HomePod How to setup HomePods..

[Hallstar]

Hi all,

I am new to HomePods and trying to understand how multiple HomePods / Rooms / Users can all come together and work in harmony.

I have the following logged in via my Apple ID

- Apple TV 4K in living room
- 2x HomePods in living room - for home cinema
- 1x HomePod in upstairs office
- iPad Pro 12.9 (2020) - not always in house

My partner has a HomePod in the kitchen logged into her Apple ID.

My partner would like to keep hers logged to her Apple ID, but I would like to see it visible in the Home app, along with my three HomePods, for all family to access.

What is the best order and configuration to set these all up?

I am happy to reset all to factory and start setup again.

TIA

 

[dotme]

I think the best strategy is to move your partner's Homepod to run under your AppleID. It will then be visible and accessible in your Home app (and Homekit) and become part of the group. Granting your partner full access to the Home (including the ability to add/edit accessories and scenes) would give them the same level of control as you.

The big "if" on all this, though, would be your ability to enable and configure Personal Requests on all Homepods, but especially your partner's. If you can get that device to recognize both your voices, you'd be all set. Your partner can still play their music, access their calendar, send texts, all using their AppleID still. The big difference with running your ID on that device as primary simply allows it to join the "Home" and become a hub, bluetooth extender, intercom node etc.

I know some people have struggled with mutiple people and personal requests. I've had no issues with my Homepods recognizing both me and my wife.

Hope this helps.

 

[Hallstar]

I think the best strategy is to move your partner's Homepod to run under your AppleID. It will then be visible and accessible in your Home app (and Homekit) and become part of the group. Granting your partner full access to the Home (including the ability to add/edit accessories and scenes) would give them the same level of control as you.

The big "if" on all this, though, would be your ability to enable and configure Personal Requests on all Homepods, but especially your partner's. If you can get that device to recognize both your voices, you'd be all set. Your partner can still play their music, access their calendar, send texts, all using their AppleID still. The big difference with running your ID on that device as primary simply allows it to join the "Home" and become a hub, bluetooth extender, intercom node etc.

I know some people have struggled with mutiple people and personal requests. I've had no issues with my Homepods recognizing both me and my wife.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Dotme. I think that makes a lot of sense. I will give it a go

 

[DeepIn2U]

I think the best strategy is to move your partner's Homepod to run under your AppleID. It will then be visible and accessible in your Home app (and Homekit) and become part of the group. Granting your partner full access to the Home (including the ability to add/edit accessories and scenes) would give them the same level of control as you.

The big "if" on all this, though, would be your ability to enable and configure Personal Requests on all Homepods, but especially your partner's. If you can get that device to recognize both your voices, you'd be all set. Your partner can still play their music, access their calendar, send texts, all using their AppleID still. The big difference with running your ID on that device as primary simply allows it to join the "Home" and become a hub, bluetooth extender, intercom node etc.

I know some people have struggled with mutiple people and personal requests. I've had no issues with my Homepods recognizing both me and my wife.

Hope this helps.

Just to be clear the HomePod will ‘recognize both your voices’ just with ALL HomePods being under 1 iCloud account with Personal Requests enabled you’ll not be able to have Siri read your partners personal iMessages/SMS/MMS, Emails, Phone Address Book for direct contact or inbound information (Even with Home Sharing enabled).