Apple TV and HomePods erratic after update

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Level 1

15 points

Apple TV and HomePods erratic after update

My Apple TV suddenly and randomly became unusable after updating to 26.1

Out of the blue, when not even doing anything Apple related or even nothing tech related the HomePods (stereo setup) turn on with a random song, at full volume (Happened three times a 3 am).

When watching something (no matter the app) it lags, it skips, it changes video, volume up, down, it fast forward, rewind, all by itself.

Tried:

Unpairing home pods.
Reseting Apple TV.
New HDMI cable.
Another internet connection ( > 1gbs x sec)
Another TV.
Another remote.

The complete setup became unusable out of the blue.

Its frustrating.

HomePod (2nd generation)

Posted on Dec 9, 2025 12:47 AM

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Answer 1

Vancouver22

Level 8

37,610 points

Dec 9, 2025 10:51 AM in response to tintinve

which Apple tv model do you have?

Which Apple TV model do I have? - Apple Support

If you have an ATV4K, it should be set up with the default Audio set to use HomePods as opposed to tv speakers.

Other steps to take:

Update HomePods to 26.1

Restart HomePods by unplugging for 10 seconds.

Reboot your wifi

Then test again to see if the issues are fixed

if the HomePods are still misbehaving you can do a hard reset. Please use the pressing the top method using the instructions found here-> Reset HomePod and set up again using the same Apple ID and wifi as the ATV. If you have two HomePods stereo paired you must ungroup them first prior to resetting.

Restart ATV and Test again

further methods that can work is to sign out of ATV by removing your profile in users & accounts, which you already did when you reset ATV.

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Answer 2

Dec 9, 2025 1:49 AM in response to tintinve

Fixes that actually help:

Turn off Siri/Handoff/Intercom
Disable HDMI-CEC
Reset audio system + recreate stereo pair
Disable Spatial Audio
Remove/re-add Apple TV to Home

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Answer 3

tintinve Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 9, 2025 2:05 AM in response to azaksalmarzur28

Thanks for your reply dude,

Did all that too. None work.

I just went out my place and returned home and the thing was playing a random song on my favorite playlist at full volume. The touch screens on both home pods (the round touch area on top) lags the response a lot; I touch it and if it works (to pause) it does so after 10 seconds or more.

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