Audio transfer to HomePod

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Level 1

13 points

Audio transfer to HomePod

When using my iPhone as the source of Podcasts or Music and my HomePod as the speaker, at some point the control of the audio transfers to the HomePod. This occurs without me requesting it. I am usually seated 8-10 ft from HomePod.

After that:

a) I cannot control the audio from my iPhone using the Podcast or Music Apps

I can use the Home App, but that doesn't appear on the lock screen

b) my phone forgets what I was playing on my phone, never mind where I was in the audio.

Googled how to turn this feature off.

Settings-> General -> Airplay & Handoff -> Transfer to HomePod

"when playing media, bring iPhone close to the top of the HomePod to transfer what's playing"

I turned this off.

I also turned off bluetooth.

Success -> no transfer

Turned bluetooth on -> audio transferred to HomePod

Questions:

Why does the transfer happen when I have "transfer to HomePod" off? I would prefer not to have this require turning bluetooth off.
Even when it is ON, I am usually 8 ft away from the HomePod, not "close" as the function is supposed to require. So how close is close?

Phone: iPhone 11 Pro, updated to latest iOS software

HomePod: 1st gen, fully updated

HomePod, 13

Posted on Jun 11, 2020 8:11 PM

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Answer 1

QuickPost

Level 10

103,455 points

Jun 11, 2020 8:20 PM in response to CJJ

Hello,

Are you manually invoking AirPlay? In Settings > AirPlay & Handoff > is Automatically to TVs enabled?

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

278,351 points

Jun 12, 2020 4:03 AM in response to CJJ

The handoff method for transferring control between iPhone and HomePod is used, for example, when you arrive home with music playing on your phone and you bring it close to the HomePod to transfer what is playing. It is separate from the AirPlay feature where you start content playing on your device and then select what speakers it should play to. I suspect what you're seeing is an automatic optimization of AirPlay when the content that is being played can be accessed directly by HomePod from source instead of being transmitted first to your iPhone and then from that to your HomePod. This will save battery life on your Phone and reduce Wi-Fi traffic on your network. See Remote control for HomePod, not using AirPlay - Apple Community for details of how to control the HomePod once this has happened.

tt2

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Audio transfer to HomePod

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