Unable to set HomePods mini as Apple TV 4K default audio output

I have had issues with AppleTV 4K with Ethernet (purchased 2023) and a pair of HomePods (2023)

After changing my AppleID Password and removing all of my devices from iCloud I could not configure the HomePods until I did the following steps. The testing protocol listed below also ensures that all of your logins are complete and that the HomePods and AppleTV 4K are mutually aware of each other.

Reset AppleTV 4K and HomePods

To reconfigure an AppleTV 4K and a pair of HomePods Logout of each user that is signed into the AppleTV. In the Home app on your iPhone, disconnect the HomePods.

Connect to Apple TV 4K

Make sure both HomePods and Apple TV 4K are on the same WiFi network.

Move your iPhone close to the AppleTV 4K and sign in.

Complete all of the sign in steps.

Reset HomePods and Connect iPhone to the HomePods

Make sure both HomePods and Apple TV 4K are on the same WiFi network.

Reset the HomePods by holding the top button until it turns red and says it is resetting the device.

Move your iPhone close to the HomePods and complete sign in.

Use Home app to add AppleTV 4k and HomePods to the same room

Make sure both HomePods and Apple TV 4K are on the same WiFi network.

Open Home App on iPhone

Put AppleTV 4k and HomePods in the same room

Add the HomePods as the default output for the Apple TV 4K.

(This is changed in one of the tests below)

To ensure that each of the devices are completely setup perform the following tests.

Apple TV 4K and HomePod Testing protocol

AppleCare 2023-05-18 (Thomas)

Recommendation on HomePod and Apple TV 4K.

Existing Equipment tested

iPhone 11 Pro Max (First)

iPhone 13 Pro Max (iP - Second)

iPad Pro (5th Generation) (First)

iPad Pro (5th Generation) (Second iPad Pro)

Six Tests to prove that the HomePod and the AppleTV 4K are properly configured

Purpose: Most complex test:

Prove that user has account properly setup for Voice to HomePod to control the AppleTV

Have customer say these commands

Hey Siri: Turn on the Apple TV

Hey Siri: Turn off the Apple TV

Hey Siri: Start Netflix on the AppleTV

Hey Siri: What are my appointments?

Purpose: Control AppleTV from Siri on HomePod

Prove that AppleTV 4K is logged in and sending sound to pair of HomePods using default speaker output.  Proves that a AppleTV 4K and HomePods are assigned the same room in the Home app on the iPhone and iPad.

Have customer Use Siri and AppleTV Remote Controller to do these steps:

Setup HomePod to be default speaker for AppleTV

Play TV or Movie on Netflix on AppleTV with sound coming out of the Speaker

Purpose: Broadcast Music to HomePod using touch to move sound back and forth to iPhone again

Prove that iPhone can move Music being played on iPhone to HomePod and back. Do this test on each of the pair of HomePods on each iPhone.

Have Customer play song on iPhone

Approach and touch phone to one of the pair of HomePods

Hear music on HomePods

Have Customer touch their iPhone to HomePod

Click “Transfer to iPhone” on pop up display

Purpose: Broadcast sound but not video from a video iPhone or iPad to a HomePod pair

Prove that video with sound can play just sound from iPad and iPhone on HomePods - test each iPad and iPhone performing this test. Failed test if Video itself plays on the AppleTV.  The HomePods must not be attached to the AppleTV as default speakers to make this work . We want just the audio playing on the remote speakers.  The video continues playing on the device.

Start video with Sound on iPhone or iPad

Ensure that Home app does not have HomePods as default audio output, use TV audio instead.

Open Control Center, 

Select the Music playing on the iPad (typically in the upper left corner of the Control Center)

Click on the AirPlay icon - Three rainbows offer a triangle at the bottom

Select Speakers & TVs section - the room with the HomePod and TV label

Hear music play on the HomePod

In ATV. Settings - users & accounts - default user - sign out of iCloud account, restart ATV, once restarted sign back in and set up airplay & Homekit again - make sure the ATV is assigned to the same room as the HomePods & using the same wifi network.

Apple appears to have a self-inflicted bug in HomePod minis (and likely the HomePod 2) relating the "Private Wi-Fi Address" feature introduced with iOS 14. When a HomePod is setup using an iPhone with the Private Wi-Fi Address feature turned ON for the new HomePod's WiFi network (the default setting), the WiFi settings (password, etc) are transferred to HomePod, causing the HomePod to use a new WiFi hardware address with every reboot. This is particularly problematic on WiFi mesh setups.

The fix is to turn the Private Wi-Fi Address feature OFF for your WiFi network on your iPhone(s), then remove your HomePods from the Home app, do a hard reset of your HomePods, and configure them again using your iPhone with the new WiFi settings. For good measure, reboot the rest of your Apple devices and your WiFi infrastructure as well.

Note: when you turn Private Wi-Fi Address OFF for your home network, you'll see a "Privacy Warning" label under your home network's name. You can safely ignore this assertion (please do search the global Internet for any justification for this warning - for any example of device hardware address tracking across different WiFi networks).

BTW, before doing this, let me know if you're able to use the HomePods from the ATV4K as temporary speakers via AirPlay - I suspect that AirPlay speakers' broadcasting their availability will allow your ATV4K to see them outside of the Home app and connect. This might somehow update their location/WiFi address in the home app and allow you to set them up as default output (until they're rebooted again and they make up a new WiFi address :-).

Is there a section specifically for HomePod MINIs??? I spent almost $300 CDN for a totally useless pair of HomePod Minis that I was initially lead to believe were bluetooth (which is what I had wanted but it was not meant to be - bluetooth is used for part of the set-up, I gather, but that's it). Then I found out they don't even carry Dolby Atmos. Finally, despite spending hour after hour with Apple Tech Support plus all the troubleshooting info I could find, NOTHING will allow these Minis to work. The only other possibility I can think of is that I use an Ethernet cable to connect to my Apple TV 4K but the speakers, of course, do not as they are wireless. Does anyone think this may be the problem as the Apple TV 4K is, in a sense, not using the same wireless configuration as the speakers are?? The detailed post (loved it!) by The White Rabbit touches on this with the following comment on May 23, 2023: "Connect to Apple TV 4K

Make sure both HomePods and Apple TV 4K are on the same WiFi network." Being on "the same WiFi network" is mentioned a second time. The devices are connected to the same internet provider, although in different ways, i.e., the Apple TV 4K uses the Ethernet cable while the Minis are supposed to be "on the same WiFi network." White Rabbit starts this post with the following: "I have had issues with AppleTV 4K with Ethernet (purchased 2023) and a pair of HomePods (2023)." But partly because the post refers to Apple HomePods and I have the HomePod Minis, I can't tell whether these posts are relevant to my situation??

Sorry for the delay - I did not see the reply until I searched for my previous post.

[Is there a way to get notified on each thread that you post on?)

I can walk up to the HomePod when I am done with the process and move Music playing on the Phone to and from the HomePod. Is that the AirPlay operation you refer to in the last paragraph? As I recall iPad does not have that feature, some how.

It is possible to have HomePod just be speakers - not attached to AppleTV home theater speakers, and switch that back and forth.