Static and crackling sound on HomePod Mini

Mine has magically quit having the static sound. I did report it to Apple via the feedback email address.

This is affecting all 4 of my HomePod minis. Since updating, I have to constantly restart my HomePods because they are crackling and out of sync with each other. This is horrible

Sure enough the static started a few hours after posting that I hadn’t had any static for 4 days.

I even downloaded and installed the newest iOS available on all of my HomePods, I have seven of them had no static for a day thought. Awesome It’s fixed !! Nothing but static today!!!!

It’s interesting to me that it doesn’t happen on every HomePod. I have two minis and it happens on one, but not the other.

Amazing Apple has yet to release a bug fix update for this AirPlay problem!

Well at least I’m not crazy alone. C’mon Apple. Fess up and fix this.

This also has started - specifically with audio from Spotify - on one of my two original HomePods. Running iOS 18 most recent releases across the board as of 10/27/24.

I’m in the process of updating my HomePods right now and hope it solves this issue for all of us. The crackling was so bad I thought it was going to do damage to the units that I have in the kitchen. Thanks all!

Same for me on HomePods (minis and regular) after installing iOS 18. Crackling and even just had music get stuck on a skipping sound like it used to do when listening to a CD. This is happening when playing Apple Music.

I've tried resetting them all, still get the random static. I'm gonna start tracking the time and date next few times it crackles. Wouldn't it be interesting if we all experienced it at the same time? Like it's not internal but from the source?? Hmmm?

Statics, crackling, single Homepods disconnecting randomly, sometimes last chunk of audio is stuck in a permanent loop (0.25 sec)…

this is really annoying.

in my setup i have 5 Homepod Mini and 1 Belkin Soundform Connect.

music is played via iphone 13. all on newest firmware.

Network is AVM Fritz Mesh. Newest hard-/firmware.

In addition to the Airplay/Homepod problems the Iphone regularely disconnects from Wifi.

AVM knows the problem but passes it on to Apple. - no solution for several Updates even major OS updates).

so i guess its time to switch back to good old FM Transmitter/Receiver for seamless multiroom audio. - welcome to the future (2024)

Same happens to my 3 Homepod Minis.

Not all of them have crackling at the same time, but each one for itself. It sounds like a record with a scratchy needle.

There are also short interruptions when listening to Apple Music or Spotify.

I've tried all possible scenarios for the WiFi. Regardless of whether it's frequency bands or anything else.

Running 18.0.1

You can always restart by unplugging it for 10 seconds.

You can also try the hard reset method with the additional step of unplugging for over 24 hours first

Then plug back in and proceed as follows:

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 and hold your finger to the top of HomePod.
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.

After you reset HomePod, you can set up HomePod again.

Reset HomePod or HomePod mini - Apple Support

Thank you., @AppSmack, I think that your reference to the problem starting with OS17.1 may not refer to the same issue. For several versions back, music would play out of sync, pop/honk or not play at all. This seemed to happen where there was a 2.4ghz and 5ghz network with the same SSID. I moved all of my 2.4ghz devices to a separate network and the problem went away at both of my locations. This was at least for OS16 if not before.