How to Prevent Your HomePod from Updating its Software Automatically

Just as we explained in one of our HomePod tips posts, you need to use Apple’s stock Home app on an iPhone or iPad to update the operating system on your HomePod wireless speaker.

By default, the Siri based smart speaker will automatically install a new firmware as soon as it finds any available one.

Fortunately, Apple gave us some much-needed options and one of these options allows you to turn automatic updates off if you prefer to manually check for a new HomePod software update.

How to Prevent Your HomePod from Updating its Software Automatically

If you want to stop your HomePod from automatically downloading and installing new software updates, follow the steps below:

Step #1. Launch the Home app on your iPhone or iPad running iOS 11.2.5 or later.

Step #2. Next, tap on the arrow icon at the top left corner off the screen and then tap on the option labelled “Software Update.”

Note – If you have multiple HomeKit-compliant homes set up in the Home app, tap on the option Home Settings after tapping on the arrow icon. Next, you need to tap on a Home to check for updates.

Step #4. Toggle the switch next to Updates Automatically to turn it off.

From now on, you will need to manually check for HomePod updates before your HomePod will be updated. You can check for updates by visiting this screen.

Here, you will see if there is an update available for your HomePod. To apply the new firmware to the Siri based smart speaker, simply tap on Install and follow the instructions that come up on the screen.

And that pretty much it folks!

Wrapping Up

I wholeheartedly recommend changing automatic update settings for your HomePod and develop a habit of checking if there are new software updates manually. It is always a good idea to be patient for a few days before you install a new software update on your smart speaker. This will help prevent any potentially major installation that might have slipped through the cracks.

This is very important on HomePod which lacks a screen – you do not want your HomePod to install a brand new software update before you have had the chance to read the changelog and websites like TechVaz to check if there are any major hiccups that come with the update.

Finally, the Home app installs HomePod software updates to all the speakers you have set up in your Home at once. This is another main reason you should turn off the auto-update option from the Home app.

Do you have any questions or updates? Make sure to share them in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.