Playing Music on HomePod NOT using Hey Siri...

With Sonos, if I add songs to my Sonos queue from Apple Music using the Sonos App on my phone, my Phone doesn’t need to be near the Sonos speakers for the music to play (for example if I added the music, started playing it and then left home, the music wouldn’t stop playing when I leave because the Sonos is streaming from Apple Music, not my phone).


With HomePod there is no such app like the “Sonos App” and the only way to add music to the HomePod is to play via the Apple Music app and send it via Airplay to the HomePod. But, when I do this, it’s streaming from my phone to the HomePod. So, if my phone goes away, the music goes away.


It seems the only way to play music via the HomePod that isn’t being streamed from another device is using “Hey Siri” on the HomePod itself. Correct?

HomePod, iOS 11.2.5

Posted on Feb 11, 2018 2:22 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 13, 2018 9:07 AM

Hello - I have Apple Music and iTunes Match. I can create a queue and start playing the songs on the HomePod and either leave the WiFi network or turn off my iPhone or iPad and the music continues. See this article below for a good description about how to make this happen (the screen shots at the top are key). Btw, it took me a while to figure it out. You have to start from the Control Panel and launch the Music app. As long as you are not airplaying the music will continue. I have a Sonos system and understand what you are expecting and I can tell you it does work, just not as seamless as in the Sonos universe.


I hope this helps - https://www.pocket-lint.com/speakers/news/apple/143560-the-best-apple-homepod-ti ps-and-tricks-plus-how-to-set-up-homepod

Similar questions

13 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 13, 2018 9:07 AM in response to 1957Goldtop

Hello - I have Apple Music and iTunes Match. I can create a queue and start playing the songs on the HomePod and either leave the WiFi network or turn off my iPhone or iPad and the music continues. See this article below for a good description about how to make this happen (the screen shots at the top are key). Btw, it took me a while to figure it out. You have to start from the Control Panel and launch the Music app. As long as you are not airplaying the music will continue. I have a Sonos system and understand what you are expecting and I can tell you it does work, just not as seamless as in the Sonos universe.


I hope this helps - https://www.pocket-lint.com/speakers/news/apple/143560-the-best-apple-homepod-ti ps-and-tricks-plus-how-to-set-up-homepod

Feb 11, 2018 2:39 PM in response to 1957Goldtop

Siri reaches out to your Library of purchased songs if you do not have the Apple Music Service. Siri will not play music i ripped into iTunes. I can stream the ripped songs to the HomePod from my Mac or Apple TV the only disappointing thing is I when I select streaming from my Apple TV to the HomePod the speakers of my surround system shut off!


I hope this is fixed in Airplay 2.

Feb 11, 2018 3:15 PM in response to pcdrums

You're not understanding what I'm asking. I have Apple Music, Apple Music Library and iTunes Match...


What I'm asking is, if I start music on my Phone and send it to the HomePod (via Airplay obviously), and I leave the house the music is going to stop playing on my HomePod because the device that was sending the music to the HomePod is no longer there.


With the Sonos iPhone app, you add music to your Sonos queue from your Apple Music service and it doesn't matter if your phone is there or not. The Sonos App is streaming from Apple Music, not your phone. So, I leave the house with my phone and music keeps on playing.


Is there a way to do that with Apple Music + HomePod other than saying "Hey Siri" to the HomePod itself.

Feb 16, 2018 12:56 PM in response to JoeCNM

That LOOKS like it would do it, but it it doesn't. When you have multiple devices to choose from (AppleTV or HomePods), if you select one of the other devices, it changes the music to that device and unchecks the device that was currently playing.


Not sure if this is a bug or intended behavior. Seems like they would use a "radio" button rather than a check box... check box implies being able to select more than one.

Feb 16, 2018 1:29 PM in response to 1957Goldtop

Ahhh, now I understand. I think I recall reading about this additional functionality in the future for "multi room functionality". See this quote - "We also want you to enjoy music throughout the house, so HomePod will support AirPlay 2 and multiroom audio, and with Apple Music and the ecosystem of all the other Apple products you use, we’re reinventing music in the home." from - https://www.soundandvision.com/content/make-room-homepod.


This would be the real Sonos killer... if you could play locally hosted music (like I do with my Sonos) and not totally rely on the Cloud. (I know Sonos does a lot more... I still love my Sonos system).

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Playing Music on HomePod NOT using Hey Siri...

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.