A little more than a week after Apple released HomePod OS 16.3, the company rolled out a minor HomePod OS 16.3.1 update to fix bugs and unresponsiveness issues that affected some devices. The initial HomePod OS 16.3 update brought major feature additions to the HomePod Mini and added support for the new second-generation HomePod, namely temperature, humidity, and climate control monitoring. But, software updates for HomePods are tightly connected with iOS and tvOS updates. In order to view a HomePod OS 16.3 update, users must be updated to iOS 16.3, and each HomePod update is a derivative of a corresponding tvOS update.
After updating to HomePod OS 16.3, some users reported consistent errors on their smart speakers. Of the reported issues on Twitter and Reddit, the most common were unresponsiveness issues and connectivity errors. In some cases, any request made via Siri on HomePod would result in the responses “I’m still working on that” or “I’m having trouble connecting to the internet.” HomePods and HomePods Mini experiencing these errors could also show the “No Response” badge in the Home app. Screen Rant experienced some issues during the setup process before updating to HomePod OS 16.3, but didn’t see the widespread issues reported on social media.
Update To HomePod OS 16.3.1 To Improve Responsiveness
Apple released a minor HomePod OS 16.3.1 update in response to the issues some users faced after updating to HomePod OS 16.3. Though the company only said that the update included “general performance and stability improvements,” it’s rare for HomePod OS to receive an update between versions unless there are well-documented complaints about performance and other issues. Typically, a minor update like HomePod OS 16.3.1 is only released to fix widespread bugs and correct responsiveness issues.
By default, HomePods will update to the latest software version automatically. However, if users have HomePods that are completely unresponsive and need a fix, they can manually update their smart speakers. Start by opening the Home app and selecting the HomePod that needs updating. Tap the settings gear in the bottom right corner of the page. If the HomePod needs an update, it’ll appear under the HomePod’s name. Tap “Install” to start the process. A white light will circle around the HomePod while it is updating, and it may restart during the process.
Alternatively, users can click the “More” tab on the Home app’s main page and click “Home Settings.” Then, click “Software Updates.” This will check the status of all the devices in a user’s home and show the software updates available for multiple HomePods in a single place. It remains to be seen whether HomePod OS 16.3.1 will fix the HomePod’s connectivity woes, but updating is a great place to start for users experiencing issues with their smart speakers.
