HomePod mini without wifi

A Wi-Fi connection to the Internet is required to set up and configure HomePod. Once that it is done it is possible to configure HomePod for peer-to-peer AirPlay connections that can work independently of Wi-Fi.

Home app > Home Settings > Allow Speaker & TV Access > Everyone

tt2

For me, when I turn off wifi neither my big HomePods nor my HomePod minis show on my AirPlay list, even with Allow Speaker & TV Access set to Everyone. Which is odd seeing it’s worked for others for the big HomePods. I do see my Apple TV and can successfully AirPlay to it.

I think I have the answer. Namely yes, you can AirPlay to HomePods with out a wi-fi connection, but only to one HomePod at a time.

A web search brings up several articles saying that it can be done. For example:

https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/homepod-no-wifi-3689756/

However, in my testing with HomePods and HomePods minis alike, only those not set up as a stereo pair would show on my AirPlay list. And I could only play to one speaker at a time - so for example if it was playing to speaker A, and I then selected speaker B, it would move the audio to HomePod B, not play to them both at once.

Dear Turingtest2, any update on this problem already?

I want to buy a HomePod Mini to use during my Holidays in my Hotel Room and I don't want to be dependent of the Hotel Wifi for it.

Hope you can help.

I think wifi needs to be turned on as the iPhone and HomePod communicate with each other directly using wifi (i.e. not via a wifi router).

In my testing I did have our wifi router turned off to ensure it was playing no part in the setup.

Ah, interesting. I must admit I do remember finding I couldn't get peer-to-peer AirPlay working with my mini's at one point but my most recent test was with my full size HomePods and there I was able to turn off my router and use the HomePods even after a power cycle. I've assumed behaviour would be the same. I'll test my minis again when I can.

tt2

I have the same experience as you. I have 4 HomePods/hubs inside, and one outside. The outside HomePod loses wifi connection when the door to the house is closed… and drops from the AirPlay list. It only appears in the list if wifi is connected/available. I have my Home settings correct as described, too.

This does not appear to be the case for the mini.

My regular HomePod will show up without a WiFi connection, but my mini drops off the list.

Ok, i will give it a try. Though I think this part is confusing: "make sure you have WiFi switched on" but I suppose it doesn't mean you NEED a WiFi Connection. Just have it switched on.

no, it only use bluetooth to be setup by an iphone after that everything is wifi

and it does not have a wired ethernet connector.

That would be awesome. I was just about to factory reset my mini to keep testing, unsure if it’s my product or not.

They're in my office at work right now, but I'll bring them home tomorrow so I can do some detailed experiments where I can more easily disrupt the Wi-Fi network.

tt2

Thank you. Mine were set as stereo pairs. I hadn't thought to split them.

tt2