HomePod won't factory reset

I keep hearing that 17.1 broke some of the HomePods. Isn't there some kind of responsibilities from Apple on this matter ? I had to buy a brand new one to regain control of my home. I unplugged mine for weeks, replugged it and nothing happened.

I just wanna say I’m really unhappy and unsatisfied with my home pod.

Finally...your solution worked. I have had the same problem for about six months. I tried EVERYTHING. Your post is the first one (at least that I found) that says to "wait 10 seconds before touching your finger to HomePod." That is critical, and it finally worked. Thank you turingtest2!

Yes.. 17 update bricked my HomePod 1. Took it to Apple Store plus hours on the phone. Apple insist it’s an hardware issue. Problem that I told them is how would anyone know it’s an hardware issue if no one opened up.

It’s 1/15/24 still waiting on two Apple reps to return with update.

good luck

Unfortunately that didn't work for me - tried the cycle many times

Well it is a hardware issue to some degree - it's just that it's in combination with software. Apparently some devs and QA testers didn't do their due diligence to make sure the software update works with the older hardware (unless there are people with 2023 homepods that are also getting bricked, in which case who knows, but I didn't see any reported here).

Unfortunately there's nothing that can be done because there's no way to update the homepod without having internet access, and it can't get access without starting up properly. You'd have to send it in for repairs, but that costs almost $300 unless you have applecare still active on it. So the best bet is for Apple to come clean, admit they messed up, and compensate those of us who got screwed.

Did you follow the process exactly as stated here? Reset HomePod or HomePod mini - Apple Support:

Reset HomePod or HomePod mini

1. Unplug HomePod or unplug the power adapter for HomePod mini. Wait 10 seconds, then plug HomePod back in.
2. Wait 10 seconds, then touch your finger to the top of HomePod and hold it there.
3. The white spinning light will turn red. Keep your finger down. 
4. Siri will say that your HomePod is about to reset. When you hear three beeps, you can lift your finger.

tt2

Mine has almost the same problem (and it's NEVER worked well - in the past Siri would "answer" when I'm not talking to it, wouldn't find playlists sometimes, and now this). First gen. Volume lights flash like every 10 secs. I removed it from the Home app and unplugged it. When I plug it back in and tap and hold on the white light, it turns red but then does nothing. Volume lights begin flashing again and Siri never says anything. I've tried this multiple times. Such a piece of garbage. Apple software in general has gone to **** in the last 10 years.

Wow. Took it to the store, and they won't/can't do a **** thing (unless I have them send it out for repairs, which would cost the same as a new one). It's basically become an expensive paperweight unless Apple comes clean and offers to compensate/replace. 🖕🍎

I’ve been successful with factory resetting 4~5 times over past 4 years. This time nothing after following procedure explicitly. …unplug, replug, 10 secs, white light, red light, finger, 3 beeps ….(hopeful) then nothing. So after Homewood knew all my contacts, podcast preferences, directions, which shops I use plus listened to all our conversations, it’s got enough out of me so nothing left but to self imploded. kcuf!

I think they’re wired to expire after a certain time, or after a certain amount of resets. Home environment same, haven’t given it any extra tasks. An observation : noticed lately it wasn’t able to connect to internet even though every other device can. I can only think it’s fatiguing, Apple’s way of saying “buy our next model” ❤️‍🩹 + 😖🤬😡

I like the six that I have that work. Less impressed with the one that died, but such is life. Use Feedback - HomePod - Apple to share your thoughts with Apple.

tt2

Same issue here. It stopped responding and it kept trying to install 7.2, I decided to reset to factory settings and it didn’t work. Also just tje red light flashing forever and there is nothing I can do. Technically, it for sure is fine, don’t want to replace it just because of some stupid software bug.

This problem kicked my *** for a while. Below is a paste from a TuringTest2 post above. The 10 second thing after plugging in was clutch:

Reset HomePod or HomePod mini

1. Unplug HomePod or unplug the power adapter for HomePod mini. Wait 10 seconds, then plug HomePod back in.
2. Wait 10 seconds, then touch your finger to the top of HomePod and hold it there.
3. The white spinning light will turn red. Keep your finger down. 
4. Siri will say that your HomePod is about to reset. When you hear three beeps, you can lift your finger.

This problem kicked my *** for a while. Below is a paste from a TuringTest2 post above. The 10 second thing after plugging in was clutch:

Reset HomePod or HomePod mini

1. Unplug HomePod or unplug the power adapter for HomePod mini. Wait 10 seconds, then plug HomePod back in.
2. Wait 10 seconds, then touch your finger to the top of HomePod and hold it there.
3. The white spinning light will turn red. Keep your finger down. 
4. Siri will say that your HomePod is about to reset. When you hear three beeps, you can lift your finger.

Actually, I was able to rest them back to factory reset. And believe it or not they returned back to life.

I did everything that you mentioned but, I reset my Home settings, I reset my Apple Tv, and they finally started talking like they were a family again. Good Luck!