HomePod stops playing music

It seems that having more than one Mac up and running with the same Home Sharing account enabled causes this problem. I am not sure if this only applies to Macs running Catalina (Preferences/Sharing/Home Sharing enabled). In any case disabling Home Sharing on all Macs but my streaming media server (Mac mini with iTunes 12.8.2.3) fixed the problem for me. Now my Homepod works just fine. I hope this helps until Apple comes up with a fix.

Others, including me, have found the Homepods are very sensitive to flukey (or smart) wifi. Switching off the 5GHz channel of the router has sometimes helped isolate whether it is a wifi problem.

I am just coming back with a question to all the guys experiencing the same bad habit :)

Do you use for the network connection Google WiFi devices?

I am asking this question because I had several problems before with my iPad Pro 9.7 that was switching from time to time from 5 Ghz to 2.4 Ghz and back and it was stopping the playback of music. My thought was this might be the case also for the Homepod communication issue - the Google Wifi devices.

Hi Twins1975,

Thanks for coming to Apple Support Communities for help today with your HomePod. It sounds like it isn't playing music for you.

This article has some steps to try: If HomePod isn't responding. Be sure your HomePod is updated: Update HomePod, before you follow the steps to reset.

If the issue continues, please contact Apple Support.

Have a fantastic day

The problem is back. So the "Home Sharing" is not the root cause (see my post above). If Apple does not fix that soon my two HomePods will go on sale. 🙁

Are you streaming to another device, in addition to the HomePods, when the audio mutes?

Yes, I'm having this issue.

I just replaced the home pod thru the genius bar, (for the same reason) and the audio is still muting.

Perhaps not as often when the volume is higher. Ive tried moving the home pod to another airport wifi, same thing, I'm curious if you notice that it does not mute as often or ever when the level is high. Played one album and it muted at least every song low, just turned it up for a play list and it hasn't muted since. (30 minutes)

Noticed this started about 4 - 6 weeks ago. (all updates are current) Using Music From my MacBook Air, I use Airport network, and have several Yamaha Network players. I airplay to the Home pod and the Yamaha network player, the network player continues to work, the Home pod mutes???

A screen capture of the home pod going to - minus sign, and air play changing from blue to orange.

Same issue here (minus sign and music suddenly stops), the only difference is I am using ITunes for Windows 10. I have also another 3 network speakers (Yamaha, Denon) and for these items, music never stops. I didn't had the homepod stopped if the source of the music was iPhone or iPad. On my Homepod, all the updates were already done.

The stereo equipment that I airplay to is airplay one compatible, the vendor (Yamaha) has yet to provide updates to make them airplay 2 compatible.

I was able to add a spare airport express to my network and it feeds Audio to the Stereo, this is working and allows HomePod and the stereo to be in sync, HomePod no longer looses connection.

I am having the same issue. Using windows 10. Streaming from my iphone or Ipad it works perfect. I think it might be something wrong with Windows Itunes. :(