iTunes Match not working with Home Pod under 16.2

Question

iTunes Match not working with Home Pod under 16.2

I've used iTunes Match for years. I've never purchased music from Apple. It's worked fine to sync with all my Apple devices including my HomePods until I installed IOS 16.2. All my Apple devices are current. I updated everything on the same day, then noticed the Home Pod problem. I can access my Music Library from all my other devices (iMac, MacBook Pro, iPad, iPhone). Now I get the message on all my Home Pods that Siri can't find whatever I ask for in my Music Library (which consists solely of my synced music through iTunes Match). I've done all the usual things (restart / reset HomePods, etc.) to no avail. All devices are on the same WiFi and are signed in using the same Apple ID.

I spent several hours on the phone with Apple Support this morning into the afternoon spending most of my time trying to convince the Senior Advisor that I didn't need a Apple Music subscription to access my Apple Music library using Siri on my Home Pods. He claimed he could find no other reported problems with these symptoms.The Senior Advisor finally seemed to understand and said he'd send the issue to Engineering.

But I have a suspicion (hope?) that there might be some setting change and/or reset process that would get the linkage working again. If not, then it would appear to be an iOS 16 bug.

Has anyone else had this problem and, if so, have any solutions been found?

Thank you!

HomePod, 16

Posted on Dec 27, 2022 12:03 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

apple2extremes

Level 1

23 points

Dec 29, 2022 8:44 PM in response to Retired_in_Florida

This may help. Specify “from my iTunes library” after your song name request. I’ve noticed since 16.2 that my HomePods think I have Apple Music when I don’t, so every request follows with “I’m sorry I couldn’t find that in your Apple Music library”, well Siri, you won’t, as I don’t have an Apple Music library. Also I used to be able to say “play classic FM” and it would play our countries classic FM radio, but now I “have” to specify “radio station” after my request. Seems Siri got dumb and now won’t do the leg work for you unless you tell it where you want it to play from. This is ridiculous and requires some kind of setting to tell Siri I don’t have Apple Music so to ignore checking Apple Music for my requests. Hope that is a temporary fix for you.

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

278,199 points

Dec 28, 2022 1:45 PM in response to Retired_in_Florida

iTunes Match has often failed to work when the Recognize My Voice feature is enabled (see Set up voice recognition on HomePod mini or HomePod - Apple Support) that allows multiple Apple Music users to access their accounts on a single HomePod. This option may have been activated by default during the update. Turn it off, or if it is already off turn it on, then turn it off again.

tt2

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Answer 3

turingtest2

Level 10

278,199 points

Dec 29, 2022 9:22 AM in response to Retired_in_Florida

Home app (on the iPhone/Device that you set up the HomePod with) > Long press on HomePod > Accessory Details > Scroll down to Music and Podcasts > Primary User > Sign out, sign in again.

tt2

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Answer 4

turingtest2

Level 10

278,199 points

Dec 29, 2022 8:36 AM in response to Retired_in_Florida

It may be an issue with iTunes Match and iOS 16.2. Apple have really engineered HomePod around Apple Music and while it has worked with iTunes Match it doesn't seem to be seamless. Both use iCloud Music Library so you would think it would be the same. I have Apple Music so I cannot check to see how an iTunes Match currently behaves.

Have you tried signing out of your Apple ID for music and podcasts again? Might be worth another shot.

Home app > Long press on HomePod > Accessory Details > Scroll down to Music and Podcasts > Primary User > Sign out, sign in again.

tt2

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Answer 5

Dec 28, 2022 4:31 PM in response to turingtest2

Thanks very much for your response. I tried what you suggested (as best as I could follow the instructions on the link). Recognize My Voice was off so I turned it on and then off). Nothing changed.

By way of an update, I was told by the last of the seven (7!) advisors I spoke to was that the problem was my iPhone (!). He told me to back up my content, restore the iPhone to factory settings, and restore my content. I did that today. No change in the behavior of my Home Pods. I have another phone call scheduled for tomorrow morning.

I did determine that this issue has nothing to do with iTunes Match since my Home Pods with not recognize and play any of the limited number of Apple purchased songs or albums that I obtained from Apple. I continue to suspect that there is something wrong with the IOS 16.2 update or something wrong with my settings.

Any additional suggestions more than welcome.

Thanks again!

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Answer 6

turingtest2

Level 10

278,199 points

Dec 29, 2022 8:15 AM in response to Retired_in_Florida

See Remote control for HomePod, not using AirPlay - Apple Community. While Siri might have trouble accessing your music, is the Music app on your phone able to select and play tracks for you?

tt2

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Answer 7

turingtest2

Level 10

278,199 points

Dec 29, 2022 10:37 AM in response to Retired_in_Florida

At least you should still be able to control things via the Music app. Use Feedback - HomePod - Apple to share what is happening with Apple or follow up with support.

tt2

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Answer 8

Dec 29, 2022 8:26 AM in response to turingtest2

Yes! I didn't even know that capability existed. So does that lead you to a better understanding of what's going on? Apple Support is supposed to be calling me any moment (supposedly "around 11AM"). So far, none of the 7 people I've talked to at Apple had asked me to try what you just did. Thanks!

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Answer 9

Dec 29, 2022 8:39 AM in response to turingtest2

Well, one of the better Apple support people asked me to see if Siri would find and play one of my Apple purchased songs. I had forgotten I had some of those. But he helped me find they and so I tried to get Siri to play a purchased song. It would not! So contrary to my original description of the problem, Siri won't find any music for me in

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