I recently purchased a new HomePod mini for our kitchen. After spending an entire afternoon trying to set it up, I came upon the following article, which I wanted to share, as it could potentially impact anyone considering the purchase of a HomePod or HomePod mini. Feel free to share with anyone who might benefit.
Buyer beware! Apparently Apple thinks it’s just fine to sell these things. I plan on returning mine, and will only buy another if the people at the Apple Store can definitively prove that it is running a more recent software version.
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/20/homepod-bug-advanced-data-protection/#
The text of the article follows:
To use Advanced Data Protection for iCloud, all the devices logged into your Apple ID require a minimum software version. That includes HomePod speakers, which must be running at least HomePod software 16.2.
However, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, there is a bug in the Home app that prevents HomePods running older versions of the software from being updated if iCloud end-to-end encryption has been turned on.
This means anyone buying a HomePod that ships with an OS older than 16.2 won't be able to set it up, because doing so first requires an update.
Apple's support document explains what options are available to customers facing this predicament. If the speaker in question is a HomePod mini, users can connect it to a Mac via the USB-C cable and update it through Finder (or iTunes on a PC) by selecting the HomePod in the Finder sidebar and clicking the Restore HomePod option. This will update the speaker to the latest software, after which it can be properly set up.
The full-size first-generation HomePod and the new 2023 HomePod have no USB-C port, so unless Apple includes a fix in iOS 16.3, which is expected to be released next week, owners of these speakers will have to temporarily turn off Advanced Data Protection to update the HomePod software. Apple outlines how to do that in the following way:
Turn off Advanced Data Protection in iCloud settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac: In Settings or System Settings, tap your name, then tap iCloud. Scroll to Advanced Data Protection and turn off Advanced Data Protection.
If you received an error message when you previously tried to set up your HomePod, you may need to reset your HomePod. Then set up your HomePod.
Update your HomePod to the latest software using the Home app.
Turn on Advanced Data Protection in iCloud settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac: In Settings or System Settings, tap your name, then tap iCloud. Scroll to Advanced Data Protection and turn on Advanced Data Protection.
Apple advises anyone who temporarily turns off Advanced Data Protection to turn it back on immediately after their HomePod software is updated.
Donna here. I tried the recommended solutions, and they did not work. So if you intend to purchase a HomePod or a Mini, be careful.
Comments
A question, or 2
Hi,
You mentioned above about plugging in a USBC cable into the HomePod and connecting it to a Mac? Does it have to be USB-C, or can you use a standard USB-A plug? I am asking primarily because I do not know what version Mac you own.
Also, and perhaps optionally, can the good folks at the Apple Store install the update for you using their hardware?
Again, just asking for clarification purposes. 😃
replying to Brian
I don't know the answer to your first question. I have an M1 MBA, so have USBC ports. Re your second question, perhaps. But I'm pretty irked that they even let this thing out the door. I think that was very shoddy on Apple's part. They clearly know about the issue, so should have found a better way to address it.
Right there with you
You would think, if nothing else, Apple would have at least supplied the proper cables for the HomePod. Sure, you could go out and buy them third-party, or order them online from someplace like Amazon, but I can see how that could be frustrating.
Hopefully you can get this resolved, one way or the other. 🙂
cables?
the homepod mini itself has a USB C cable that runs it. so you just disconnect that from the power block, and plug it into your mac. no extra cables needed.
Makes sense, however…
I believe she is saying that hers does not use USB-C. Correct me if I am wrong?
HomePod mini
The cable on the HomePod mini is fixed to the HomePod. It cannot be detached it is part of the HomePod. On the end of the cable there is a USB C connector. I suppose you could plug an adapter onto the end of the cable which may work if your computer does not have USB C ports.
This sounds annoying but…
They obviously shouldn’t have let this go out the door but the fix doesn’t sound like taking it back to get your money back. Annoying as it is, the Apple Store will make this right for you. It’s not a difficult problem. At worst they’ll swap the HomePod for another which they can update in the store. Don’t be too disheartened with your experience. It sounds annoying and avoidable but in reality sometimes these things happen. They can be fixed.
I was also thinking but the HomePod mini has a USB C cable hanging out the back like a tail. How could the author have missed it. It’s right there. About 2m long and just begging to be plugged into an M1 mac. Perhaps apple don’t allow updating in iTunes but to say it doesn’t have a USB C port is demonstrably incorrect. It might not have one that looks like what you’d expect to too, a hole in the side of the HomePod but sure enough. It’s still got one.
clarification re cables
Sorry for the confusion, all. Yes, the Mini comes with a USBC cable that is permanently affixed, and connects just fine to my Macbook Air. The USB connection isn't the issue. The problem is that the Mini was shipped running version 15.3, which is below the current requirement for the Home app. I did finally get it to download a more current version by connecting it to my Mac, but for reasons I can't begin to fathom, it downloaded 17.2 rather than 17.4. I then tried to reset the Homepod again, thinking that at this point, it would be able to connect to our wireless network, and would thenm update to 17.4, the version run by the rest of my devices. that did not happen, instead it just made a wreck of my home kit, and now none of my accessories will respond. But the main point of my post was to warn others to be very careful when purchasing a HomePod or a Mini. Personally, I'll never buy one again, unless someone at the store canverify definitively that it's running current software. And I would never order one from Apple and have it sent to me, because there is no way to confirm what version the HomePod is running until you get it, and possibly end up in the mess that I'm in.
Donna.
Just to clarify, I didn’t mean the author as in you. I meant the macrumors article. The full-size first-generation HomePod and the new 2023 HomePod have no USB-C port, so unless Apple includes a fix in iOS 16.3, which is expected to be released next week, owners of these speakers will have to temporarily turn off Advanced Data Protection to update the HomePod software. Apple outlines how to do that in the following way: That was obviously incorrect as as I pointed out it has a big long dangly one hanging out the back. I’m so sorry it seems to be have messed up your HomeKit setup though. This really does sound like something Apple should be fixing for you. Have you spoke to them yet?
Andyy
Ah, I see what you meant. And it is confusing. We have both generations of Homepods, and several minis, so the cable thing gets complicated around here. And yes, I did call Apple support. She had no idea about the problem, and just located a rote set of procedures that someone gave her. When we got to the point where she suggested I reset my wireless router, I said enough. lol
The buck stops at networking
Can't say I blame you. When they start telling you to reconfigure your home network, it's time to get a different device altogether.
have you considered using an Alexa device for a home pod replacement? 😇
Reply, the buck stops at networking
Happily, I finally got the thing working. It'd be a long story to tell, and it's one of those situations where I'm not entirely sure--though I have suspicions--what did the trick. When we started this transition a few years back, we decided to go with the Apple ecosystem rather than Alexa because the security is better. At this point, it would cost us a small fortune to switch echosystems, and the security differential is still there. So no, I can't imagine we would do that, despite these past few days.
What matters is, you got it all working.
Regardless of the ecosystem you subscribe to, in the end you have your services and devices working as intended. So kudos for that! Hopefully, hopefully, in the future, you will not have such a debacle getting things up and running with future devices.🙂