Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
How to Change Siri and Audio Volume on HomePod
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I have a Hompod and a Homepod Mini. They Homepod's voice is too loud, The Mini voice is too soft. If I tell the mini "Set your voice volume to 55%." Or, "Set your volume to 60%" or "Speak louder" Siri responds in a loud voice "I'll speak up." or "I'll speak louder." or "This is me at 55%." But then I ask about the weather and Siri responds at the same really quiet volume as before. So Siri says in a loud voice, "I'll speak louder." But then absolutely doesn't.
The HomePod and the HomePod mini are designed to automatically adjust the volume of the Siri assistant based on the level of noise in the room, but you can also verbally adjust Siri's volume level separately from the volume level of the media that's playing.
This how to walks you through the commands that you need to specifically adjust Siri's volume as needed.
How to Change Siri's Volume on HomePod
On HomePod or HomePod mini, you can ask Siri to set the Siri volume to a specific percent, which is an adjustment that is separate from the media volume.
To do so, just say "Hey Siri, change your volume to [percent]." You can also say "Hey Siri, speak at [percent]."
If you tell Siri to set the Siri volume to 34 percent, for example, it will adjust it to that level while the music volume stays the same. Siri can be forced to be quieter or louder than your music.
Change the Media Volume on HomePod
You can also verbally adjust the media volume with a similar command, and this will adjust just the song volume without changing the Siri sound level.
To change the media volume, just say "Hey Siri, change the media volume to [percent]."
Music levels can also be adjusted using the - and + buttons on the top of the HomePod or through a connected iPhone or iPad, but adjusting Siri volume specifically seems to require the spoken command.
Update: Multiple MacRumors forum members have reported that Siri's volume does not stay at the requested level permanently, and reverts back to a default automatic level anywhere from minutes to hours after the request. There is, unfortunately, no known fix for the issue at this time.
Article Link: How to Change Siri's Volume on HomePod
On my Homepod the voice is way too loud. So, I ask in all manner of ways to set the voice volume lower. It responds in a softer voice "I'll speak softer." But once again, when asked anything Siri blares the response.
I can control the media volume on both with voice commands and the music will play louder or softer as commanded. But the voice volume is an absolute joke.
The reported steps appear to work until you adjust the volume using the volume controls on the HomePod or via iOS — then Siri’s volume is reset to match what you just changed the volume to.
We shouldn’t have to use a Siri command every time to adjust the “media” volume if we want to lock in a higher or lower Siri volume. This is bad HID (human interface design) and should have been fixed by now.
In my case, my HomePod Siri is too loud, and my HomePod mini Siri is too quiet.
We shouldn’t have to use a Siri command every time to adjust the “media” volume if we want to lock in a higher or lower Siri volume. This is bad HID (human interface design) and should have been fixed by now.
In my case, my HomePod Siri is too loud, and my HomePod mini Siri is too quiet.
Open Home app.
Tap Automation
Tap +
Tap Add Automation
Tap A Time of Day Occurs
Set time/days, then Next
Choose your HomePod(s), then Next
Tap Audio, then Adjust Volume Only
Use the slider to adjust
Tap Back, then Done
I own a HomePod and I must say that this device has been such a letdown. There's so much potential but it is severely crippled by the horrendous UX. Even for the most basic settings you have to hunt through several apps, and on sites like this there are *tutorials* for setting the volume of the Siri voice. A tutorial! For a volume setting!
All Apple needs to do is provide a decent app to control this thing. Select your preferred streaming source (wasn't that promised ages ago?), adjust the sound to your preferences, set the interaction sound level, etcetera - all in one place. Have you ever tried to change the WiFi network your HomePod connects to? Yup, it requires a full factory reset. Abysmal.
The eternal arrogance of 'Apple knows best' is preventing them from offering even the most basic controls. And so you sit there, trying to connect your Apple TV to your HomePod which should 'magically' work - but for some reason fails. There's no UI for the 'magic', and so there's nothing you can do. You can't even troubleshoot. Honestly, there's really no excuse for such a crap design. This is one of those Apple products where the hardware is not enhanced but crippled by the software.
Phew, felt good to finally get that off my chest.
All Apple needs to do is provide a decent app to control this thing. Select your preferred streaming source (wasn't that promised ages ago?), adjust the sound to your preferences, set the interaction sound level, etcetera - all in one place. Have you ever tried to change the WiFi network your HomePod connects to? Yup, it requires a full factory reset. Abysmal.
The eternal arrogance of 'Apple knows best' is preventing them from offering even the most basic controls. And so you sit there, trying to connect your Apple TV to your HomePod which should 'magically' work - but for some reason fails. There's no UI for the 'magic', and so there's nothing you can do. You can't even troubleshoot. Honestly, there's really no excuse for such a crap design. This is one of those Apple products where the hardware is not enhanced but crippled by the software.
Phew, felt good to finally get that off my chest.
My Partner purchased the HomePod Mini earlier this month as a birthday present for me, he did not know that this smart speaker was not really that smart and would have these issues with volume control. I too have tried all of the recommended “fixes” for correcting Siri’s volume level; with absolutely no success. I can try the said fixes, then ask Siri for the time, weather, etc. and she will immediately revert back to her default volume which is not usable in my opinion (at least not after dinnertime).
For now, I have decided to keep the HomePod Mini in hopes that Apple gets it together and fixes some of these very basic problems that they’re are responsible for in the end. We purchased the product, it is up to the manufacturer to make it function properly. Yes, I do know how to use Apple products properly; we have been using pretty much every Apple product that they have made over the past twenty years.
To Araadt.
Thank You for caring about your neighbors…. I live in a Townhouse with neighbors on either side of me, on one side they‘re relatively quiet (albeit annoying as they seem to live way too much of their day out on the deck staring at their plants and staring into my windows and tormenting my dogs); but the neighbors on the other side just love to play their massive IMAX size television and sound–bar that apparently is either mounted on the wall or directly against the wall as it vibrates the entire wall and floor.
it is so bad that I have had to rearrange my entire living room to try to get as far away from that side of the room; and I have to wear my AirPods from early afternoon thru about 3-4AM most days of the week.
It must be nice to still be on unemployment or whatever during COVID, as there is no possibility that anyone can act & appear professional if working from home while playing their TV, Music & Karaoke for the majority of the day and night.
I have been working from home for almost 18 years; I keep all sounds, activities, deliveries, etc down to a minimum as that is what I would expect of others…. so I try my best to return the same quality of life while sharing walls so closely.
Sorry for the complement turned rant, I just really appreciate when someone actually thinks ahead and curtails their activities and their direct impact on others; that is what living in a society is supposed to be about. Not caring only about your own wants & needs; I feel like I‘m living in a frat house and project housing due to the activities that go on here, and if I keep can my level of noise down to a whisper then everyone else can do the same…. It is possible.
Q
Yep. It feels like the HomePod/mini were designed as Apple Music machines and everything else was an afterthought.
So I wanted to test this again with 14.5 but I can't get it to work so that ONLY the voice volume changes. I'm a German user so if any German here could help me this would be awesome. It seems like whatever I say always changes the whole volume (media + voice).
Are you saying that media and voice volume is always exactly the same for you? Like media=20, then voice=20? If so, then that’s weird. Or are you saying that if you raise or lower the media volume, the voice volume will raise or lower with it but at a different volume? If so, then that is normal. Siri’s voice volume will always adjust itself to what it thinks makes sense relative to the media volume (whether any audio is playing or not). But that means at lower media volumes, Siri’s voice is a little louder than media, at higher media volumes, Siri’s voice is a little quieter than media. For example, at media volume 0, voice will be 18; at media volume 20, voice will be 35; at media volume 50, voice will be 48. These are the numbers for the regular HomePod, the mini number pattern is a little different.
14.5 hasn’t changed the behavior for me. If I try to set the media and voice volumes independently, they still immediately revert to default.
The thing is: I don't know 😅 Because I can't seem to find the right German phrase which lets me set the Siri volume. It always changes the media volume.
Oh not sure I can help you there. The only German I know is nein danke. So was there a phrase that used to work on 14.4?
Nice tip MacRumors. As for the HomePod it would be useful if Siri would tell you that could be done. 
My homepod is updated to 14.5.
My homepod is updated to 14.5.
I tried it in February (don't know the exact version number) but back then it used to work (well, at least semi-work since the volume reset itself but at least I could change the Siri volume separately). Now, I used the phrase that I think I used back then but the media volume changes all the time unfortunately.
I just found on a support.apple.com webpage that when Siri is not speaking you can tap the + or - on top of your HomePod to set the volume. I have tried this on my mini HomePod and so far it’s staying set When I ask “Siri what is your speaking volume” and not reverting back
The HomePod and the HomePod mini are designed to automatically adjust the volume of the Siri assistant based on the level of noise in the room, but you can also verbally adjust Siri's volume level separately from the volume level of the media that's playing.
This how to walks you through the commands that you need to specifically adjust Siri's volume as needed.
How to Change Siri's Volume on HomePod
On HomePod or HomePod mini, you can ask Siri to set the Siri volume to a specific percent, which is an adjustment that is separate from the media volume.
To do so, just say "Hey Siri, change your volume to [percent]." You can also say "Hey Siri, speak at [percent]."
If you tell Siri to set the Siri volume to 34 percent, for example, it will adjust it to that level while the music volume stays the same. Siri can be forced to be quieter or louder than your music.
Change the Media Volume on HomePod
You can also verbally adjust the media volume with a similar command, and this will adjust just the song volume without changing the Siri sound level.
To change the media volume, just say "Hey Siri, change the media volume to [percent]."
Music levels can also be adjusted using the - and + buttons on the top of the HomePod or through a connected iPhone or iPad, but adjusting Siri volume specifically seems to require the spoken command.
Update: Multiple MacRumors forum members have reported that Siri's volume does not stay at the requested level permanently, and reverts back to a default automatic level anywhere from minutes to hours after the request. There is, unfortunately, no known fix for the issue at this time.
Article Link: How to Change Siri's Volume on HomePod
Thanks for the tip. I just tested it though, and it’s the equivalent of changing the media volume via Siri. It simultaneously changes both the media and Siri volume, so it’s still not independent, unfortunately. (No media was playing at the time of testing, I checked the media volume by asking Siri.) I feel like that support page could have been clearer about that.
One time I tried setting the media volume to 90%, just for fun to hear how loud the HomePod mini could be. At first Siri responded with "This is very loud. Are you sure?". After I said yes, it turned the volume up really good. One or two songs later I asked Siri what the current volume level settings was and it replied "74%". I'm not sure if the setting "Sound check" is responsible for that.
The idea to let Homekit automation set the volume of all HomePod minis is great. In the late evening a low setting and around 8 in the morning medium volume.
Also, two days after the Apple's 'Unleashed' Event, the servers responsible for Siri were down for short time. Any request to the HomePods gave "I'm having trouble connecting to the internet". That response is just misleading, since the internet connection was fully up and music was streaming just fine. The more correct response would be "I'm sorry, I cannot proces your request at this moment due to a problem with an Apple server." or something like that.
The idea to let Homekit automation set the volume of all HomePod minis is great. In the late evening a low setting and around 8 in the morning medium volume.
I had similar problems when I got my HomePod minis recently, but eventually I found that the problems were related to connection issues caused by a configuration error in my network gateway. A good and fast internet and wifi connection is kind of mandatory with HomePod use. Secondly I had to reconfigure my own contact info on my iPhone multiple times, which made the HomePods not recognising me. The data got erased several times and I still don't know how that happend.
Also, two days after the Apple's 'Unleashed' Event, the servers responsible for Siri were down for short time. Any request to the HomePods gave "I'm having trouble connecting to the internet". That response is just misleading, since the internet connection was fully up and music was streaming just fine. The more correct response would be "I'm sorry, I cannot proces your request at this moment due to a problem with an Apple server." or something like that.
Hmmm... how do you know that it was Apple's servers down and not your internet connection? I'm sure that you checked another site to verify that. Which one? Do you want Siri to make the call to Apple and when it fails, to check with Yahoo.com or something?
I wish Siri inside the Homepod had a diagnostic command. Usually in the rare case internet connection is down at home I'll get loud curses coming from other rooms
. That other day it wasn't the case. The bedroom Homepod mini responded on each voice command with "I have trouble connecting to the internet". The (Apple) music kept on playing though and had control over it with the touch button and via the iPhone. So I checked the Apple Service Status pages first; every status was green at that moment. But after 10 minutes I saw twitter messages appear that more people worldwide had similar problems. That lasted for at least an hour with any changes on the Apple Service Status pages.Later that week I found other issues. I had made a firmware update on my Wifi AP and that had a serious memory overflow problem which caused random connection issues with random devices. It took a couple of hours to locate the problem and switch firmware a version back. At the same time I was busy analysing a long running problem with the QoS function on the local router. It has options to prioritise several services including the ones from Apple. It turned out not to function that well with the limited upload channel in my home, causing stutter and random blocking in specific situations. These kinds of problems appearing at the same time are hard to trace
Quick update: I found a solution that at least works for me. Maybe it does for anyone else, too, so I'd like to share it: Instead of mentioning a specific loudness level, I said "Hey Siri, speak more quietly" (translated from German). I couldn't believe my ears when I noticed that this actually caused the Siri audio level to stay put at a lower volume. Really glad this worked. Hopefully it works for anyone else, too.
I think there is a change in the software now. (I do not know when the option started to be available)
If you say "Hey Siri, turn off automatic Siri volume." And then ask for the volume adjustment at a percentage, it appears to remain. (At least for me and it is more then 24 hours)
If you say "Hey Siri, turn off automatic Siri volume." And then ask for the volume adjustment at a percentage, it appears to remain. (At least for me and it is more then 24 hours)