HomePod Users Complain of Sudden Failures, Could Be Linked to 14.6 and 15 Updates

[bigsnake49]

I reported the problem through feedback, unplugged the HomePod and put it in the closet. My appointment ended up being after a week, I pulled it out, plugged it in and it was working. I also increased sound by pressing on the + symbol, it was resetting fine, could hear the chip and everything.

The honeods only seem to have a problem in one room. It is my personal opinion that it is a power problem (frequency, voltage, spikes, who knows) causing the hone pods to run hot. as they are not vented, the heat builds up and they trip. why it takes a week to reset from the trip is beyond me, and lends uncertainty to my theory, but, like I said, only one room. Take the same Hompod to a different room and it works fine (after it starts again)

One other thing it has a google mesh router in "the room", mesh networks have been reported as problematic. I have no idea how that fits in.

While yours might only have a problem with power, mine and a lot of other people's stopped working because of the update.

 

[ouimetnick]

Apple wants $279 to fix the problem basically swap it for a refurbished one.

That’s because they aren’t actually “fixing” anything. 😉

 

[bigsnake49]

That’s because they aren’t actually “fixing” anything. 😉

Nope, that's one unrepairable device.

 

[scaramoosh]

I'm gonna guess it has nothing to do with an update and more to do with a failure in design like what usually happens with Apple. I mean remember those 2015 MacBook keyboards? Or the 2016/17 screen flex cable on the backlight that was too short. This isn't the main problem with Apple though, it is their horrible treatment of their customers. Most companies I've gone to have fixed my stuff out of warranty for cheap, ASRock fixed a 6 year old motherboard for me free of charge part from postage. Apple just tell you to bugger off and buy a new one.

 

[francoc02o]

Well, I’m glad to say that after insisting on the problem with Apple, they agreed on replacing it for free, even though it was out of warranty.
It depends on the senior adviser that is helping you.

When I called Apple the first time, the Adviser told me to follow some trouble shooting steps. Nothing worked. He set me an appointment to an apple store.
At the Apple Store, even though they tried to help me, they told me that this is an unfixable device, and since it is out of warranty, the replacement costs 279 (almost the full price).
I called them back and asked to be transferred with a senior adviser. This senior adviser was arrogant. He didn’t want to help.
He said: “I’m sorry but it is out of warranty, no matter what is the cause of the problem. There’s nothing you can do but paying the 279 USD if you want one. If it was a spread problem I would have heard from it. But I haven’t”.
I found that unacceptable.
Next day I called and asked to be transferred with another senior advicer, and after having him listen the whole story, he claimed that he’s seen a few cases like this with the HomePod, and for customer satisfaction, they would make an exception to replace it at no cost. That I should go to an apple store and give my case number and they would replace it there.
This time I went to another apple store and the genius that helped me told me that this was the 3rd OG HomePod that came with the same problem.

So if you have the same problem, I recommend you to call apple and notify them about this. Sooner or later they would have enough registries of this problem and probably would launch a recall program as they did with the Best XL speaker.
I have 4 OG HomePods and only 1 died after the last update.

 

[Janschi]

Well, I’m glad to say that after insisting on the problem with Apple, they agreed on replacing it for free, even though it was out of warranty.
It depends on the senior adviser that is helping you.

When I called Apple the first time, the Adviser told me to follow some trouble shooting steps. Nothing worked. He set me an appointment to an apple store.
At the Apple Store, even though they tried to help me, they told me that this is an unfixable device, and since it is out of warranty, the replacement costs 279 (almost the full price).
I called them back and asked to be transferred with a senior adviser. This senior adviser was arrogant. He didn’t want to help.
He said: “I’m sorry but it is out of warranty, no matter what is the cause of the problem. There’s nothing you can do but paying the 279 USD if you want one. If it was a spread problem I would have heard from it. But I haven’t”.
I found that unacceptable.
Next day I called and asked to be transferred with another senior advicer, and after having him listen the whole story, he claimed that he’s seen a few cases like this with the HomePod, and for customer satisfaction, they would make an exception to replace it at no cost. That I should go to an apple store and give my case number and they would replace it there.
This time I went to another apple store and the genius that helped me told me that this was the 3rd OG HomePod that came with the same problem.

So if you have the same problem, I recommend you to call apple and notify them about this. Sooner or later they would have enough registries of this problem and probably would launch a recall program as they did with the Best XL speaker.
I have 4 OG HomePods and only 1 died after the last update.

Thank you for your report! This will be helpful for the affected people.