How to AirPlay Audio From Your Mac to HomePod

[passedpast]

I've tried to get my HomePod to airplay from my Apple TV but cannot get it to work. When I check the HomePod in Apple TV audio settings and then head over to Youtube the audio still comes from my TV. I go back to settings and the HomePod is not checked. I tried another youtube channel, swiped down with the remote and checked the HomePod but when I went to start the video the audio came back to my tv. So frustrating, this HomePod. It sounds great but.....

 

[FilipeTeixeira]

I work for Apple, Airplay support was released for most 2011 macs. Also the Iphone 4 supported Airplay.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201343 You might want to get your facts straight. And even 2009 macs had "fast processors". Airparrot works fine for Airplay to get past the "limitations.

I'm naturally talking about Airplay 2. Actually on apple's website, they mention that Airplay 2 requires a 2012 or newer Macbook Pro. So I'm getting my facts straight.
Also your link points to Airplay to stream Video, which is odd as we're talking about Audio here.
https://www.apple.com/homepod/specs/
"Peer-to-peer AirPlay requires a Mac (2012 or later) with OS X Yosemite or later"

The question remains. Will older devices still work with Airplay 2? Meaning that Airplay 2 has some sort of backward compatibility with Airplay 1?

 

[ignatius345]

Anybody who has a HomePod: does it have any support for Home Sharing from a Mac running iTunes? I have a big library of music and currently use the iOS Remote app to stream it via AirPlay to my speakers. I'm wondering if HomePod would be smart enough to take a voice command asking to play something streaming from my local library, or if I'd be stuck doing what I do now and control it all via that same Remote app.

edit: never mind, from this 9to5Mac article, it appears not. Very lame omission.

If you add music to your home iTunes library that was not acquired through a purchase, HomePod will not be able to access it. It appears HomePod doesn’t have Home Sharing, which would enable that kind of feature.

 

[deasys]

For over a year I've been asking Siri how far away Kelnowa, BC is and it still can't figure it out. Google has no issues. Can you give it a try?

Don't nobody can figure out your question, Steevo! If google gave you a response to that, it's just making sh*t up.

Try asking Siri how far away Kelowna, British Columbia is. She'll give you the right answer. (Note the spelling of the city.)

 

[mr.steevo]

I

Don't nobody can figure out your question, Steevo! If google gave you a response to that, it's just making sh*t up.

Try asking Siri how far away Kelowna, British Columbia is. She'll give you the right answer. (Note the spelling of the city.)

I just did.

I got directions to Victoria, British Columbia.

Siri can't understand Kelowna when I say it. Anyone else want to try?
[doublepost=1518571138][/doublepost]Maybe it’s my pronunciation so what I did is look up a pronunciation online and had the online voice say it.

My results.

 

[AndrewSalfinger]

Anyone else having lag when using it as a audio output from the Mac. Via iTunes with airplay it works fine but as a audio output from the Mac there seems to be 1 to 2 second delay.

 

[rulymammoth]

Anyone else having lag when using it as a audio output from the Mac. Via iTunes with airplay it works fine but as a audio output from the Mac there seems to be 1 to 2 second delay.

Yes, hoping that can be improved with AirPlay 2.

 

[mpainesyd]

Using System Prefs or the Audio icon in the menu bar I have a Mac playing audio via the Homepod but the Mac does not remember this setting. After sleeping it reverts to the internal speakers.
Bizarrely I got it working one time when I was playing with EyeTV’s audio settings, which allow me to select audio output, including the system default. By changing these settings I inadvertently set the Mac’s default sound to be the Homepod. However after rebooting for a software update the Mac reverted to the internal speakers after sleeping. I cannot remember the sequence of EyeTV audio settings that overcame this - Grrr!

Maybe there is a Terminal command that achieves the same effect?

BTW - Playing EyeTV audio via the Homepod is hopelessly out of sync and is unwatchable. The Mac could do with the same audio syncing features as the AppleTV, which seems to adjust for the 1-2 second audio lag when using Airplay [correction: some ATV apps make the adjustment, others are out of sync!]

 

[Rzy]

Apple need to start thinking more about its mainstream consumers. The fact that I had to come to Macrumors to figure out how to connect my HomePod to my 2017 Macbook Pro is just ridiculous. It wasn't difficult, using these simple instructions, but I would never had figured it out on my own, without consulting a web site (and no instructions like these are on Apple's own HomePod user guide, on line). God forbid that when you manufacture a home appliance, it should come with easy-to-follow, but thorough, instructions!

 

[Lappen71]

Apple need to start thinking more about its mainstream consumers. The fact that I had to come to Macrumors to figure out how to connect my HomePod to my 2017 Macbook Pro is just ridiculous. It wasn't difficult, using these simple instructions, but I would never had figured it out on my own, without consulting a web site (and no instructions like these are on Apple's own HomePod user guide, on line). God forbid that when you manufacture a home appliance, it should come with easy-to-follow, but thorough, instructions!

No you didn't need to be a member of the forum to read how to connect.
You need to be a member to complain.
And how ***** do you have to be not to figure out how to connect with BT.

https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/airplay-audio-from-mac-to-homepod/

 

[Babygotfont]

To play music from third-party music services like Spotify to your HomePod, you don't need an iOS device -- a Mac will work too. You can send any audio playing on your Mac right to your HomePod, and not just audio from iTunes.

To AirPlay from Mac to HomePod, your Mac and your HomePod need to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Make Sure Volume is Enabled in Menu Bar

It's easiest to AirPlay sound to the HomePod from a Mac using the menu bar on your Mac, but to do that, you need to make sure your audio settings are readily accessible. By default, audio settings aren't available on the menu bar, so you'll need to fix that.

1. Open up System Preferences.
   
2. Choose Sound.
   
3. Select the "Output" tab.
   
   
   
   
4. Check the "Show volume in menu bar" box.

While it's easiest to use the menu bar, you can actually AirPlay to the HomePod using the Sound section of System Preferences. To do so, double click on the HomePod, which should be named after the room that it's in.

Selecting HomePod as an Audio Output Device from the Menu Bar

Once sound controls are accessible from the menu bar, it's simple to route the sound from your Mac to the HomePod.

1. Click on the volume button in the menu bar.
   
2. Under the "Output Device" list, choose the HomePod, which is labeled as the room that it's in. Mine is Office 2, because I have two AirPlay devices in my office.
   
   

With the HomePod selected as the audio output device, all audio from your Mac will be sent to the HomePod. You can't pick and choose -- every sound from your Mac will be played on the HomePod instead of on your Mac's speakers.

When using the HomePod this way, as an external speaker for the Mac, there's no option to use Siri to do things like skip songs. tYou'll need to control playback on your Mac, but you can use the physical controls on the HomePod to adjust volume.

AirPlaying from iTunes

For the most part, you need to use the audio output settings to AirPlay music from a third-party service to the Mac, but if you're playing content from iTunes, you can use the built-in iTunes AirPlay controls.

1. Open iTunes.
   
2. Play a song from Apple Music or your music library.
   
   
   
   
3. In iTunes, click on the
   
   
   icon.
   
4. Select the HomePod icon.

Because you can play Apple Music and iCloud Music Library content directly on the HomePod, there's probably not much need to AirPlay from iTunes to the HomePod, but the option is there if you need it.

Article Link: How to AirPlay Audio From Your Mac to HomePod

[doublepost=1527423584][/doublepost]only the ROOMS are being displayed in the MAC OS VOLUME DROP DOWN for AIRPLAY DEVICES ... we'll need the ROOM and DEVICE ... or the icon/picture of the device (both iTunes and IOS shows the icons)

 

[mpainesyd]

Using System Prefs or the Audio icon in the menu bar I have a Mac playing audio via the Homepod but the Mac does not remember this setting. After sleeping it reverts to the internal speakers.
Bizarrely I got it working one time when I was playing with EyeTV’s audio settings, which allow me to select audio output, including the system default. By changing these settings I inadvertently set the Mac’s default sound to be the Homepod. However after rebooting for a software update the Mac reverted to the internal speakers after sleeping. I cannot remember the sequence of EyeTV audio settings that overcame this - Grrr!

Maybe there is a Terminal command that achieves the same effect?

BTW - Playing EyeTV audio via the Homepod is hopelessly out of sync and is unwatchable. The Mac could do with the same audio syncing features as the AppleTV, which seems to adjust for the 1-2 second audio lag when using Airplay [correction: some ATV apps make the adjustment, others are out of sync!]

I have installed Airfoil and it seems to have resolved most sync problems but still doesn’t remember the Homepod as a default for itunes.

Regarding Homesharing, I doubt if Apple will bring it to the Honepod because it clashes with their dream of everyone converting to an Aplle Music subscription.

 

[Splandid]

For me,

2 Pods in Stereo...

Works well with :
5s - 11.4.1b3
X - 12b2
iPad mini 2017 - 12b2

Also on Mac with 10.14 only can use one Pod in Drop down Menu in the Soundpreffs.

 

[ibizan]

Yes, hoping that can be improved with AirPlay 2.

Still looking for a suitable speaker for my Mac setup but held off on the HomePod due to reports of latency. Has AirPlay 2 resolved issues of lag for audio sources such as Youtube and playing videos in Chrome/Safari/VLC?

 

[technerdlogic]

In September of 2018 it would appear that AirPlay 2 is still not an option on the Mac. As I am still experiencing lag when using it as an output and the sound is not as good compared to when I play it from my iPhone. I called Apple to confirm and their level one support barely knows what airplay even is. Told me everything should work and probably my HomePod needs repair. Load of crap. Side note: Apple low key has terrible customer service. They are nice and all but I don't think any of them own apple products because the few times I have had to call I had to hang up prematurely because the incompetence started to give me a headache. Can anyone confirm my they are still having trouble with this?