Brand-new Gen 1 HomePod struggling to onboard and fails setup with error (-7003)

Question

Brand-new Gen 1 HomePod struggling to onboard and fails setup with error (-7003)

Brand-new Gen 1 2018 HomePod A1639 repeatedly fails setup with error -7003

I’ve just received a brand-new, unused 1st-generation HomePod as an official paid Apple service replacement after my own identical HomePod developed a fault with a diode in the power supply. In such circumstances Apple has a reserve of stock specifically retained for exchanges at a like for like new for old exchange together with AU$419 client contributions.

It powers up and factory-resets normally, but setup consistently fails at “Setting Up Apple Account” with error -7003. On one attempt, after temporarily disabling Advanced Data Protection, I received error 100 instead.

So far I’ve tried a full factory reset, iPhone on iOS 27.0.1, Home hubs on 27.0, different active Home hubs, ADP on/off, and even temporarily replaced my modern Eero Pro 6 Mesh Wi-Fi environment with an AirPort Time Capsule running 802.11ac/WPA2. Same -7003.

The replacement is currently on HomePod Software 26.6, while my other Gen 1 HomePod is happily running 27.0.

Has anyone encountered HomePod setup error -7003 or error 100, particularly when activating an older/new-old-stock HomePod? I’d be very interested to hear what actually resolved it.

Posted on Sep 30, 2026 10:42 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ZZotteRR

Level 1

14 points

Oct 22, 2026 10:58 AM in response to PhillipSydney

Apple Support was unable to help me....here is how i worked my way through a maze of cryptic Apple Error Codes...

I have an Eero 7, I temporarily disabled Advanced Security and I also went into troubleshooting on the Eero --> My device won't connect --> My device is 2.4 GHz only....and this disabled other bands for 30 minutes.

I was able to join during that period....and renabled everything afterwarsd, including Apple's Advanced Data Security / iCloud.

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Answer 2

Vancouver22

Level 8

38,324 points

Oct 24, 2026 12:34 PM in response to PhillipSydney

How is this HomePod on Software 26.6? they shipped with iOS 11. How are you even able to see that? You need to have it set up and do that in the Home app and if you’re viewing it in the Home app, then you have set it up. None of this makes any sense and I wasn’t aware that they replaced OG HomePods, those were discontinued years ago and not covered under any warranty

as to the error setting up, they’re old and difficult to set up and don’t do well on full factory resets. Just have to keep trying to set up. Try unplugging it for over 24hrs

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