Apple Releases HomePod Software 26.2 With Performance Improvements

Alongside iOS 26.2, iPadOS 26.2, and macOS Tahoe 26.2, Apple has released new HomePod 26.2 software for the ‌HomePod‌ and the HomePod mini. The update comes a month after Apple released ‌HomePod‌ Software 26.1.

HomePod 2 and Mini feature 1
According to Apple's release notes, ‌HomePod‌ Software 26.2 includes performance and stability improvements.

‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated in the Home app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac by tapping on the More button, choosing Home Settings, and then selecting the Software Update option.

Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod mini

Popular Stories

iphone 17 models

No iPhone 18 Launch This Year, Reports Suggest

Thursday January 1, 2026 8:43 am PST by
Apple is not expected to release a standard iPhone 18 model this year, according to a growing number of reports that suggest the company is planning a significant change to its long-standing annual iPhone launch cycle. Despite the immense success of the iPhone 17 in 2025, the iPhone 18 is not expected to arrive until the spring of 2027, leaving the iPhone 17 in the lineup as the latest...
duolingo ad live activity

Duolingo Used iPhone's Dynamic Island to Display Ads, Violating Apple Design Guidelines

Friday January 2, 2026 1:36 pm PST by
Language learning app Duolingo has apparently been using the iPhone's Live Activity feature to display ads on the Lock Screen and the Dynamic Island, which violates Apple's design guidelines. According to multiple reports on Reddit, the Duolingo app has been displaying an ad for a "Super offer," which is Duolingo's paid subscription option. Apple's guidelines for Live Activity state that...
Clicks Communicator Feature

'Clicks Communicator' Unveiled — Will You Carry This With Your iPhone?

Friday January 2, 2026 6:35 am PST by
The company behind the BlackBerry-like Clicks Keyboard accessory for the iPhone today unveiled a new Android 16 smartphone called the Clicks Communicator. The purpose-built device is designed to be used as a second phone alongside your iPhone, with the intended focus being communication over content consumption. It runs a custom Android launcher that offers a curated selection of messaging...
apple intelligence black

Report: Apple's AI Strategy Could Finally Pay Off in 2026

Tuesday December 30, 2025 9:01 am PST by
Apple's restrained artificial intelligence strategy may pay off in 2026 amid the arrival of a revamped Siri and concerns around the AI market "bubble" bursting, The Information argues. The speculative report notes that Apple has taken a restrained approach with AI innovations compared with peers such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, which are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in data...
Low Cost MacBook Feature A18 Pro

Low-Price 12.9-Inch MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Reportedly Launching Early This Year

Friday January 2, 2026 9:08 am PST by
Apple plans to introduce a 12.9-inch MacBook in spring 2026, according to TrendForce. In a press release this week, the Taiwanese research firm said this MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with "competitive pricing." TrendForce did not share any further details about this MacBook, but the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more...
apple fitness 2026 1

Apple Teases 'Something Big' Coming Soon to Apple Fitness+

Tuesday December 30, 2025 2:11 pm PST by
The Apple Fitness+ Instagram account today teased that the service has "big plans" for 2026. In a video, several Apple Fitness+ trainers are shown holding up newspapers with headlines related to Apple Fitness+. What's Apple Fitness+ Planning for the New Year? Something Big is Coming to Apple Fitness+ The Countdown Begins. Apple Fitness+ 2026 is Almost Here 2026 Plans Still Under ...
Apple Fitness Plus hero

Apple Announces New Fitness+ Workout Programs, Strava Challenge, and More

Friday January 2, 2026 6:43 am PST by
Apple today announced a number of updates to Apple Fitness+ and activity with the Apple Watch. The key announcements include: New Year limited-edition award: Users can win the award by closing all three Activity Rings for seven days in a row in January. "Quit Quitting" Strava challenge: Available in Strava throughout January, users who log 12 workouts anytime in the month will win an ...
Mac Pro Feature Blue

What's Happening With the Mac Pro?

Wednesday December 31, 2025 9:59 am PST by
Apple hasn't updated the Mac Pro since 2023, and according to recent rumors, there's no update coming in the near future. In fact, Apple might be finished with the Mac Pro. Bloomberg recently said that the Mac Pro is "on the back burner" and has been "largely written off" by Apple. Apple apparently views the more compact Mac Studio as the ideal high-end pro-level desktop, and it has almost...

Top Rated Comments

zeus423 Avatar
3 weeks ago
Hey Siri, "Play Hotel California by the Eagles."
Siri: "Now playing California Dreamin' by the Mamas and Papas."
Hey Siri, "Play Hotel California by the Eagles."
Siri: "Now playing California Girls by Katy Perry."
Hey Siri, "Play Hotel California by the Eagles."
Siri finally plays the correct song but stops midway for about a minute, then plays some random song.

I agree, why is this so difficult?!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TFrank2 Avatar
3 weeks ago
Now all we need is the actual physical update to the HomePod & Mini ?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
boswald Avatar
3 weeks ago
Looking forward to this with my OG HomePods. I no longer fear updates shorting them out.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macmac30 Avatar
3 weeks ago
Here are my current HomePods Siri recurring frustrations:

Paired big 2nd Gen HomePods in my kitchen:

‘Siri, volume 22”
You want me to increase volume to 100%?
How “twenty two” sounds anything remotely close to “one hundred” is beyond my comprehension. This is not a one off.

Apple Music playing at 40
“Siri, volume down”
I’ll speak softer (but she also turns the music volume down). How about “turning it down” or just “ok”?

The one that pisses me off to no end: if ANYONE has a device in the kitchen other than the paired HomePods (which is like always):

‘Siri, volume down”
The music playing on the HomePods doesn’t change but one of the random iPhones or iPads turns the music volume down on that device WHICH IS NOT EVEN PLAYING MUSIC!

Apple:

If HomePod playing music = TRUE
And you hear a user say “Siri, music down”
Then only turn music down on the device playing music
And ignore changing anything on other devices

Why is this so difficult???
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Astuces iOS Avatar
3 weeks ago
Performance? Hmm not for siri
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Return Zero Avatar
3 weeks ago
Mine have actually been working SO WELL recently that I don't want to update, lol. Bugged if you do, bugged if you don't!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)