You can obtain and install the newest HomePod beta software 17.0 totally free should you’d like to test-drive new features earlier than they develop into accessible to everybody.
Anyone can install public beta software on their HomePod mini or the second-generation HomePod (the first-generation mannequin isn’t supported) so long as their iPhone or iPad is on the iOS or iPadOS 17 beta, even when they’re not builders.
You shouldn’t use prerelease software in your day by day drivers as a result of issues might break and features may cease working appropriately. Lucky for you, the built-in Feedback Assistant app permits you to report any encountered bugs instantly to Apple.
In this tutorial, we’ll present you the way to set your HomePod to use prerelease software, obtain beta updates, revert to the present secure software and extra.
Table of Contents
How to get beta software in your HomePod
Sign up for the Apple Beta Software Program by logging in together with your Apple ID at beta.apple.com. The Apple ID you employ in your Apple gadgets will just do positive. This program is aimed toward the normal public, so it’s free and anybody can take part in it.
Next, install the iOS 17 beta or iPadOS 17 beta in your iPhone or iPad. Finally, use the Home app to enroll your HomePod in the program and obtain betas.
- Open the Home app in your iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 beta gadget.
- Touch the … (ellipsis) icon in the top-right nook and select Home Settings.
- Hit the Software Update choice in the house settings.
- Select HomePod Beta Updates.
- Slide the switches subsequent to any HomePods you would like to obtain beta software.
Software Update will mechanically obtain and install the beta on the chosen HomePod and HomePod mini. A white gentle on the HomePod’s high is spinning when the beta is putting in—don’t unplug the speaker or you possibly can brick it.
As quickly as the gentle stops spinning, your HomePod is prepared for motion. Go forward, ask Siri a query to affirm every little thing works because it ought to.
To see the model variety of the HomePod software you’re at present operating, go to Settings > [Your name] in your iOS gadget and choose your HomePod in the listing. The HomePod software model quantity is printed subsequent to Version.
Alternatively, use the Software Update function inside the Home app to verify the model variety of the put in HomePod beta software.
HomePod beta unavailable?
There may very well be three attainable the explanation why the HomePod beta isn’t listed inside the Home app. Firstly, you could be utilizing the Home app in your Mac. HomePod betas can solely be enabled in the Home app on an iOS or iPadOS gadget.
Secondly, your iPhone or iPad won’t be operating beta software. You should use the beta model of the Home app that’s a part of the iOS and iPadOS 17 beta so as to obtain and install the HomePod beta software.
And thirdly, you possibly can be making an attempt to install the HomePod beta software on the unique HomePod. Apple’s Beta Software Program doesn’t help the first-generation HomePod (the unique full-size mannequin).
How to obtain HomePod beta updates
Your HomePod is about to obtain software updates mechanically by default. When a new beta replace turns into accessible, the HomePod will get it mechanically.
Follow these steps to verify for HomePod beta updates manually:
- Open the Home app.
- Hit the … (ellipsis) icon in the top-right nook and select Home Settings.
- Touch the Software Update choice.
- If there’s an replace to the HomePod beta software, hit Update to install it.
Youćre really useful to set your HomePod to mechanically obtain future updates. You can achieve this below the Automatic Updates heading in the Software Update part of the Home app. The Mac model doesn’t help HomePod betas.
The Home app on the iPhone or iPad that’s paired together with your HomePod and operating the iOS 17 beta or iPadOS 17 beta is the solely method to obtain HomePod beta updates.
How to submit suggestions instantly to Apple
Your bug-reporting efforts are essential in serving to enhance the HomePod software. By taking part in the Beta Software Program, you’re serving to Apple iron out the bugs and easy out the tough edges forward of a public launch.
Don’t anticipate every little thing to work easily all the time. Apple says HomePod betas are work-in-progress, that means “some applications and services may not work as expected and their data may not be backwards compatible.”
You can discover the Feedback Assistant app in your iPhone, iPad or Mac operating the iOS 17 beta, iPadOS 17 beta or macOS Sonoma beta.
You also can view Feedback Assistant on the internet at feedbackassistant.apple.com.
How to flip off HomePod beta updates
To cease receiving HomePod betas, unenroll your speaker in the Home app’s Software Update part in your iPhone or iPad with iOS or iPadOS 17 beta.
- Open the Home app.
- Hit the … (ellipsis) icon in the top-right nook and select Home Settings.
- Choose Software Update.
- Touch the HomePod Beta Software choice.
- Deselect any HomePods you now not need to be receiving beta updates.
Doing so gained’t downgrade your HomePod’s software to the present secure model. So, how do you get a secure model of the HomePod software in your speaker?
How to swap to the secure HomePod software
Long story quick, when the industrial model of the HomePod software is launched, you’ll have the ability to obtain and install it. What you can not do is downgrade the HomePod beta to the earlier secure model (16.5 at the time of writing).
The final HomePod beta replace will probably be a so-called Golden Master (GM) launch, the similar model as the industrial replace launched to the normal public.
Because of that, of us on the HomePod software 17.0 GM gained’t get the launch model this fall. But as quickly as the first replace to the HomePod software drops (17.0.1, 17.1, and so on.), it’ll present up in your Software Update.
How to depart the Apple Beta Software Program
You can depart the Apple Beta Software Program anytime you need. However, you have to first unenroll all of your gadgets earlier than clicking Leave Apple Beta Software Program at the backside of the web page at beta.apple.com/unenroll-your-devices.
After leaving the program, Apple will now not ship you emails about it and also you’ll be prohibited from utilizing the Feedback Assistant app. The beta shall stay in your gadget, however you’ll cease receiving additional updates.
You can overwrite the beta as quickly as the HomePod software launches publicly.
Bleeding edge has its perks
The HomePod beta program is primarily aimed toward builders, early adopters, the curious varieties and nearly anybody on the iOS 17 beta.
If you rely your self amongst a kind of teams, the directions above will stroll you thru the steps required to install the beta model of the HomePod software. But should you couldn’t care much less about test-driving unreleased features, then it’s finest to keep away from putting in prerelease software.
These betas are solely related throughout a beta-testing interval that not often lasts over three months. If you don’t dwell on the bleeding edge, you’ll get the new features at the similar time as others who’ve been patiently ready for a public launch.
