Music from iPhone will only play to an ATV or Homepod... not both? Huh?

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Music from iPhone will only play to an ATV or Homepod... not both? Huh?

Just got my first Homepod. It's an impressive speaker, especially the natural bass presence. I think a pair of these set up in stereo would sound fantastic.

The problem: I currently have 2 ATV's working in the house. One is connected to my TV via a standard stereo amplifier in my "living room", the other is acting as a music only (no TV) in my "study" through a stereo amplifier as well. I stream music to both from either the Mac's iTunes or from an iPhone 12 Pro. That all works fine. With the Homepod now set up, if I am streaming through iTunes, I can select either or both ATV's and the Homepod as well. They all play at the same time. With the iPhone however, I can only play to the ATV's or the Homepod... not both. My intention was to add another music source in another part of the house.

Why won't the Homepod and ATV's play together when streaming from the iPhone... but they will when streaming from the Mac and iTunes?

Thanks!

iPhone 5s, iOS 12

Posted on Feb 27, 2021 4:37 PM

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Answer 1

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Chametzoo Author

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Feb 28, 2021 4:02 PM in response to Chametzoo

Hi again... It seems that my Homepod was requesting a software update, so I downloaded it this morning. After that, my original issue of the ATV's and Homepod not wanting to share streaming from my iPhone is solved. I can now select any combination of the 2 ATV's and 1 Homepod to stream any content from the iPhone along with independent volume control. So, I believe my original set up issue has been solved. Happy ending. Thanks.

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Answer 2

Feb 27, 2021 11:36 PM in response to Chametzoo

If you have set a Homepod as a default speaker for an ATV 4K (eg home theatre) then that Homepod is mostly no longer available for Airplay from other devices. You can only use it via the ATV. Frustrating but that is how Apple has done it. Not sure why it works with a Mac - count your blessings! :)

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Answer 3

Chametzoo Author

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72 points

Feb 28, 2021 8:53 AM in response to Michael Paine

Thank you Michael...

I'll add that I am not using the Homepod as an ATV (non 4K)/home theater speaker. It's just another destination for music. The two ATV's I described are both connected to standard stereo amplifiers with their own stereo speakers. Perhaps I inadvertently have the Homepod configured as an ATV default speaker and that is preventing me from selecting it (along with ATV's) from the iPhone.

Is there a way to check that configuration you are talking about (Homepod as default speaker to an ATV)? Much appreciated if you can advise on that. In the meantime, I'll look around the Home App on the iPhone, which I believe is where many of the Homepod settings are.

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Music from iPhone will only play to an ATV or Homepod... not both? Huh?

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