Audio sync problem with multiple HomePod after update to IOS18

Why do all my Homepods play the same music at different times after updating to IOS18? It doesn't happen in IOS17! There are more than 5 Homepods in my place. After I started to play for a while, maybe 3-5 songs, the audio does not sync anymore! It does like the delay time is a mess with the system!

HomePod, 18

Posted on Sep 20, 2024 1:21 AM

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Posted on Nov 6, 2024 11:16 AM

still getting the sync issue on 18.1 anyone else ?

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Sep 22, 2024 8:00 PM in response to EmmetPratt

Yes Same here I just spent all weekend rebuilding my HomePod network after this update broke the Sync - only to find it made absolutely no difference!! OS18 definitely the culprit- was fine before - even tried turning if lossless and Atmos but no change. I can live with slow Siri- but music not playing in sync literally defeats the point of having these speakers!

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Sep 29, 2024 5:17 PM in response to Vancouver22

I just reported the bug. I brought out my sonos speakers and created a scene just as i did with homepods and no issues. Strictly a homepod ecosystem issue. The homepods have no correction between them. With all the mics on the homepods and listening for alarms and commands it cannot detect out of sync. Silly bug

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Jan 27, 2025 4:49 PM in response to Chadlien

For those who, like me, were hoping 18.3 would fix the sync issues, the answer is no. I had switched over to playing my downloaded music from my Mac instead of using Apple Music streaming. Still the very occasional abrupt end and false start, which setting the slider back to the beginning of the song fixed for another day or two. But no speakers going out of sync several times an hour.


My free trial of Apple Music ends on February 27. Unless this has been fixed by then, I'm canceling it before then. If I see from these boards that a future release has fixed it, I'll subscribe again. Yes, I have all of my pre-subscription music saved, so I won't lose anything.


Maybe someone else has better news?

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Oct 14, 2024 12:08 PM in response to Chadlien

Same for me. TERRIBLE bug that seems to throw off the sync between homepods completely. I had to turn off lossless and dolby atmos that used to work perfectly fine on 17. Speakers are also crackling and then stops playing. Hope it doesn’t damage any hardware. Can’t believe Apple passed this update. I’m better off using a JBL bluetooth speaker. No update yet one month in :(

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Jan 10, 2025 6:32 AM in response to Maicon.lucca

I use three TP-Link Deco X25 in my place. It is mesh WiFi 6 system. The speed can go up to 1,800 Mbps. This is only Audio data. When many of my friends come to my place, they all can play 4K video smoothly. I believe the problem came from Apple Music with HomePod itself because when I tried Spotify, my HomePods work well. That’s so ironic. If it’s not for ALAC, I already stop my subscription of Apple Music.

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Sep 23, 2024 4:27 PM in response to Chadlien

Hi,

I also have the same problem here. Now some automations with music also are buggy, the song will skip after 10 seconds in a loop. They also started making weird popping noises and screeching sounds… all of this after the update that caused the out of sync music. I hope they fix that nonsense soon

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Oct 7, 2024 4:45 PM in response to Chadlien

have a pair of HomePod mini (gen 2) as default audio pair on AppleTV 4K (gen 1) all running iOS / tvOS public betas. I also have a gen 1 HomePod which I like to use as a “bass extension” for the pair of minis.


Playing the gen 1 HomePod alone, no problems. Playing gen 1 and gen 2 HomePods at the same time, the gen 1 gets further and further out of sync and soon the gen1 starts making horrible “BUUU.UUU.UUUUUUU.PPPPP.PPP” farty noises.

disconnect the gen 2 HomePods, gen 1 sounds as good as new.

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Audio sync problem with multiple HomePod after update to IOS18

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