iMac and Mac Mini won't connect to Homepod minis

Question

iMac and Mac Mini won't connect to Homepod minis

My home computers can see the homepod mini but when I click on the checkbox to choose them as output an error occurs after a bit. I can play from my iPhone without issue.

This wasn't an issue previously. I don't use them as output for my iMac and Mac Mini very often so I don't know when this issue started.

looking in console I see many errors among others...

176	fault	09:03:15.107702-0600	runningboardd	Two equal instances have unequal identities. <type=Application identifier=application.com.apple.Music.1152921500311888408.1152921500311888413 AUID=501> and <type=Application identifier=application.com.apple.Music.1152921500311888408.1152921500311888413>

1623	fault	09:03:42.566817-0600	searchpartyuseragent	CoreData: Unable to create token NSXPCConnection.  NSXPCStoreServerEndpointFactory 0x7fd04c80cbb0 -newEndpoint returned nil

7689	fault	09:03:42.946186-0600	Wi-Fi	Accessing Environment<<private>>'s value outside of being installed on a View. This will always read the default value and will not update.

184	fault	09:03:43.045161-0600	airportd	Error: event "com.apple.wifi.AWDLUsage" dropped because the payload was unable to be converted to json: NSInvalidArgumentException (Invalid number value (NaN) in JSON write) <private>

These are the Apple Music faults:

669	error	09:22:22.726085-0600	Music	     AudioQueueObject.cpp:3354  _Start: Error (-4) getting reporterIDs
669	error	09:22:22.735810-0600	Music	     AudioQueueObject.cpp:3354  _Start: Error (-4) getting reporterIDs
669	error	09:22:34.380256-0600	Music	Expected visual effect view on overhang view '(null)'.  Color: 'Catalog color: System controlBackgroundColor' was not set
669	error	09:22:34.392798-0600	Music	Expected visual effect view on overhang view '(null)'.  Color: 'Catalog color: System controlBackgroundColor' was not set
669	error	09:22:34.409586-0600	Music	Expected visual effect view on overhang view '(null)'.  Color: 'Catalog color: System controlBackgroundColor' was not set
669	error	09:22:34.426625-0600	Music	Expected visual effect view on overhang view '(null)'.  Color: 'Catalog color: System controlBackgroundColor' was not set
669	error	09:22:44.027523-0600	Music	[SQL:c130fe7388edc268:0x600002dadc00] initWithConnection:… name:MPServerObjectDatabaseImport-E82F1C9F-8D27-4462-90E4-110E9EE9D3E5… | failed to acquire process assertion [database transaction]
669	error	09:22:44.055819-0600	Music	Expected visual effect view on overhang view '(null)'.  Color: 'Catalog color: System controlBackgroundColor' was not set
669	error	09:22:44.067176-0600	Music	Expected visual effect view on overhang view '(null)'.  Color: 'Catalog color: System controlBackgroundColor' was not set
669	error	09:22:44.102349-0600	Music	Expected visual effect view on overhang view '(null)'.  Color: 'Catalog color: System controlBackgroundColor' was not set
669	error	09:22:44.134229-0600	Music	[SQL:c130fe7388edc268:0x600002f5fd80] initWithConnection:… name:MPServerObjectDatabaseImport-4E8FF84A-0757-430E-9648-F00982A86ACE… | failed to acquire process assertion [database transaction]
669	error	09:22:50.089175-0600	Music	     AudioQueueObject.cpp:3354  _Start: Error (-4) getting reporterIDs
669	error	09:22:51.807797-0600	Music	**ERROR**: Failed to find a DeviceTracker for deviceID:6268022595075857943 in the tracker map!
669	error	09:22:51.807811-0600	Music	**ERROR**: RODFC - Failed to find a DeviceTracker for deviceID:6268022595075857943! status:9061
669	error	09:22:51.807821-0600	Music	bapd> device:Kitchen 6268022595075857943 disconnected due to error -15012
669	error	09:22:51.807851-0600	Music	**ERROR**: baod> report error - status:-15012, device:<private>-6268022595075857943
669	error	09:23:13.993813-0600	Music	nw_read_request_report [C71] Receive failed with error "Operation timed out"
669	error	09:23:13.994263-0600	Music	nw_read_request_report [C71] Receive failed with error "Operation timed out"
669	error	09:23:13.994427-0600	Music	nw_read_request_report [C71] Receive failed with error "Operation timed out"
669	error	09:23:13.998224-0600	Music	nw_endpoint_flow_fillout_data_transfer_snapshot copy_info() returned NULL

to troubleshoot I restarted my computers, double checked wifi setting for both. Erased the homepod minis and reset them.

iMac 27″

Posted on Jan 4, 2025 07:18 AM

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Answer 1

Jan 5, 2025 03:08 PM in response to Vancouver22

Still an issue after restarting. I am thinking it’s my pfsense router, but still confused why. Those devices are connected via Ethernet to a switch to router, and WiFi to wired access points connected to same switch. My iPhone is only connected via WiFi. My network is flat. Just addresses from 192.168.10.1- 192.168.10.254. I don’t have UPnP running so could be ports issue?

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Answer 2

Jan 8, 2025 10:39 AM in response to Vancouver22

The problem is ongoing...

Today I decided to give something a try, disable my ethernet connection on my iMac just leaving the wifi connection enabled. lo and behold Apple Music started playing to the Homepod minis.

Now the question is why the computer won't play when both network connections are active.

The ethernet connection I am using is not the built in NIC. It's a thunderbolt adapter for 10G. I don't know what about that would make a difference, I only mention it because it's a non-standard setup and I two of them, one on the iMac and the other on the Mac Mini.

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Answer 3

Jan 6, 2025 08:27 AM in response to Vancouver22

That's true... doesn't solve my issue.

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Answer 4

Vancouver22

Level 8

37,160 points

Jan 4, 2025 10:30 PM in response to johnnyjackhammer

Unless the problem is ongoing and never works , I wouldn’t bother resetting them. This is usually a temporary issue that might occur from time to time. The best thing to do is to restart them.

You can do this in the Home App on your Mac. Click on HomePod and choose device settings (gear icon) - scroll down to Reset HomePod - select Restart (not Reset). You will notice a white swirling light on top of HomePod. Once this stops it’s restarted and you can test again. This usually fixes it.

If it still persists, try force quitting whichever app you were using and restart your Mac.

if it still persists, reboot your wifi modem.

Only if none of the above fixes it, should you reset them.

it can also be related to the App or streaming service you are using as well. Tonight this kept happening while using Prime. When I switched to another App it worked fine.

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Answer 5

Vancouver22

Level 8

37,160 points

Jan 6, 2025 12:03 AM in response to johnnyjackhammer

Your Mac and HomePods need to be on the same wifi network

Use AirPlay to stream audio - Apple Support

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iMac and Mac Mini won't connect to Homepod minis

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