Does HomePod Work Without Wi-Fi?

That's a good question.

I know set-up requires both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi be enabled on your phone, and you have to be within a few centimeters of the HomePod for it to register and connect to your network.

According to this article, you can't use it as a Bluetooth speaker:

http://www.idownloadblog.com/2018/02/02/homepod-cannot-be-used-as-a-regular-blue tooth-speaker/

The article references the Apple specs page:

https://www.apple.com/homepod/specs/

Which lists the following audio sources:

You mention the term "Wi-Fi connection," and I think you mean "Internet connection." I suspect you could have a non-Internet-connected Wi-Fi wireless access point, and you could then AirPlay to the HomePod using whatever media you had stored on your AirPlay device.

Hope that answers your question?

Actually, you can play music to your HomePod even if the HomePod is not on a wifi network.

First, you'll need to set up your HomePod to accept AirPlay requests from iOS devices that are not on the same wifi network as your HomePod. This imore article describes that process: https://www.imore.com/how-secure-airplay-homepod

Once you've done that, even if your HomePod is not on a wifi network, when you bring an iOS device nearby, it should see your HomePod as a possible AirPlay destination. Your iOS device will set up a peer-to-peer wifi network to play to the HomePod.

I tested this once at home; I believe it works. Good luck!

jefvdv wrote:

I hope you are right. This would be the same as with an Apple TV: you can stream audio/video stored on your iPhone to an AppleTV without both being on the same Wifi network.

If they're using Peer-to-Peer networking , they are on the same network

jefvdv wrote:

Technically yes, for your average Joe not.

Technically and actually. And, in a technical support forum, technical details matter. People come here to learn. Making inaccurate statements doesn't help forward that goal.

Yeah, sadly, AirPlay depends on devices being on the same Wi-Fi network, so without Wi-Fi, you won’t be able to stream audio via AirPlay to the HomePod. Sorry!

No. WiFi is required.

No, as was noted in the first answer in this thread, WiFi is required.

I hope you are right. This would be the same as with an Apple TV: you can stream audio/video stored on your iPhone to an AppleTV without both being on the same Wifi network.

Technically yes, for your average Joe not.

No - and that’s why I’m returning both of mine.

If you have a phone hotspot and another phone that’s connected to the HomePod, it works!