Static and crackling sound on HomePod Mini

As said, there is a static and crackling sound lasting up to 5 seconds when I’m playing music from Spotify on my HomePod Mini. It comes up every couple of minutes and then music resumes playing normally. So far I had no issues, and after this emerged, I updated all softwares to latest versions and updated the Spotify app. Any ideas what to do next?

HomePod mini, 18

Posted on Sep 18, 2024 2:52 AM

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Posted on Oct 7, 2024 7:34 AM

I can no longer reliably use any of my HomePods with OS18. I have two homes in two countries with more than 8 HomePods at each site. After upgrading to OS18, it's not possible to reliably listen to music:


  • syncing issues within 10 minutes of play (resolve with a pause/reply
  • sudden loss of connectivity for a moment in some situations.
  • sudden loss of connectivity to a single HomePod pair, resolved on advance to next song
  • honking on one ore more HomePods
  • static on one or more HomePods


It goes without saying that these bugs destroy any listening pleasure using HomePods with OS18. Such a shame.

62 replies

Oct 29, 2024 4:46 AM in response to thefieldman412

Statics, crackling, single Homepods disconnecting randomly, sometimes last chunk of audio is stuck in a permanent loop (0.25 sec)…


this is really annoying.

in my setup i have 5 Homepod Mini and 1 Belkin Soundform Connect.

music is played via iphone 13. all on newest firmware.

Network is AVM Fritz Mesh. Newest hard-/firmware.


In addition to the Airplay/Homepod problems the Iphone regularely disconnects from Wifi.

AVM knows the problem but passes it on to Apple. - no solution for several Updates even major OS updates).


so i guess its time to switch back to good old FM Transmitter/Receiver for seamless multiroom audio. - welcome to the future (2024)

Oct 29, 2024 9:52 AM in response to thefieldman412

Same happens to my 3 Homepod Minis.


Not all of them have crackling at the same time, but each one for itself. It sounds like a record with a scratchy needle.

There are also short interruptions when listening to Apple Music or Spotify.


I've tried all possible scenarios for the WiFi. Regardless of whether it's frequency bands or anything else.


Running 18.0.1

Oct 30, 2024 1:01 PM in response to EvaC.

You can always restart by unplugging it for 10 seconds.


You can also try the hard reset method with the additional step of unplugging for over 24 hours first

Then plug back in and proceed as follows:

  1. Unplug HomePod or unplug the power adapter for HomePod mini, wait 10 seconds, then plug HomePod back in.
  2. Wait 10 seconds, then touch and hold your finger to the top of HomePod.
  3. The white spinning light will turn red. Keep your finger down. 
  4. Siri will say that your HomePod is about to reset. When you hear three beeps, you can lift your finger.

After you reset HomePod, you can set up HomePod again.


Reset HomePod or HomePod mini - Apple Support


Oct 30, 2024 2:03 PM in response to AppSmack

Thank you., @AppSmack, I think that your reference to the problem starting with OS17.1 may not refer to the same issue. For several versions back, music would play out of sync, pop/honk or not play at all. This seemed to happen where there was a 2.4ghz and 5ghz network with the same SSID. I moved all of my 2.4ghz devices to a separate network and the problem went away at both of my locations. This was at least for OS16 if not before.

Static and crackling sound on HomePod Mini

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