Airplay not working with HomePod Mini

Update: The hand-off feature has been working flawlessly so far. However, Siri shortcuts don't always work very well. Sometimes it gives an error by saying that the phone may not be connected to the same network as the homepod ( even though i can use the homepod using hand-off / Airplay)

I had the same issue, and it seems the setup was never quite finished. I tried connecting two speakers into stereo mode. It took a long time to get them to work. I too have a mesh network, like some of you. I had to reset the speakers six or seven times until I got it right. Eventually I got it to work though.

This is what failed: setting up both speakers in stereo config using default naming in one go. The failed setup resulted in many different strange phenomena, such as just one speaker sounding, handover working with just one speaker and even sound progress bar moving on the device connected to the speakers but no sound at all playing.

What eventually worked for me was setting them up, one by one. Not adding the stereo option to begin with, but making them separate speakers. I also renamed them as separate names (homepod mini 1 and HomePod mini 2), and chose a new ew name for the room to add them to. After that was done, I joined them in stereo mode and renamed the connected pair to a third name (stereopod). The first time, joining them got stuck and never completed. I disjoined them using the setting in the home app, didn’t reset anything at that time but just tried to stereo-couple them again, and the second time it worked. They were joined in stereo mode. Handover worked to both of them. Sending audio from a Mac worked - as did all else.

Really frustrating, but I think the setup process is vulnerable to some kind of network hiccup. It waits to complete some kind of setup, handshake process, and if that is somehow disturbed, the process takes a long time or sim0ly won’t finish.

From theories in this forum, I had a look at my mesh network logs and my routers logs to make sure nothing was blocked there, which was a real possibility since I run an IPS/IDS. Nothing though. So I think it is all in the speakers and Apples chosen method of setting them up or sign off to Apples‘s servers or something. Most likely a buggy, unstable or (at least) not idiot proof enough implementation. Yet.

Hope this helps someone else.

I also experiencing the same issue with my HomePod many. At first when I receive the HomePod I start having more issues than AirPlay. I’ve called Apple and spent a few days trying to resolve the issue the outcome is that Apple sent me a brand new device. Unfortunately the second HomePod mini has the same issue with airplay, cannot send airplay from my devices to HomePod mini. Apple advisor told me that they are experiencing technical issues with airplay on the specifically homepod mini and they are working to resolve this issue on a next firmware update. It’s been two weeks and I have not seen any firmware updates, as of right now I’m still having this issue where AirPlay is not working on HomePod mini.

I also contacted Apple technical support and reset it my HomePod mini about five times at least and no good results came from it. Apple already sent me a brand new device and I’m still having the same issue. Apple senior advisor told me that they are working on this issue, hopefully will be fixed in the next upcoming firmware update.

None of my issues sorted with the connection issues despite doing everything the apple tech guy told me to do: reset pods, reboot router, remove devices. Last resort they asked how I set up my phone as just upgraded from 11max to 12 max. I said transferred from old phone. Asked me to wipe phone and set up but not from a back up? I did this and they worked fine. But I had lost everything and all passwords which I could not afford to do. So wiped phone and rebooted and restored from iCloud back up and problems returned. So back to square one with an awful lot of trouble. Clearly there is an ongoing issue here.

I got the same issue, keep getting “can’t connect to AirPlay” even though my airplay TV works fine. Once it works it works but it seems after some time of not being used the homepod just goes into sleep mode with connecting to it doesn’t wake it up.

Thanks Linda! Did you remove the Homepod mini from your Apple ID list and then Sign out and sign into your apple ID ? And then did you have to set up the homepod mini with your phone again ?

I can confirm that this method worked for me too! Thanks @ LindaBu

If you got a new phone after you set up your HomePod minis, it would be best to Reset the HomePods back to factory settings; Ungroup them first, then reset. Then Set up again with your new phone.