HomePod Having Trouble Connecting to the Internet? How To Fix

Is your HomePod not connecting to the Internet or sporadically losing its connection? Hearing the message “I’m having trouble connecting to the internet right now?” If so, you aren’t alone. Quite a few of our readers tell us their HomePods have this particular problem with connecting to the internet intermittently.

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Update Your HomePod

Often the obvious solution is the one that works. So before you troubleshoot, check your HomePod to ensure it’s operating with the latest software. 

Your HomePod should automatically install software updates, but sometimes, it doesn’t so it’s a good idea to manually check for updates in the Home app on your iDevice (or Mac using macOS Mojave.)

How To Update Your HomePod From Your iDevice

1. Using the iDevice that you originally set-up your HomePod with, tap the Home App
   1. Make sure your iDevice is also using the latest iOS
2. Tap the house icon in the upper-left corner 
   1. For older iOS versions, this is an arrow icon
3. Tap Software Update
4. If an update is available, tap install
   1. A white spinning light appears on the top of HomePod while it’s updating. The update might take some time. Don’t unplug HomePod until the update is complete 
   2. If you have multiple HomePods, this should update all your HomePods at once

How To Update Your HomePod From Your Mac

1. Only Macs using macOS Mojave and above can update HomePods
2. Open the Home App
3. Tap Edit > Edit Home from the menu bar
4. Select Software Update
5. If an update is available, tap install
   1. A white spinning light appears on the top of HomePod while it’s updating. The update might take some time. Don’t unplug HomePod until the update is complete
   2. If you have multiple HomePods, this should update all your HomePods at once

Having Trouble?

Take a look at our detailed instructions on How to Update Your HomePod.

Restart or Reset Your HomePod

Restarts often fix a surprising amount of problems, especially issues that suddenly appear with no apparent reason.

How To Restart Your HomePod

• Unplug your HomePod
• Wait 30 seconds
• Plug the HomePod back into power

If a restart doesn’t help, try a reset

How To Reset Your HomePod With An iDevice

• On an iDevice signed in with the same Apple ID used to set-up your HomePod initially, open the Home App
• Press and hold the HomePod icon
• Tap Settings
• Scroll down and tap Remove Accessory, then go through the steps to set-up your HomePod(s) again 
• If you can’t remove HomePod from the Home app
  • Unplug HomePod, wait 5 seconds, then plug it back in
  • Wait 5 seconds, then touch your finger to the top of HomePod and hold it there
  • The white spinning light turns red. Keep your finger down 
  • Siri tells you that your HomePod is about to reset
  • After you hear three beeps, you lift your finger

Reset Your HomePod With a Mac

Reset Your Network Settings

1. Using the iPhone, iPad, or iPod that you originally set-up your HomePod with, go to Settings > General > Reset
2. Tap Reset Network Settings 
3. Enter your WiFi passcode in again

Change Your Router’s Settings

A few readers found that changing some settings on their routers did the trick! They used a few different strategies, so try these one at a time–not all at once. 

Reboot your WiFi Router or Modem

Sometimes a simple reset of your WiFi Router is all you need to re-establish a good internet connection.

Rebooting usually means unplugging your router and waiting a few minutes before plugging it back in. But check with your user guide or with your Internet Service Provider on specific instructions for your network and the make/model of your router.

Connect to a 2.4 GHz WiFi Network

Many HomePod users find that their HomePods work better using a 2.4 GHz WiFi signal versus a 5.0 GHz. For people living or working in large spaces or older spaces with plaster walls, the 2.4 GHz frequency works better due to its longer range.

Additionally, 2.4 GHz signals penetrate solid objects much better than 5 GHz.

So if you think space or density of materials is an issue, try using a 2.4 GHz WiFi network and see if your HomePod’s internet performance and reliability improves.

If your HomePod currently connects to a 5 GHz signal, you’ll need to repair it with your iDevice. When repairing, make sure your iPhone is connected to your 2.4 GHz WiFi Network since that’s the default connection for your HomePod.

Turn Off IPv6

Some folks discovered that their HomePods only connected to the internet consistently when they disabled IPv6 on their routers. 

Turn Off IPv6 on a Mac

You can also look at your router’s user guide or look up your router’s make and model on how to turn off IPv6.

Create a Static or Reserved IP Address for Your HomePod

Another workaround that HomePod folks recommend is setting up and using a static IP address (also called an IP reserved address) for your HomePod(s.)

You need to look at your router’s user guide to find out how to create a static IP address for your HomePod.

Set-Up Your HomePod as a DMZ Device

Another option some people opted for their WiFi network’s configuration was to set their HomePod as a DMZ device.

DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) allows a device to accept all incoming and outgoing traffic. Not a great idea for your computer or iDevice but for a HomePod which doesn’t really store any data, it’s a possible solution to internet connectivity problems.

You need to consult your user manual or reach out to support to learn how to configure your HomePod as a DMZ device.

Reader Tips 

• The modem may be denying access to the MAC address for the HomePod. If you use Access Control and Timed Access of your network, temporarily disable it. Then, locate your HomePod’s MAC address and add it into any Timed Access before re-enabling Access Control on the network
• If you set-up an alarm on your HomePod–try removing these and see if your HomePod connects to the internet consistently. Worked for me!
• When setting up your HomePod (or resetting), make sure your phone is connected to a 2GHz WiFi network during setup. No issues since doing this
• Try power cycling your modem and router for a full minute. Wait another minute and turn everything back on
• Hold your finger on the top after unplugging it and plugging it back in, it should then factory reset
• I had this issue before and it was my Internet Service Provider. Once they fixed my upload speeds, my HomePods connected without any problems. So call your ISP
• My Homepod had a bad WiFi chip–took it to Apple with my proof of purchase and got a replacement straight away!

Elizabeth Jones

For most of her professional life, Amanda Elizabeth (Liz for short) trained all sorts of folks on how to use media as a tool to tell their own unique stories. She knows a thing or two about teaching others and creating how-to guides!

Her clients include Edutopia, Scribe Video Center, Third Path Institute, Bracket, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Big Picture Alliance.

Elizabeth received her Master of Fine Arts degree in media making from Temple University, where she also taught undergrads as an adjunct faculty member in their department of Film and Media Arts.