To play music from third-party music services like Spotify to your HomePod, you don't need an iOS device -- a Mac will work too. You can send any audio playing on your Mac right to your HomePod, and not just audio from iTunes.
To AirPlay from Mac to HomePod, your Mac and your HomePod need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.
It's easiest to AirPlay sound to the HomePod from a Mac using the menu bar on your Mac, but to do that, you need to make sure your audio settings are readily accessible. By default, audio settings aren't available on the menu bar, so you'll need to fix that.
Once sound controls are accessible from the menu bar, it's simple to route the sound from your Mac to the HomePod.
When using the HomePod this way, as an external speaker for the Mac, there's no option to use Siri to do things like skip songs. tYou'll need to control playback on your Mac, but you can use the physical controls on the HomePod to adjust volume.
For the most part, you need to use the audio output settings to AirPlay music from a third-party service to the Mac, but if you're playing content from iTunes, you can use the built-in iTunes AirPlay controls.
To AirPlay from Mac to HomePod, your Mac and your HomePod need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.
Make Sure Volume is Enabled in Menu Bar
It's easiest to AirPlay sound to the HomePod from a Mac using the menu bar on your Mac, but to do that, you need to make sure your audio settings are readily accessible. By default, audio settings aren't available on the menu bar, so you'll need to fix that.
- Open up System Preferences.
- Choose Sound.
- Select the "Output" tab.
- Check the "Show volume in menu bar" box.
Selecting HomePod as an Audio Output Device from the Menu Bar
Once sound controls are accessible from the menu bar, it's simple to route the sound from your Mac to the HomePod.
- Click on the volume button in the menu bar.
- Under the "Output Device" list, choose the HomePod, which is labeled as the room that it's in. Mine is Office 2, because I have two AirPlay devices in my office.
When using the HomePod this way, as an external speaker for the Mac, there's no option to use Siri to do things like skip songs. tYou'll need to control playback on your Mac, but you can use the physical controls on the HomePod to adjust volume.
AirPlaying from iTunes
For the most part, you need to use the audio output settings to AirPlay music from a third-party service to the Mac, but if you're playing content from iTunes, you can use the built-in iTunes AirPlay controls.
- Open iTunes.
- Play a song from Apple Music or your music library.
- In iTunes, click on the
icon. - Select the HomePod icon.
Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)
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9 months ago
I bought a Sonos One today. Now I can play music from my phone, Mac and even my PC. The sound is phenomenal and it’s so good not worrying about having to deal with a dumb AI 99% of the time. I asked Alexa “how old was Kurt Cobain when he died?”. She replied with his age and even the cause of death. This was Siri’s response to the same question...
Sounds like Siri misheard you. I tried the first time and it came up with this.
Not saying you’re a liar. Just saying it does pick up the right answer for this question, but on this occasion wasn’t picking up your speech correctly.
9 months ago
I bought a Sonos One today. Now I can play music from my phone, Mac and even my PC. The sound is phenomenal and it’s so good not worrying about having to deal with a dumb AI 99% of the time. I asked Alexa “how old was Kurt Cobain when he died?”. She replied with his age and even the cause of death. This was Siri’s response to the same question...
9 months ago
For over a year I've been asking Siri how far away Kelnowa, BC is and it still can't figure it out. Google has no issues. Can you give it a try?
Nailed it.
Who wants to go to Canada anyway? :p
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