HomePod won't factory reset

I like the six that I have that work. Less impressed with the one that died, but such is life. Use Feedback - HomePod - Apple to share your thoughts with Apple.

tt2

If you get stuck in the process resetting Home app, Appletv, and keeping the HomePod off for 12 hours worked to force HomePod to reset.

Same issue here. It stopped responding and it kept trying to install 7.2, I decided to reset to factory settings and it didn’t work. Also just tje red light flashing forever and there is nothing I can do. Technically, it for sure is fine, don’t want to replace it just because of some stupid software bug.

This problem kicked my *** for a while. Below is a paste from a TuringTest2 post above. The 10 second thing after plugging in was clutch:

Reset HomePod or HomePod mini

1. Unplug HomePod or unplug the power adapter for HomePod mini. Wait 10 seconds, then plug HomePod back in.
2. Wait 10 seconds, then touch your finger to the top of HomePod and hold it there.
3. The white spinning light will turn red. Keep your finger down. 
4. Siri will say that your HomePod is about to reset. When you hear three beeps, you can lift your finger.

there was another pod that wouldn't reset, out of the dozen or so I own. Took it to an Apple store, it was two years old, they took it in the backroom, maybe tested, maybe did nothing, I don't know, but they replaced it, free of charge, no questions asked. the other 11 pods drop out sometimes, but it's typically related to the wi-fi router, or internet modem getting buggy, and needing a firmware update coincidently. It's 2024 for god sakes, all of this equipment should update and restart autonomously by now! I've used Apple products since 1984, and the newer hardware seems more problematic than the 40 year old stuff ever was, but it's typically internet connectivity related.... the connection hardware for internet access needs to evolve dramatically. The providers tell me modems get bloated with crap, and need hard reboots, if that's the case then software should hard reboot for us and not wait for failure to manually need to do this on a Saturday night trying to watch a movie and losing 2 hours figuring it out.

Have you tried leaving it unplugged for 24 hours? I had the same frustration, until the Pod was left cold and dormant for 24 hours, then like magic it works again, flawlessly.

home pod is usually set to automatically UPDATE . However after the 17.1 update recently older pods won't reset using unplugging and pressing. It will only respond to a point then flash the volume up and down .

resolve by repeating: unplug 10 sec. Plug in press until you have a white then red light . Stop 🛑 and unplug plug in and press after 10 and the pod will connect long enough to go into home app and press update. Repeat this process until the pod no longer says downloading then installing. It took me 5 restarts to the white / rainbow light to achieve the update .

Good morning. I am having problems understanding your instructions. My HomePod (1st Gen) started (last week) replying to every command with "there is a problem with your account...", and once I repeated the command, it worked the second time around. Then it started giving me problems with Apple Music, stopping after a couple of songs. Tried to reset it from the Home app, did not repond, so I decided to remove it from the app and reset it. Was able to remove it from the app, but was never able to reset it. Once unplugged for 10 sec, I put my finger on top for few seconds, it turns red but forever. No message "it will reset", no 3 beeps, nothing. I tried several times (like 30), does not work. Went to Apple, they said it is dead and there is nothing to do. I am 95% sure that it has to do with the 17.1 update. Anyone know how to resolve ? Tks

Same problem.

Mini removed from HomeKit, and unplugged, but when plugged in won’t reset. It Reconnects to iTunes music and will play music from iPhone and iTunes controlling it that way, although will not reconnect to HomeKit nor reconnect to the other 5 minis on same WiFi. Suggestion?

Find my past solution posted some months ago . I had 2 one was working the other was not connected or resetting. Read my previous answer and remember every time I was able to go through the steps the home pod updated a little more each time .

If it's a gen 1, then I don't think there's anything you can do, assuming you've already tried the steps described earlier in this thread and assuming the Homepod is no longer covered by AppleCare. If it can't start up, it can't get online to download an update, and it has no other way of connecting to anything (really stupid design flaw). And I doubt Apple will do anything about it.

Didn’t work for me. Tried so many times, waiting different amounts of times, holding my finger for really long and nothing. It’s such a shame because the HomePod was great in terms of sound quality and there was nothing wrong with it physically.