugar monitoring capabilities, which would enable millions of people with diabetes to track their blood glucose levels without needing to prick their skin with a needle or wear a dedicated continuous glucose monitor. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple recently shifted oversight of...
Read Full Article • 75 comments

Top Rated Comments

smithrh Avatar
smithrh
60 months ago

I might be way out of the loop but isn't lossless audio through Bluetooth still compressed or I should say down sampled?

edit: from apples site
What you need to know about lossless in Apple Music


* Streaming lossless audio over a cellular or Wi-Fi network consumes significantly more data. And downloading lossless audio uses significantly more space on your device. Higher resolutions use more data than lower ones.
* AirPods, AirPods Pro, AirPods Max, and Beats wireless headphones use Apple AAC Bluetooth Codec to ensure excellent audio quality. However, Bluetooth connections aren't lossless.
* To get a lossless version of music that you already downloaded from Apple Music, just delete the music and redownload it from the Apple Music catalog.

This post is about HomePods, not AirPods...
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smithrh Avatar
smithrh
60 months ago
These devices have ALWAYS used WiFi.

Now, they ALSO can play lossless songs from Apple Music.

What's unclear about this?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
F
FatPete
60 months ago

Lossless audio streamed via lossy method. Makes sense.
From what I understand, the HomePod will stream the music as ALAC from Apple's servers. No bluetooth involved in this case. Similar to how Tidal, Qobuz and Deezer Premium work on Sonos speakers.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
P
profets
60 months ago
I have a few pairs of HomePods and absolutely love them. Still sad about how they were discontinued, but happy to see they're still getting updates.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
Roy Hobbs
60 months ago

So a Legacy HomePod can play Dolby Atmos
but a pair of newer mini’s can’t?
Correct
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
smithrh Avatar
smithrh
60 months ago

Lossless audio streamed via lossy method. Makes sense.
See the post above.

Do people get paid by the post?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments