Apple Releases HomePod Software 26.2 With Performance Improvements

Friday December 12, 2025 10:01 am PST by Juli Clover

Alongside iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.2, Apple has released new HomePod 26.2 software for the ‌HomePod‌ and the HomePod mini. The update comes a month after Apple released ‌HomePod‌ Software 26.1.

HomePod 2 and Mini feature 1
According to Apple's release notes, ‌HomePod‌ Software 26.2 includes performance and stability improvements.

‌‌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 on iPhone, iPad, or Mac by tapping on the More button, choosing Home Settings, and then selecting the Software Update option.

Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod mini

Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Caution), HomePod Mini (Don't Buy)

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Top Rated Comments

zeus423

22 weeks ago

Hey Siri, "Play Hotel California by the Eagles."
Siri: "Now playing California Dreamin' by the Mamas and Papas."
Hey Siri, "Play Hotel California by the Eagles."
Siri: "Now playing California Girls by Katy Perry."
Hey Siri, "Play Hotel California by the Eagles."
Siri finally plays the correct song but stops midway for about a minute, then plays some random song.

I agree, why is this so difficult?!

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

TFrank2

22 weeks ago

Now all we need is the actual physical update to the HomePod & Mini 🤣

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

macmac30

22 weeks ago

Here are my current HomePods Siri recurring frustrations:

Paired big 2nd Gen HomePods in my kitchen:

‘Siri, volume 22”
You want me to increase volume to 100%?
How “twenty two” sounds anything remotely close to “one hundred” is beyond my comprehension. This is not a one off.

Apple Music playing at 40
“Siri, volume down”
I’ll speak softer (but she also turns the music volume down). How about “turning it down” or just “ok”?

The one that pisses me off to no end: if ANYONE has a device in the kitchen other than the paired HomePods (which is like always):

‘Siri, volume down”
The music playing on the HomePods doesn’t change but one of the random iPhones or iPads turns the music volume down on that device WHICH IS NOT EVEN PLAYING MUSIC!

Apple:

If HomePod playing music = TRUE
And you hear a user say “Siri, music down”
Then only turn music down on the device playing music
And ignore changing anything on other devices

Why is this so difficult???

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)