HomePod randomly plays music and changes volume

you're not the only one

try reading the posts about the issue

How to fix persistent ghost touch issue o… - Apple Community

HomePod Ghost Touch Turns a Smart Speaker Into a Nightmare -

https://applemagazine.com/homepod-ghost-touch-frozen-panel/

If you live in the US there is a guy, Nic's Fix, in WA State, who can repair you HomePods by replacing the touch panel. You can find him on YouTube. Paying 2-way shipping and the repair may be much less expensive than buying new HomePods. Especially if you buy discounted US postage from a Pirateship shipping. He has repaired both of my OG HomePods at different times for different issues. I love them because they have such great sound when compared to the minis or the HomePods 2. When Nic is preparing to fix your HomePod he texts you a link so you can watch him do the repair live.

Similar experience, different take on the problem.

My HomePod stereo setup started playing Apple Music whilst serving as TV speakers, then Siri went onto having conversations of her own, and sound volume became an issue as HomePods would start blasting music at all hours of the day at no one’s request.

Went through factory resets, pairing/unpairing, all the tricks suggested by the community, with no luck whatsoever.

Then I learned that someone with this same issue was told at an Apple Store that this was HomePod going cuckoo, and nothing to be done.

A second Gen product that lasts 3 years? Not for me, not anymore.

someone with this same issue was told at an Apple Store that this was HomePod going cuckoo, and nothing to be done.

Yet we know from folks who've had someone like Nic replace the touch panel that that solves the issue.

So until enough of you lot with "cuckoo" 2nd Gen (& mini?) HomePods gang up on Apple with a class action law suit, Apple won't do anything. Especially since it happens a year or more after the HomePod's warranty has ended.

With a web search, you can source a replacement touch panel. But I've seen a tear down video of the 2nd Gen HomePod and it is much more complicated than a tear down of the OG HomePod. It's not something for the faint of heart to attempt to repair on their own. The OG is a top down disassembly. The 2nd Gen is a bottom up one.

Some folks have done a half repair by just disconnecting the touch panel and then using Siri voice commands for control.

You can try the asstive touch settings to require a longer dwell time on the buttons.

Cheers. Spent enough time and money on these. Plenty of fish out there.

The issue is that the Panel is faulty and starts music on its own without anyone touching it!

latest HomeOS fixed it for me. nicz outa biz

Your description of what your HomePod was doing seems to be different from the Ghost Touch issue.

There are plenty of HomePod issues that Nic repairs that a software Update/Upgrade can't.

Now u tell me. Tks a bunch Chavo.

I set up the whole house with Apple HomePods and now they are obsolete and don't sound as good as when installed them. I have changed the downstairs to SONOS and went back to using BOSE upstairs in the bedrooms. I still keep one old HomePod in the kitchen for quick questions and timers, but the sound quality sucks nowadays. Will Apple ever make a portable speaker for indoor and outdoor usage?

maybe if users give them feedback of such a want

Product Feedback - Apple