Step-by-Step Guide to Add Apple Music to HomePod

By Adam Gorden Updated on April 21, 2025

apple music homepod

You're making dinner or relaxing at home and want music—no tapping, no scrolling, just sound. That's exactly where HomePod comes in.

Apple's smart speaker delivers rich, room-filling audio and is built to work seamlessly with Apple Music. Just say "Hey Siri, play something chill," and your music starts. Since it's designed for the Apple ecosystem, everything feels natural if you're already an Apple Music subscriber.

By default, HomePod uses Apple Music, so voice control is smooth and intuitive. If you prefer other services like Amazon Music, you'll need to use AirPlay instead, as Siri can't control third-party apps directly.

Still, for Apple Music users, the experience is fast, hands-free, and polished. In this guide, we'll show you the different ways to play Apple Music on HomePod and get the most out of your speaker.

homepod windows airplay
Play Spotify on HomePod: Step-by-Step Guide

This post is introducing two simple ways for you to play any Spotify songs or podcasts on HomePod, as well as, some solutions to fix HomePod not playing Spotify.

Part 1. How to Set Up Apple Music on HomePod

Setting up Apple Music on your HomePod is easy with just a Siri command. Here's what you'll need before you begin:

What You'll Need:

    • HomePod or HomePod mini – Plugged in and powered on
    • iPhone or iPad – Running the latest iOS (at least 16.3 or later) or iPadOS (at least 16.3 or later)
    • Home App – Pre-installed (or download from the App Store)
    • Stable Wi-Fi Connection – Needed for setup and streaming
    • Apple Music Subscription – Any active plan
    • Apple ID – With two-factor authentication enabled
    • Bluetooth & iCloud Keychain – Both enabled during setup

  1. Plug in Your HomePod: Connect the HomePod to power and wait for the top light to pulse white. This indicates that the device is ready for setup.
  2. Hold Your iPhone or iPad Near the HomePod: Unlock your device and bring it close to the HomePod. A setup card will appear—tap Set Up. When prompted, center the HomePod or HomePod mini in the viewfinder on your iPhone or iPad.
  3. iphone home screen homdpod set up

  4. Sign In with Your Apple ID: Use your Apple ID to link the HomePod to Apple services, including Apple Music. A four-digit passcode will be required to authenticate your Apple ID.
  5. (Optional) Assign a Room & Enable Personal Requests: Choose your settings, such as selecting a room (e.g., Kitchen) and deciding if you want Siri to access messages, reminders, and other personal data.
  6. iphone home screen homdpod pick a room

  7. Turn On Bluetooth & iCloud Keychain: Go to Settings > Bluetooth and ensure Bluetooth is turned on. Then, head to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Keychain and enable it.
  8. iphone home screen homdpod is ready

  9. Subscribe to Apple Music (If Needed): If you don't have an active subscription, open the Music app, tap Join Apple Music, and choose your plan.
  10. Enable Siri: Siri will automatically be activated during the setup. Once everything is set up, say "Hey Siri, play some music," and Apple Music will begin streaming.
  11. (Optional) Transfer Music with AirPlay & Handoff: Go to Settings > General > AirPlay & Handoff and turn on Transfer to HomePod. To hand off your music, simply hold your iPhone near the HomePod.

Part 2. How to Play Apple Music on HomePod with Siri

Playing music on your HomePod is simple. Just say, "Hey Siri, play some music," and your HomePod will start playing from Apple Music. You can also control playback with commands like "Hey Siri, skip this song," or "Hey Siri, pause."

Siri on HomePod works seamlessly with Apple Music, offering personalized music suggestions based on your preferences. However, Siri on the HomePod isn't as versatile as other smart assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant when it comes to handling complex tasks or controlling devices that aren't Apple products. That said, if you're already using Apple devices, the HomePod fits perfectly into your setup. If you need broader smart home capabilities, other speakers might offer more features.

Here's a list of what you can do with Siri on HomePod, according to Apple's official tutorial:

Play music: "Hey Siri, play some music."

Play a specific song: "Hey Siri, play [song/artist/album]."

Skip to the next track: "Hey Siri, next song."

Play a previous track: "Hey Siri, previous song."

Change music genre: "Hey Siri, play [genre] music."

Play music by mood: "Hey Siri, play some relaxing music."

Play a radio station: "Hey Siri, play [station name]."

Search by lyrics: "Hey Siri, what's the song that goes [lyric]?"

Get music info: "Hey Siri, what album is this?"

Ask about music release date: "Hey Siri, when was this song released?"

Play Apple Music stations: "Hey Siri, play Apple Music 1 radio."

Ask for recommendations: "Hey Siri, play something I'll like."

Part 3. How to AirPlay Apple Music to HomePod

AirPlaying Apple Music to your HomePod is also a great way. If you're interested, here's how to do it:

  1. Ensure Both Devices Are Connected to the Same Wi-Fi: Make sure your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and HomePod are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
  2. Open the Apple Music App: Launch the Apple Music app on your device and sign in with your Apple ID linked to your Apple Music subscription.
  3. Start Playing Music: Browse or search for the song, album, or playlist you want to listen to. Tap on the music to start playing.
  4. Activate AirPlay:

    ios control center now playing music

    • On iPhone or iPad: Tap the AirPlay icon (the little triangle with circles) in the music controls.
    • On a Mac: Click the AirPlay icon in the menu bar or within the music app.
  5. Select Your HomePod: From the list of available AirPlay devices, choose your HomePod. The music will then start playing through your HomePod.

Part 4. How to Control Playback on HomePod with AirPlay

Once you've started playing music from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your HomePod using AirPlay, you can still control everything without needing to touch the speaker. Here's how:

  1. Use Your Device's Playback Controls:
    • On iPhone or iPad: Access the Now Playing screen from the lock screen or Control Center to pause, skip, or adjust volume.
    • On Mac: Use the media controls in the Music app or menu bar.
  2. Control Volume Separately: You can adjust the volume on your device and the HomePod independently. Use the volume slider in AirPlay settings if you want to fine-tune just the HomePod's audio.
  3. Switch Back to Device Playback: To stop AirPlay and switch music back to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, open the AirPlay menu again and select your device instead of the HomePod.
  4. Use Siri for Hands-Free Control: While AirPlay is active, you can still ask Siri on your HomePod to pause, resume, skip songs, or adjust the volume. For example, say "Hey Siri, pause the music" or "Hey Siri, turn it up."

Part 5. Other Tips for HomePod

  • Reset Your HomePod: If you're planning to give your HomePod to someone else or just want to start fresh, you can reset it by unplugging and plugging it back in, then pressing and holding the top until Siri says it's ready to reset. You'll hear a few beeps, and just like that, the HomePod will be ready for a new Apple ID.
  • Remove Your HomePod with iPhone: Want to remove your HomePod using your iPhone instead? Open the Home app, scroll down on your HomePod's settings, and tap "Remove Accessory" to unlink it from your account.
  • Allow Others to Play Music: If you'd like others in your home to play music from their own devices, you can allow access through the Home app. Just go to Home Settings > Allow Speaker & TV Access and choose from "Everyone," "Anyone on the Same Network," or just "People Sharing This Home."
  • Troubleshoot Apple Music on HomePod: Running into an issue where Apple Music isn't playing on your HomePod? First, check that both your HomePod and phone are on the same Wi-Fi network. If everything looks good, try restarting the speaker and relaunching the Apple Music app.
  • Let Someone Else DJ: And if you're having a group hang and want someone else to DJ from their phone, just make sure they're on your Wi-Fi and you've given them access—then they can AirPlay straight to the HomePod without skipping a beat.

Bonus: How to Convert Apple Music to MP3

By default, Apple Music tracks are protected by DRM, meaning they can't be played on devices outside of the Apple ecosystem. If you use both Apple and non-Apple devices—or want more freedom over how and where you play your music—converting your Apple Music library to MP3 is a smart move. That's where ViWizard Apple Music Converter comes in.

sign in apple music account

ViWizard Apple Music Converter is a user-friendly tool for Mac and Windows that lets you download songs, albums, and playlists from Apple Music and convert them into flexible formats like MP3 or AAC. With a built-in Apple Music web player, you can sign in, browse your library, select tracks, and convert—all within one simple interface. No iTunes needed.

Converted files keep their original sound quality and come with full ID3 tags like artist, album, and artwork, so your collection stays organized. Once downloaded, your music is free from limitations—ready for use on MP3 players, Android devices, USB drives, cloud storage, or anywhere else Apple Music doesn't reach.

If you're living in a multi-device world, ViWizard gives you the freedom to enjoy your Apple Music library anywhere, without compromise.

audio converter

Key Features of ViWizard Apple Music Converter

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  • Convert Apple Music songs, albums, playlists, and artists into MP3 for easy access
  • Preserve lossless audio, high-resolution lossless, and Dolby Atmos quality
  • Strip DRM from Apple Music for unrestricted offline listening
  • Save converted audio files while retaining full ID3 tag details

Summary:

That's it. To play Apple Music on HomePod is quite easy. Just make sure your device and the HomePod have connected to the same WiFi. When you are in a bad or crash network, you can also use ViWizard Apple Music Converter to convert and download Apple Music in MP3 for offline playback. You can click the link below to try it now. Welcome to leave your comments below, and we will reply to you ASAP.

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