Apple on Tuesday released an iOS 14.3 update for HomePod and HomePod mini, which Apple's release notes said included "general performance and stability improvements," but it actually failed to mention a new feature that allows the head of a household to assign primary users to different HomePods in the same home.

HomePodandMini feature
‌HomePod‌ can automatically recognize voices to personalize music requests, playlists, and recommendations. However, Apple acknowledges that Siri may not always recognize individual voices. Therefore, the new feature allows you to assign a primary user for each ‌HomePod‌, and when ‌Siri‌ fails to recognize the voice of a user, that ‌HomePod‌ will fall back to the primary user to which it has been assigned and carry out the request. Here's how to access the feature and set it up.

  1. Launch the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Press and hold on the ‌HomePod‌ or grouped HomePods that you want to assign a primary user.
  3. Scroll down to the bottom and tap the settings button (the cog icon) in the bottom-right corner of the interface.
    2assign primary user homepod

  4. Under "Music & Podcasts," tap Primary User.
  5. Select the person that you'd like to assign as the Primary User of this ‌HomePod‌ or grouped HomePods. Alternately, select HomePod Account to use the default account used for Apple Music and Podcasts when ‌Siri‌ fails to recognize the voice that made the request.1assign primary user homepod

The feature appears to have been added because Apple recognizes that some homes will have multiple HomePods located in different rooms, some in which particular users may reside more than others – such as in a private bedroom, for example. In other words, if ‌Siri‌ fails to recognize their voice, it can still process their personal request.

The new feature in iOS 14.3 was originally spotted by The 8-bit.

Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod mini

Top Rated Comments

imola.zhp Avatar
59 months ago

I have eight HomePods, and they hadn't worked properly in several months, particularly when iOS 14 trashed everything. I ended up removing them all after countless attempts to use the Apple preferred way. While not as good as the HomePods, I picked up a few nest speakers, and they work flawlessly. Yeah, I don't have the whole ecosystem, but in my opinion, Apple has lost some of that advantage due in no small measure to their inability to get their software to work. I was hopeful after installing iOS 14.3, things would calm down and solve some issues. Well, it did allow me to use Contacts and Messages again, but that's about it.

The silver lining is that the iPhone 12 Max and Apple Watch seem to work very well, so there's that.
Weird, we have 4, two regular, two mini's. Haven't had much if any issues before or after iOS 14.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Digital Dude Avatar
59 months ago
I have eight HomePods, and they hadn't worked properly in several months, particularly when iOS 14 trashed everything. I ended up removing them all after countless attempts to use the Apple preferred way. While not as good as the HomePods, I picked up a few nest speakers, and they work flawlessly. Yeah, I don't have the whole ecosystem, but in my opinion, Apple has lost some of that advantage due in no small measure to their inability to get their software to work. I was hopeful after installing iOS 14.3, things would calm down and solve some issues. Well, it did allow me to use Contacts and Messages again, but that's about it.

The silver lining is that the iPhone 12 Max and Apple Watch seem to work very well, so there's that.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MauiPa Avatar
59 months ago

Is there a way to give access to a homepod without giving access to all the other devices? I would like to pick up Minis over time for my daughters but I dont want them to have access to every device in the house.
So they can’t play music. I never heard of that need before. If it is to restrict purchases. Set the require password setting
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
whyamihere Avatar
59 months ago
Meanwhile my Homepod still refuses to even recognize different voices at all. Every few months I get the itch to give it another try and go through all the Apple and various 3rd party site suggested troubleshooting steps to get it working. And every time it ends in the same disappointing inability to recognize different voices. Literally the definition of insanity at this point.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KeithJenner Avatar
59 months ago

I’m confused what this update enables, and the article doesn’t do a great job explaining it. This is for limiting users or giving more people access? As it stands the HomePod already responds to everyone?
Prior to this update, every HomePod had the owner of the home as the primary user. In our house that is me. So, I was the primary user of the HomePod Mini that our son has in his bedroom, and if he asked it to play music then it would play from my library unless his voice was recognised. In fairness, it quite reliably recognised his voice but, for example, if he had a friend round then that persons voice wouldn't be recognised and any request from that person would default to my account.

Now I have been able to designate him as the primary user of that HomePod, meaning that this issue is solved.

It is very useful for us, as we have a couple of Homepods with this situation.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kebabselector Avatar
59 months ago
I would be nice if you could tune the sound rather than be stuck with only using Airplay for that.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
iPhone Car Key WWDC 2025

Apple Announces 13 Automakers Planning to Offer iPhone Car Keys

Friday June 27, 2025 11:42 am PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. During its WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple said that 13...
maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
anker power bank recall

PSA: Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

Friday June 27, 2025 4:16 pm PDT by
Popular accessory maker Anker this month launched two separate recalls for its power banks, some of which may be a fire risk. The first recall affects Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Banks sold between June 1, 2016 and December 31, 2022 in the United States. Anker says that these power banks have a "potential issue" with the battery inside, which can lead to overheating, melting of plastic...
Chase Sapphire Reserve Apple Perk Feature

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card Introduces New Perk for Apple Customers

Wednesday June 25, 2025 2:08 pm PDT by
Chase this week announced a series of new perks for its premium Sapphire Reserve credit card, and one of them is for a pair of Apple services. Specifically, the credit card now offers complimentary annual subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple Music, a value of up to $250 per year. If you are already paying for Apple TV+ and/or Apple Music directly through Apple, those subscriptions will...
replay all time playlist apple music

Apple Music Debuts All-New Personalized Playlist

Monday June 30, 2025 7:16 am PDT by
As part of its 10-year celebrations of Apple Music, Apple today released an all-new personalized playlist that collates your entire listening history. The playlist, called "Replay All Time," expands on Apple Music's existing Replay features. Previously, users could only see their top songs for each individual calendar year that they've been subscribed to Apple Music, but now, Replay All...