10 Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of Your HomePod Mini

The Apple HomePodis no more , but theHomePod Minilives on , and though it may be smaller and cheaper than the original , it ’s still capable of raft of trick . Whether you just bought a new HomePod Mini or you ’ve had one since launch day , here ’s how to get more out of Apple ’s smart speaker .

1. Know your Siri commands

interact with your HomePod Mini using Siri is very straightforward . you may quickly bring up medicine by exceptional creative person , get down and halt playback , get answer to your trivia question , ask for instant translation , and enough more . Lesser - have sex command admit volume control ( “ deform the volume down to 10 % ” ) and skipping ( “ skip forward 10 s ” ) , so make indisputable you check out everythingthat Siri can do .

2. Set up a stereo pair

If you ’ve splashed out on a dyad of HomePod Minis then you could connect them together as a stereo couplet . reach and concord on one of the HomePod Minis in the Home app on your iPhone , tap the stage setting cog icon at the bottom , then choose Create Stereo Pair and follow the pedagogy on silver screen . This Modern utterer pair can then be selected from most apps and equipment just like an individual HomePod Mini ( thoughthere are exceptions ) .

3. Quickly transfer audio between devices

you may transfer audio playback from your HomePod Mini to your iPhone and vice versa just by tapping the top of your iPhone on the top of your verbalizer . Before this will work , you call for to turn on the Transfer to HomePod toggle electric switch , which is under General and AirPlay & Handoff in preferences . It ’s perfect if , for case , you ’re listening to a podcast while out of the house and want to transfer it to the HomePod Mini when you get back .

4. Play audio from any app you like

The magic of AirPlay entail that you ’re not just confine to Apple Music when it comes to playing tunes on the HomePod Mini — although Apple Music is the only avail that will respond to “ hey Siri ” commands on the utterer . you’re able to habituate any other app you like on your iPhone , iPad or Mac , then apply the AirPlay capability to beam it over to your HomePod Mini ( which should automatically show up in the list if it ’s on the same wifi mesh ) .

5. Use your HomePod Mini as an intercom

The intercom feature is a full-strength one to assay . launch the abode app on your iPhone , tap the home icon ( top left ) and Home preferences , then tapdance Intercom to configure it . content can be get off via Siri ( “ hey Siri , intercommunication system … ” ) or via the intercom ikon in the top veracious quoin of the Home app . you’re able to specify sure rooms or groups of rooms ( “ upstairs ” or “ downstairs ” for illustration ) in the message if you do n’t desire to speak through every speaker at once .

6. Add support for multiple users

If there ’s more than one person using your HomePod Mini — say , if your verbaliser is for the family unit — then Siri can recognize each drug user singly , and change its responses consequently ( for calendars , playlists , etc . ) . Modern users must be added in the Home app on the iPhone of the mortal who set up the utterer . knock the habitation ikon ( top left ) , then Home preferences , then Invite . Invited users get a setup prompt on their own telephone set , and can operate through a quick voice recognition unconscious process .

7. Turn off listening history

You do n’t necessarily want everything that ’s played on your HomePod Mini speaker to filter through to your Apple Music recommendations , particularly if you ’ve obtain young kids or guest at home who might be listening to all variety of strain through the speaker . To verify this does n’t befall temporarily or for good , long press on the HomePod Mini icon in the Home app on your iPhone , then call on off the Update Listening History toggle flip-flop .

8. Stop playback when someone leaves

If you long campaign your HomePod Mini in the Home app , wiretap the place setting cog icon in the lower correct - hand quoin , then turn on the on/off switch for When Anyone Leaves Home , Pause Media , the speaker will stop playback whenever you allow the building ( or rather , whenever your iPhone does ) . tip Add Automation and you may configure some number of your own , like having the playback startle up again when you get back home , for example .

9. Find songs by their lyrics

This is a deception take over from Siri and Apple Music in ecumenical , and it make in a variety of places , but it ’s still a coolheaded one to assay on your HomePod Mini . If you say , “ Hey Siri , flirt the song that goes … ” and then reel off some lyrics , the smart speaker unit will attempt to get the racecourse you want through a words search . If you like the result , you may always say , “ Hey Siri , add this birdsong to … ” and then name one of the playlists in your library .

10. Tell Siri to stop listening

On the other manus , maybe you do n’t require Siri listen out at all — perhaps you ’d rather just engage your HomePod Mini using your other Apple devices , thanks very much , or mayhap you do n’t desire the kids call in out all sort of instruction . you may set this in the speaker configurations in the Home app , or just say , “ Hey Siri , stop heed . ” afterwards on , you’re able to solicit the top of the HomePod Mini and tell Siri to get going listening again to reverse your conclusion .

( Updated 3/4/22 with novel details )

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