Level 1

27 points

Homepod disconnects or stops playing music from itunes randomly

Homepod was just updated to 13.4. I did NOT notice this issue previously but others are reporting the exact same issue on other forums.

The first thread details the issue perfectly.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/homepod-stops-playing-music-from-itunes-windows.2215843/

https://www.reddit.com/r/HomePod/comments/eq4lg3/itunes_and_homepod_constantly_disconnect/

When using the homepod as a speaker from iTunes it will randomly stop playing music and display a dash like this "-" next to it. If I deselect it and click it again it will start playing sound again. If I stop the track and play again, it will start playing again.

Playing from windows 10 PC, fully updated.

iTunes 12.10.4.2

Homepod 13.4

The issue seems to happen less when I use the homepod as the only device checked to play music to. If i check other devices, like the apple TV and computer itself to play as well the issue happens more often. My WiFi is solid with no deadspots, I've done a speed test and poor mans site survey with my iPhone to test speeds with no issues. Also to rule out WiFi as the issue i can play from my iPhone to the homepod and apple TV without the problem.

I suspect its an iTunes issue or possibly the homepod struggling to stay in sync with iTunes. Please read the other threads before suggesting solutions already purposed as I've tried them all.

This clearly seems like a bug but I don't know where to submit bug reports for the homepod.

Thank you in advance.

Posted on Mar 25, 2020 7:34 PM

Top-ranking reply

Bumbeen

Level 1

21 points

Posted on Aug 29, 2020 9:56 PM

So no dice on turning off the homepod features, however I have found a pattern in the packet capture correlated with the failure. I no longer think this is an issue with the homepod, but a problem solely with iTunes.

Every 30 seconds, iTunes sends a TCP message to homepod port 7000 with an OPTIONS message that provides cseq number, user agent, instance ID, and a remote ID. Between these messages, the homepod will send a TCP Keep-Alive to my PC from port 7000 every 6 seconds. After 4 of these, iTunes sends the options message.

When the issue occurs, that 30 second interval TCP options message does not get sent. That's why the other poster was encountering the issue at the 28 second mark each time. That is the refresh interval for this options message.

We can see in the packet capture, the TCP fin message comes as soon as the 30 second interval passes without the options message being sent from iTunes:

This leads me to believe that it might be possible to spoof this options message to the homepod using a 3rd party tool, therefore keeping the stream alive even when itunes fails to send the options message itself. That will be my next task.

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103 replies

Kwoodhouse Author

Level 1

27 points

Mar 28, 2020 2:27 PM in response to QuickPost

Thank you for your reply but as I mentioned I have already tried all the suggestions in both of the threads I listed. Restarting and power cycling the Homepod is always the first suggestion and I've done that several times.

aw278

Level 1

13 points

May 17, 2020 2:28 PM in response to QuickPost

NOT AT ALL HELPFUL - EVER!

What's next "Ctrl-Alt_del? Don't you think that if a person is intelligent enough to sign in, 2 factor authenticate twice or three times, accept Apple's two EULAs ..... they JUST might have done that?

May 19, 2020 5:20 AM in response to Kwoodhouse

Well, this won't be much help to you but my experience over the years with iTunes on Windows has been that the product is unreliable and really doesn't do much of anything properly. For some reason, Apple software just doesn't seem to port very well to Windows. Things that work seamlessly and perfectly on a Mac just don't make it on a PC. For a real exercise in futility, try using iCloud for Windows. Hilarious fail.

yisomu

Level 1

4 points

Jun 21, 2020 8:53 AM in response to Kwoodhouse

Hello. I am commenting at Japan.

I have the exact same problem now.

I tried to improve by referring to many threads, but it does not solve it.

There is no problem with homepod connection from itunes of macbook or music of iphone, so I think there is a problem with airplay of itunes of windows. I want to erase the "-" in the homepod quickly.

I expect immediate improvement.

thank you.　よろしくおねがいします。

Jul 9, 2020 7:30 PM in response to turingtest2

I did not mean to mark this as "helpful" at all... I wanted to mark this suggestion as "total bs"

The homepod connects to the 5GHz radio and never loses connection. A network analysis shows me that a response is sent back by the Homepod and THEN it 'disables' itself. It continues to do the same, even when only connected to the 2.4GHz radio.

Not buying the "disable half of my router" idea, either.

Jul 9, 2020 7:34 PM in response to Bob Reynolds

@Bob Reynolds

The terrific fail that is iCloud for Windows is because they do not give many options... like where to put your pictures and other things you keep on your computer for back up and etc.

You literally have to disable iCloud on your iDevices BEFORE it will let you move the storage directories and only upload/download folders, not where it stores your files.

My system has a small C:\ drive and I move everything to the HDD installed that has more storage space... but I cannot move iCloud storage stuff at all...

I have been looking in the registry to see if that would make any difference...

Jul 10, 2020 3:54 AM in response to Wappaloochie

I found that Windows iCloud doesn’t synch with other devices. Its just a download. Additions, deletion and edits to the PC library are not synced to other devices and vice versa. Pretty much useless. I gave up with it a couple of years ago so it may have improved by now but I’d be surprised.

Jul 10, 2020 4:54 AM in response to Bob Reynolds

You are right... it is just a download... though through the "Files app" on you phone or pad, you can access those files in your iCloud. I usually delete from there and then "re-upload" from my PC, once it synchronizes.

AW_Gator

Level 1

4 points

Jul 24, 2020 3:31 PM in response to Inmate_0801

Thank you for your reply. My discussions at the Genius Bar have made me doubt myself.

To me this is a luxury purchase and I expected it to work like traditional Apple products, but I have been really disappointed.

I cant imagine what the engineers were thinking; no data port, no POE, a fixed power cord, no real tune-able equalization, and have you seen the EMF coming off this thing (on our nightstands near our heads)?

Jul 25, 2020 11:04 AM in response to Kwoodhouse

Well, long lasting Problem. Also had this issue, especially when i tried to play songs copied from old cds... Support doesn´t help. Apple simply doesn't care. so buying a HomePod seamed to be a good idea, worked fine, but now it is just something standing around... recommending apple right now? No... software problems, no end control before release... where have all the good times gone...

turingtest2

Level 10

278,263 points

Aug 12, 2020 11:45 AM in response to svenfrommünchen

Siri on HomePod can play your unhidden purchases, or your iCloud Music Library if you have a subscription to either Apple Music or iTunes Match (although enabling Recognize My Voice on HomePod may break iTunes Match right now).

tt2

Aug 12, 2020 9:51 PM in response to turingtest2

I wow, but i don't want to have my library in the cloud and pay for it... and i suppose that this might be the main issue... Apple wants us to use this and of course pay for it... and i just say no...

Aug 12, 2020 10:51 PM in response to Vancouver22

I have had very few instances of the Wi-Fi cutting out… I’ve had weakness in the signal, but no cut outs.

I really do not understand why it loses connection… Unless it has something to do with synchronization or timing between the computer and the HomePod.

Aug 13, 2020 1:24 PM in response to svenfrommünchen

iTunes is long gone from the Mac, the various services having been distributed to the OS and into the Music App. If you are running iTunes on your Mac you need to update your software to current levels. That said, problems with iTunes on Windows is definitely an Apple issue. Microsoft has no part in it.

Aug 30, 2020 2:15 AM in response to Kwoodhouse

Read your comments and really appreciate your work. Drove and still drives me crazy too on my macbook. And yes, your assumption that Apple wants us to go to Apple Music seams to be right. I don't go for that....

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Homepod disconnects or stops playing music from itunes randomly