HomePod HomePod Mini won't connect to anything

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

I'm gonna be blunt, the HomePod and HomePod Mini are the worst Apple products I have ever used, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WORK

Yesterday I got a HomePod Mini because I wanted a bedside speaker/alarm clock and since it was the one thing in the Apple Ecosystem I didn't have I thought why not, it's cheap and tiny and cute with amazing sound quality. So I ordered it, and when it arrived was so excited to turn it on and play some music. I open the setup as normal and then...Setup Failed (203). (Get used to seeing this)



I go "what?" then move my iPhone away then back to try again. The result? Setup Failed (-2). So I'm thinking is there something wrong with bluetooth, so I unplug it then plug the HomePod back in, and third time's the charm it actually managed to setup.

So I'm super excited to try it out so I open up the Music App and play Scarlet Fire to test it out...nothing plays. I'm confused checking my AirPlay settings and it shows connected to the HomePod. I ask Siri what's the weather, and she can give me that at least. But still, nothing plays. So I look online and they suggest doing a full reset of the HomePod so I do, and after doing that, now I can't set it up again getting the same error "Setup Failed (203)" over and over again.

So at this point I'm fed up, I call Apple Support, they tell me to reset it again and again, but nothing changes the same error over and over again Setup Failed (203). She asks me to plug it into my Mac to check the firmware, and we find the firmware is 16.0 instead of the latest firmware, so we update it. After updating it we try connecting again, and guess what, SETUP FAILED (203)!

At that point I'm sent to a Senior Advisor (who I could barely hear at all as his voice was too quiet) who sounded nervous as he's trying to figure out what is going on, and starts asking me questions about my home network. Suggests I reset the network settings on my iPhone, didn't work. Then he suggested I try connecting the HomePod to my iPad or Mac, doesn't work. Then he suggests I change the band settings on my router, also doesn't work. We tried so many configurations and not a single one worked as the HomePod would not setup and if it did, it couldn't do anything.

I got a callback today after work, but it's getting to the point I'm about to demand my money back because this thing is a piece of junk. All I wanted was a bedside speaker, BUT I CAN'T USE IT AS THAT BECAUSE IT WON'T CONNECT TO ANYTHING!

Edit: Apple never called me back despite having a callback scheduled yesterday. Doesn't matter though as I found the problem. HomePod does not like mesh wifi networks, as once I turned QoS off on my router the thing worked perfectly. NOT A SINGLE SENIOR ADVISOR KNEW THIS AND NOWHERE IN THE SUPPORT PAGE DOES IT MENTION THIS.

At least the HomePod is working perfectly now and sounds incredible, but good lord the software is so bad. HOW THE HELL DID APPLE NOT CATCH THIS? THIS THING HAS BEEN OUT FOR TWO YEARS AND MESH NETWORKS ARE VERY POPULAR NOW!

 

[waw74]

you might want to try a replacement, sometimes mass manufactured things come out with defects, most get caught, but not all, could be a faulty component that occasionally or only partially works. If you take it into an Apple Store, they may even test it for you, and replace if they can't sort it out.

If you're on the other side of your house from your router try moving to the same room as a test, You don't want to be right next to the router, as too close can be problematic also. and try to be away from other Wifi devices, as well as any other wireless things.

 

[fin1]

It may not be related to your issue, if in fact it's a hardware issue, but I have five mini's and have discovered the hard way that they are very sensitive to interference from other electronic devices that are near by (< 30 cm). I struggled to have one remain connected that was sitting on my desktop between my MacBook Pro & an external monitor. It would constantly drop connection and stay "offline". Once I moved it a few feet away from the RF interference, generated from the monitor, it has remained connected.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Found the problem. See the original post. Good lord Apple’s software has taken a nosedive ever since COVID. Q, ****ing, A, please Apple. Seriously you should hire me as a beta tester at this point because after the Macbook Pro speaker popping I’ve been finding and solving so many of your own bugs.

Anyway, we’re good now. After turning QoS off on my router it works perfectly. It sounds fantastic now that it works

Apple for the love of god patch the damn thing, update your Support page articles, and update the Home app to give better information.