HomePod mini automatically upgraded to audioOS 26.2 but is unable to downgrade, because Apple unsigned older versions of audioOS ipsw.
When I found the system was updated after first pairing, and turned off auto update, it was too late.
I'm worring about OS interoperability between Apple devices, some are 16.x, some are 18.x, and some are 26.x.
HomePod mini
thats how it work with all devices with ios, if no longer signed then you can't install it, it's much much cheaper for software companys to have all users running the latests software version in terms of support. It's not new it's how it have always been, not with macOS though
you can complain about it to them using their feedback channels Product Feedback - Apple
or complain to their official support channels by using
And or
Contact - Official Apple Support
And or
Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple
Or
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
thats how it work with all devices with ios, if no longer signed then you can't install it, it's much much cheaper for software companys to have all users running the latests software version in terms of support. It's not new it's how it have always been, not with macOS though
you can complain about it to them using their feedback channels Product Feedback - Apple
or complain to their official support channels by using
And or
Contact - Official Apple Support
And or
Contact - How to Contact Us - Apple
Or
Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple
I’ve not met any compatibility issues with audioOS 26 or other recent audioOS versions, nor any regressions, and the recent audioOS updates have fixed some annoying bugs. That’s with a mix of versions and platforms, and non-trivial networking.
Apple wants to continue to sell their music rentals too, so they have incentive to maintain cross-version compatibility.
The usual HomePod maintenance is closer to self-managing IoT device than to a Windows PC, too.
Why audioOS update machanism Windows-like?
