HomePod won't factory reset

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.

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!

1.) Finally tried unplugging it for at least 24 hours (not sure what this does), then plugged in and added as new. Worked fine ever since.

2.) Another that was within warrantee; sent in for factory check and they replaced it free of charge.

3.) Yet another one that wouldn't work outside of warrantee period, but after taking it into the local Apple store it was found to be defective and Apple replaced it free of charge.

Note:, after owning about 10 of these, the remaining 8 have been trouble free for at a few months now.

home pod is usually set to automatically UPDATE . However after the 17.1 update recently older pods won't reset using unplugging and pressing. It will only respond to a point then flash the volume up and down .

resolve by repeating: unplug 10 sec. Plug in press until you have a white then red light . Stop 🛑 and unplug plug in and press after 10 and the pod will connect long enough to go into home app and press update. Repeat this process until the pod no longer says downloading then installing. It took me 5 restarts to the white / rainbow light to achieve the update .

leave it unplugged for a full 24 hours. Then plug it back in. This works every time; not sure why but it worked for me. Everything done in less time than that was nothing but frustration.

Leaving the HomePod mini unplugged overnight, and then attempting a reset per the instructions has worked today. No more bricked magic 8 ball

You may have to wait 30 seconds or more for the three beeps sound after holding down your finger on red. Be patient. Reset takes some time.

Have you tried leaving it unplugged for 24 hours? I had the same frustration, until the Pod was left cold and dormant for 24 hours, then like magic it works again, flawlessly.

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

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!

Has anyone tried resetting their home router? That has worked for me.

there was another pod that wouldn't reset, out of the dozen or so I own. Took it to an Apple store, it was two years old, they took it in the backroom, maybe tested, maybe did nothing, I don't know, but they replaced it, free of charge, no questions asked. the other 11 pods drop out sometimes, but it's typically related to the wi-fi router, or internet modem getting buggy, and needing a firmware update coincidently. It's 2024 for god sakes, all of this equipment should update and restart autonomously by now! I've used Apple products since 1984, and the newer hardware seems more problematic than the 40 year old stuff ever was, but it's typically internet connectivity related.... the connection hardware for internet access needs to evolve dramatically. The providers tell me modems get bloated with crap, and need hard reboots, if that's the case then software should hard reboot for us and not wait for failure to manually need to do this on a Saturday night trying to watch a movie and losing 2 hours figuring it out.

It took me a few hours of just going back and forth with re-connecting and dis-connecting the HomePod but it did eventually connected. I use use my HomePods as my TV, Music speakers so they're used EVERY single day. Just be patient and wait, unplug re-plug until it finally reboots and the you hear 3 beeps.

If you get stuck in the process resetting Home app, Appletv, and keeping the HomePod off for 12 hours worked to force HomePod to reset.