HomePod (2nd Gen) Issues After HomePod Software 26.5 Update

Question

HomePod (2nd Gen) Issues After HomePod Software 26.5 Update

Since updating my HomePod (2nd Gen) to version 26.5, I’ve been experiencing several issues that were never present before:

Randomly starts playing music on its own.
Volume automatically increases without any user interaction.
Touch controls have become unreliable and sometimes unresponsive.
General instability compared to previous software versions.

I took the device to an Apple Store expecting a proper technical investigation. The technician checked it and concluded that the touch panel was damaged for an unknown reason. However, instead of identifying the root cause or exploring whether the issue could be related to the 26.5 update, I was immediately offered a paid replacement costing approximately ¥35,000.

What I find disappointing is that there was very little effort to diagnose the problem. The explanation was essentially: “The touch panel is damaged, so replace the entire device.”

The irony is that the device worked fine before the update, and now I’m being asked to pay a substantial amount for a replacement without any clear explanation of what actually failed.

As a long-time Apple customer, I’m losing confidence in Apple products year by year. Premium products should come with premium support, especially when issues appear immediately after a software update. Instead, it feels like the default solution has become “replace first, investigate later.”

Has anyone else experienced:

Random music playback
Automatic volume increases
Touch panel issues
Other HomePod 26.5 related problems

If so, were you offered any solution other than a paid replacement?

I’d appreciate hearing from other HomePod owners before I decide whether to continue investing in Apple’s smart home ecosystem.

Posted on Jun 21, 2026 1:26 AM

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Answer 1

Vancouver22

Level 8

38,048 points

Jun 23, 2026 3:39 PM in response to Greg Cheasman

There appears to be reports of 2nd gen having touch panel issues. Both of mine do not respond to touch. They’re a little over 3 yrs old when this started. As to other issues I was able to fix by unfortunately ungrouping the two stereo paired HomePods. This fixed the audio dropping down. I have to airplay to them both but have lost left and right you get with stereo pairing the two. It also stopped them coming on randomly and the steady white light that was always there even when idle. I would say all my issues are caused by the 2nd gen. The OG HomePods are perfect and are from 2018!

You should let Apple know via feedback so they can work on a fix on the future software update in case it is a software issue but as to the touch panel that seems like a hardware problem. Here—-> Feedback - HomePod - Apple

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Answer 2

Jun 21, 2026 6:20 AM in response to Surveer_Singh

I have had similar issues with two HomePod minis after updating to 26.5. Never had any problems with them before. Now one is essentially bricked; it constantly resets (red circle of light) and when I can manage to get it setup again it does not work very well. Dropped audio, unresponsive to voice commands. My other HomePod mini is bit more stable after the update but responds incredibly slowly to voice commands (sometimes not at all) and when connected as a stereo pair, the audio drops to low volume or switches seemingly randomly between the speakers. I could see this as a hardware issue (neither one of these are new, one I got when the minis first came out, one much later) except that I had no problems before the most recent update. I'm hoping another minor update fixes some of these problems. Otherwise, the HomePods are pretty useless.

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Answer 3

Jul 3, 2026 7:40 PM in response to Surveer_Singh

I have four HomePod minis. Since the 26.5 update they are all having the same problems you've outlined. I will never by another HomePod.

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Answer 4

Jun 21, 2026 9:13 AM in response to Surveer_Singh

Yes, I also have all of these issues with my 2nd generation HomePod, also since the 26.5 update.

I have also been told the only solution is to throw is away and buy a new one.

I escalated this issue to a higher tier of customer support who told me that HomePods should not be expected to last more than 2 years. (My HomePods are a little over 2 years old).

I don’t find that acceptable; sadly Apple has USD 160+ billion cash on hand and can well afford not to care what their customers or shareholders think.

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