As said, there is a static and crackling sound lasting up to 5 seconds when I’m playing music from Spotify on my HomePod Mini. It comes up every couple of minutes and then music resumes playing normally. So far I had no issues, and after this emerged, I updated all softwares to latest versions and updated the Spotify app. Any ideas what to do next?
HomePod mini, 18
It WORKS!
I have been having this issue for months with my setup of 3 HomePods and 2 HomePod minis over an extended wifi across the house on different floors. A disaster scenario pretty much :D
So, I feel so stupid to promote a non-Apple platform when I am a subscriber of their Apple Music but I downloaded Qobuz yesterday and it works perfectly across the whole **** system with hi rez 192kHz Miles Davis beautifully flowing thru these amazing speakers.
I am going to keep on testing this the rest of the day but it's been now playing for 30 mins with no hiccups, hisses or crackling. Pretty much as it is suppose to work. I am so happy now.
I am using the iPhone App for this, the desktop version has not been optimised for multi speaker use although there are instructions how to get them work.
So the static in all speakers stopped about 2 weeks ago! Awesome! But now I will select my stereo HomePod minis in the kitchen and add in the HomePods 2 in the living room and those will cut in and out, non stop, until I unselect them. Day after day I try this combination and I get the same result. If I select another set of HomePod minis to join the kitchen ones, no issues. Crazy frustrating
UPDATE: It's Nov 30 2024 and the crackling and static have stopped but now when I play same playlist is different rooms, they get out of sync within a few songs and if the Homepods 2 cut in and out like they are struggling to find the signal. I restart my router and all 7 minis and 2 Homepods all the time but most often there's no change.
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With the current updated, the crackling got marginally better, but we rarely have a full evening without our HomePods out and becoming unusable. I don't know what else to do. I have reset our router and the HomePods multiple times.
In addition, I have terrible latency when playing blue rays. With a bluetooth speaker everything is ok. Anyone having a solution to that?
The HomePods sound great when they work, but overall they have been a major disappointment so far.
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The crackling, static, losing sync and echoing have driven me nuts for months. I have 5 HomePod mini's across two homes in two countries, and I've intended to buy a full-size HomePod, but if this persists, I won't be doing that, and I'll probably be looking for other smart speakers.
Still no fix in sight. And now, the latest updates as of March 2025, the software updates have destroyed my Apple Airports AirPlay with my BOSE speakers. So before that update…I had the one faulty HomePod Gen 1 NOT WORKING, but did have another that still works (was paired) plus 3 HomePod Mini, and 3 Bose Spkears…all AirPlay, and working. NOW I am down to 1 HomePod 1st Gen and 1 x HomePod Mini. Beyond angry. Apple have always been very quiet one know issues, faults…but 90% of the time….you did eventually get a fix rolled out, software, or firmware. Apple Genius Bar tell me, nothing can be opened up and checked….yet there IS a USB port, un the base’s cap.. Given this is global…these products are not cheap…. Class action sounds like it is the next step. I have spent weeks of my own time, trouble shooting, testing, resetting, restoring, starting from scratch even on my Wifi set up. Now really angry.
I miss the days when you could add your review to the Apple Store website… but clearly, they got rid of that for a reason. The HomePod issues….are atrocious and all I am being told is to buy a new pair. Software updates in March 2025…have now also destroyed my Apple Airport AirPlay as well. They no longer work as i am referred NOw, to use the Home app, to manage AirPlay….that does not work either. My home stereo set up is now destroyed by Apple. Apple seem to be going to where anything PC/windows related…were 20 years ago. Woeful.
Getting a ton of intermittent crackling noise when using Stereo Pair HomePods as TV Audio, connected to my LG B6 OLED TV via ARC. Even when setting my Xfinity Xi6 TV Box audio type to Stereo.
i just purchased these two HomePods too. Very disappointed. Hoping a firmware update to fix this comes soon. The 18.1 update did nothing to fix my issue.
Updated my Xfinity box to the Xi8 model and also upgraded my wifi mesh router from Google nest to TP-Link BE5000, thinking the boost in wifi would help. Also upgraded to Apple certified Belkin Ultra high speed hdmi cables and no change in the intermittent static/crackling noise.
Pulling my hair out over this.
The software updates to Home and Apple devices in late March 2025, have not repaired anything RE: HomePod static, and stopping us from using these expensive paper weights. I have now followed the Apple Store Sydneys advice, and now logged this with the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.
I'm encountering the same issue with my 1st-generation HomePod after updating to version 18.4.I submitted a support request to Apple over two weeks ago but have yet to receive a response.The lack of communication is disappointing, especially given the seriousness of the problem.
I am experiencing the same symptoms from my AppleTV 4k. It started right after I updated to v 18.
Crackling audio and the speakers are intermittently dropping from the stereo pair.
Same here!! Since upgrading to IOS18 my HomePod minis keep getting audio interference and coming out of sync. The HomePod has upgraded ok!
I updated last night and so far have had no issues. Thanks Apple for getting on the issue in an expedient manner.
My HomePod 1st Gen and HomePod Mini paired as stereo, all are getting cracking noises while playing Apple Music, YouTube, Netflix & Amazon Prime
I spoke too soon. For a few days there was no static, but today it started again.
Static and crackling sound on HomePod Mini
