Static and crackling sound on HomePod Mini

I’m trying an experiment. Since my HomePod minis are in different rooms and only one of them has the static issue I have swapped their locations to rule out any external interference. I haven’t had any static since their locations were swapped. It seems like powering them off helps with the static, such that it’s a couple of days until it happens again. Hopefully, 18.1 will have a fix in it, but it might not.

I've tried resetting them all, still get the random static. I'm gonna start tracking the time and date next few times it crackles. Wouldn't it be interesting if we all experienced it at the same time? Like it's not internal but from the source?? Hmmm?

Same happens to my 3 Homepod Minis.

Not all of them have crackling at the same time, but each one for itself. It sounds like a record with a scratchy needle.

There are also short interruptions when listening to Apple Music or Spotify.

I've tried all possible scenarios for the WiFi. Regardless of whether it's frequency bands or anything else.

Running 18.0.1

You can always restart by unplugging it for 10 seconds.

You can also try the hard reset method with the additional step of unplugging for over 24 hours first

Then plug back in and proceed as follows:

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 and hold your finger to the top of HomePod.
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.

After you reset HomePod, you can set up HomePod again.

Reset HomePod or HomePod mini - Apple Support

Thank you., @AppSmack, I think that your reference to the problem starting with OS17.1 may not refer to the same issue. For several versions back, music would play out of sync, pop/honk or not play at all. This seemed to happen where there was a 2.4ghz and 5ghz network with the same SSID. I moved all of my 2.4ghz devices to a separate network and the problem went away at both of my locations. This was at least for OS16 if not before.

After a week on HomeOS 18.1, I’ve had nothing but listening pleasure and for me the problem has been addressed.

note: in both homes there is only one 5ghz network available to the HomePods. If you have 2.4ghz and 5ghz with the same name (SSID) you’ll probably have static, popping and problems. This was an issue many versions ago.

to fix, I appended “_IOT” to the 2.4ghz network then connected those devices to the new name. I then “forgot” the 2.4ghz networks from my 5ghz devices to avoid accidentally connecting to a slow network.

The problem with crackling of my 4 HomePod minis is persistent, I hope Apple figures it out, this is ruining my accustic experience and I am one person all on the same WiFi in the same home of one user. Bc Apple also keeps pushing me to upgrade as a family. I am one person trying to listen in all of my rooms to the same music or video.

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

Also have these issues.  Since about July, 2024 - prior to to current software updates.  I had expected one of the releases since, to fix this issue.

One of the original HomePods (bought 2 to stereo pair 5 years ago).  Tried restarts, resets, different WIFI settings - many times.  Issue remains.   I have taken the speaker into Apple...they just looked at it, literally.. and read this article.  It was like they already knew this was an issue. (but told me they had not had anyone come in with the issue/ speaker.  I was given an option to replace it, with a minor discount - still costing me $400 plus AUD...AND the latest version only, that is NOT compatible with with the other HomePod that still works as you cannot stereo pair a Gen 1 with a Gen 2!   

So they then handed me some paperwork to go onto the ACCC website, and log a "complaint" with the Australian govt body, on fair trading..  If this ended up being a positive outcome...it would ask Apple to replace with another GEN 1...so I can then Stereo Pair - but again...at a COST to myself, of a few hundred dollars.   

So I have cancelled my Apple Music subscription, as this issue is obviously widespread…and Apple have not done anything about it.  And after 20 years of Apple ….I am noticing a distinct lack of care.. all around, and it feels the “golden age” is now over, as its now all about the $$$ profit.

Just before the Christmas break, I reset ALL speakers and other gadgets in my WIFI. Trial and error for an entire week, of trying different attempts to fix - did not solve the issues, changed WIFI settings etc... and then the last software release arrived, so also installed that. I have been away for a week. Played music for a few hours each day since getting back for a week, and I was really happy to see that the issues I had appeared to be "fixed". Until yesterday, when only after a few minutes of playing sound over HomePods, the issue came back to the same HomePod Gen 1. So no, it is not fixed.

Given the responses from Apple Support, and the Genius Bar....after 20 years of APPLE, I think I'm done, as its all now feeling very "Windows".......Software bugs seem to becoming far more common, and the lack of interest from Apple - with "buy a new one full price" ask being the FIX - Forget it.

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.

Mine started buzzing again at 12:50 today. I'm real disappointed to hear that 18.1 didn't resolve it. This is very frustrating.

Such a shame. My minis all crackling now and disconnecting and also echoing each other my large HomePods also disconnect or don’t respond to commands HomePod two and HomePod ones

Had the same result then 1 day later the crackling was back

All units are already running on 18.1.

The issue does not get fixed by that update.