Audio sync problem with multiple HomePod after update to IOS18

My test was insufficient. It still happens in 18.2.

I gave up to use stereo pair.

Sorry but for me as of 18.4.1 Apple music sync issue still remains. Multiple units cannot stay in sync after only 2-3 songs.

Hi,

I also have the same problem here. Now some automations with music also are buggy, the song will skip after 10 seconds in a loop. They also started making weird popping noises and screeching sounds… all of this after the update that caused the out of sync music. I hope they fix that nonsense soon

have a pair of HomePod mini (gen 2) as default audio pair on AppleTV 4K (gen 1) all running iOS / tvOS public betas. I also have a gen 1 HomePod which I like to use as a “bass extension” for the pair of minis.

Playing the gen 1 HomePod alone, no problems. Playing gen 1 and gen 2 HomePods at the same time, the gen 1 gets further and further out of sync and soon the gen1 starts making horrible “BUUU.UUU.UUUUUUU.PPPPP.PPP” farty noises.

disconnect the gen 2 HomePods, gen 1 sounds as good as new.

Upper right of the Music window, you should see the symbol for selecting where to play from. All external speakers should show up there. Select as many or as few as you want. Warning - the selections are very sensitive. It is far too easy to end up disconnecting all the speakers when trying to adjust the volume of one. You just have to reselect them, so a minor annoyance in the scheme of things.

More annoying is that, in the last couple of days - since the last OSX security update - the sync issues have started when playing from my Mac. Not as bad as when playing straight from Apple Music; I only have to adjust it a few times a day, rather than a few times an hour. Sigh.

Hi, Since you have multiple HomePods, the issue might be related to Wi-Fi signal strength. Some HomePods that are farther from the router may experience weaker signals, causing the delay.

Try grouping all your HomePods closer to the router and test again. If the problem persists, follow these steps:

Possible Solutions:

• Restart your router

• Restart all your HomePods

• Sign out of your iCloud account and sign back in

• Check if your devices need software updates

• Ensure all HomePods are connected to the same Wi-Fi network

• Unplug all HomePods, wait 2–3 minutes, and plug them back in

• Toggle the Lossless Audio option in your iPhone settings and the Home app

• If your router supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, try connecting all HomePods to 5GHz. If that doesn’t help, switch to 2.4GHz

Alternative Solution:

• Reset all your HomePods

• Reset your router

Let me know if any of these steps help!

Yes, for us as of 18.4.1 Apple Music sync issue remains.

Our system is 1 Homepod Gen 2, 2 Homepod Mini stereo pairs, and 2 Homepod Mini singles. using Apple Music through any combination of these results in out of sync occurring within 30-60 minutes. I have worked with Apple Support and provided diagnostic data capture under their guidance several months ago. Sad so far no resolution. I can only hope... but I am beginning to think I will need to consider another music streaming service with less Siri/Homekit integration.

Addition: When I play radio stations with Siri (via Apple Music/TuneIn) there is no "out of synch" problem.

still goes out of sync for me on radio stations with Siri (via Apple Music/TuneIn)

Sync wise everything seems to be fine now, but the scratching noise still appears sporadically on all the HomePods at different times. Only solution is to unplug and replug the HomePod

My stereo pair HomePods had the same issue and 18.2 fixed it.

This issue was happened in 16.0-16.1/17.0-17.1/18.0-18.1 and fixed in 16.2/17.2/18.2.

Apple, please test stereo pair before updating OS.

Guys, what kind of router are you using? Im using Eero and im wondering if the problem is not with Eero's routers

Not a router issue. I am using Unifi UDM SE.

Got it. Thanks and that’s terrible it happens with this method also.

yes, playing from thye iphone apple music app will cause multiple HomePod out of sync every 2-3 songs. But when play from the Apple TV app….. the problem is gone!!! Have no explanation to this….