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User profile for user: donthavetimeforusername
donthavetimeforusername Author
User level: Level 1
18 points

HomePod problem pairing Apple TV

Dear Apple Support Team and apple fans,


I am encountering a significant issue with pairing my HomePod Mini with my Apple TV. Despite multiple attempts, I have been unable to establish a connection between the two devices, even though they are both operating within the same 5GHz WiFi range and are connected to the same Apple ID.


Here are the steps I've taken so far:


1. I have attempted to restore both my Apple TV and HomePod Mini.

2. I have also reset my WiFi router to ensure all devices are on the same network.

3. Both my HomePod Mini and Apple TV are updated to the latest software versions:

   - HomePod mini: 17.4 (21L227)

   - Apple TV 4K: 17.4 (21L227)


Despite these efforts, I continue to receive the following error message when attempting to connect: "AirPlay Connection to HomePod Failed. You can switch to your TV speakers in Settings."


I have researched this issue extensively and have not been able to find a solution. Can you please provide guidance on how to resolve this problem? 


Thank you for your assistance.


More info : the HomePod and the tv are set in the same room in home app setting 


HomePod mini

Posted on Mar 19, 2024 10:05 AM

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User profile for user: bgmeek
bgmeek
User level: Level 4
1,207 points

Posted on Mar 19, 2024 2:24 PM

Your reference to 5Ghz wifi and phrasing of #2 lead me to believe you've got a modern "mesh" type WiFi setup.


Your iPhone, starting with iOS 14 by default, uses a "fake" random WiFi hardware address when it joins a new SSID, then uses the same fake hardware address whenever it connects to that SSID. This is Apple's "Private Wi-Fi Address" 'feature' (actually a 'solution in search of a problem'). I believe the HomePod (v17.4) still suffers from a bug that copies this Private Wi-Fi Address = ON setting along with the rest of the network settings it receives via the iPhone that set it up. Sadly, the HomePod keeps using new random hardware addresses with each reboot, and all peers get confused for a while.


AirPlay will usually be the ONLY thing that works, if the HomePod truly is on the same network as the ATV4K, since it is a simple broadcast & connect protocol. I suspect your devices are actually on different mesh nodes, and the router's confused with phantom hardware addresses.


So, on your iPhone, Settings > Wi-Fi > [SSID of HomePod & ATV4K] (i)nfo > Private Wi-Fi Address = OFF. Ignore Apple's bogus "Privacy Warning". Reboot your iPhone and all your WiFi infrastructure, then do a hard reset on your HomePod mini before setting it up with your WiFi-reconfigured iPhone. The HomePod should remain connected and behave as designed henceforth.

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User profile for user: bgmeek
bgmeek
User level: Level 4
1,207 points

Mar 19, 2024 2:24 PM in response to donthavetimeforusername

Your reference to 5Ghz wifi and phrasing of #2 lead me to believe you've got a modern "mesh" type WiFi setup.


Your iPhone, starting with iOS 14 by default, uses a "fake" random WiFi hardware address when it joins a new SSID, then uses the same fake hardware address whenever it connects to that SSID. This is Apple's "Private Wi-Fi Address" 'feature' (actually a 'solution in search of a problem'). I believe the HomePod (v17.4) still suffers from a bug that copies this Private Wi-Fi Address = ON setting along with the rest of the network settings it receives via the iPhone that set it up. Sadly, the HomePod keeps using new random hardware addresses with each reboot, and all peers get confused for a while.


AirPlay will usually be the ONLY thing that works, if the HomePod truly is on the same network as the ATV4K, since it is a simple broadcast & connect protocol. I suspect your devices are actually on different mesh nodes, and the router's confused with phantom hardware addresses.


So, on your iPhone, Settings > Wi-Fi > [SSID of HomePod & ATV4K] (i)nfo > Private Wi-Fi Address = OFF. Ignore Apple's bogus "Privacy Warning". Reboot your iPhone and all your WiFi infrastructure, then do a hard reset on your HomePod mini before setting it up with your WiFi-reconfigured iPhone. The HomePod should remain connected and behave as designed henceforth.

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User profile for user: bgmeek
bgmeek
User level: Level 4
1,207 points

Mar 23, 2024 1:41 PM in response to donthavetimeforusername

Sorry, I should've been more specific than "hard reset" your HomePods. I meant to "Reset HomePod or HomePod mini to factory settings". The HomePods need to forget everything about your network and be reconfigured or "Setup" using your iPhone that has "Private Wi-Fi Address" turned off on your [HomePod] network SSID.


Restarting the bug-infected HomePod, as you did, fixes nothing.


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User profile for user: donthavetimeforusername
donthavetimeforusername Author
User level: Level 1
18 points

Mar 23, 2024 10:29 AM in response to bgmeek

Firstly, thank you for taking the time to read my message and thank you for the information.


I disabled the private wifi address on my iPhone.

I restarted my iPhone.

I restarted the wifi router.

I reset one HomePod through the Home app (the other one I completely unplugged).


And it’s still the same story and the same error message I receive on the Apple TV.


Knowing that during the setup of the HomePod mini, I accepted all the settings, voice recognition, setting the HomePod as a TV speaker, etc.


I also tried to reset the HomePod by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then plugging it back in for 10 seconds, then pressing until I heard the three beeps.


It’s the same, I get the same message on the TV. And yet, in the audio settings of the Apple TV, it’s marked as connected to the pair of HomePod mini.


It’s been almost a year since my HomePods were working fine, then suddenly, for the past 4 or 5 days, I’ve had this bug.


For context, my router is a relay router, the main return is an ADSL router, it’s the one that receives the internet data and transmits it to another router and mine. This is my routeur https://www.tunisianet.com.tn/switch-routeurs-point-d-acces/53349-routeur-sans-fil-xiaomi-4a-blanc.html


As you said, AirPlay works so I was able to connect the two HomePod minis to the TV in temporary audio output mode. By manually disabling them through this manipulation:


Home app -> Apple TV -> Settings -> Default audio output -> (choose) TV speaker



Then on the Apple TV, long press on the Home button of the Siri Remote -> Audio and I select the pair of Home, but it only works when multimedia content is playing.


Otherwise, another weird thing:




When HomePod minis are selected as a tv speaker by default and When I increase the volume on the Siri Remote, there’s a delay of 4 to 8 seconds before the volume icon increases on the screen, the same when I decrease the volume, it’s very strange. I’ll post a video on YouTube and I’ll put the link here.


Video link : https://youtube.com/shorts/N1afo1GipYY?si=4JbrwXfs817JCDCe

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HomePod problem pairing Apple TV

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