New 13.2 Update Bricking Some HomePods [Update Pulled by Apple]

[PCtoMAC1]

Hey folks. I downloaded the update but haven’t installed it. When I launch the Home app I am asked if I want the HomePod to recognize my voice. I’m worried about answering that for fear it will install the update.

How do I remove the update from my phone and iPad? Where is the setting to turn off automatic updates?

 

[lakerchick4life]

Hey folks. I downloaded the update but haven’t installed it. When I launch the Home app I am asked if I want the HomePod to recognize my voice. I’m worried about answering that for fear it will install the update.

How do I remove the update from my phone and iPad? Where is the setting to turn off automatic updates?

When you press the home button on the top of the home app and you see software updates, you can press that you dont want to install updates automatically..for me Im in the same boat as you, updates are set for manual install, it did download the update last night but I have NOT installed it..so when the new fix comes out what happens, does it overwrite the one already downloaded??

 

[Analog Kid]

It's incredible why a service port wasn't user facing on this. Likely a great reminder of why and how dumb the design was on these. Wishing I could go back 24 hours in time right now....

I’ve seen this kind of decision happen over and over at companies other than Apple— the conversation is always around the desired user experience, not the worst case user experience. I get that a hardware button is less ‘clean’, and a physical port is ugly and may ‘communicate a lack of confidence in the product software’ but the alternative is making a minor annoyance a major source of anger when things go wrong. Especially in today’s designs where batteries aren’t removable and power cycling isn‘t an option (not the case w/ HomePod, obviously)— there has to be a path back to the most fundamental boot loader.

This was a QA failure for sure, but also a design failure. They should have tested the new firmware better before release, but they also should have planned for the fact that QA is never perfect.

 

[MacNeb]

Oh FFKS..... yeah missed that, would be nice if Apple reminded me though....
Thank you for pointing out the obvious to me! Haha.

I thought they do remind you, albeit in teeny tiny fine print that you have to search high and low for

 

[Analog Kid]

Hey folks. I downloaded the update but haven’t installed it. When I launch the Home app I am asked if I want the HomePod to recognize my voice. I’m worried about answering that for fear it will install the update.

How do I remove the update from my phone and iPad? Where is the setting to turn off automatic updates?

I can’t say for sure because mine are fully updated, but I think if it’s asking to recognize your voice, the update has happened...

 

[PCtoMAC1]

I can’t say for sure because mine are fully updated, but I think if it’s asking to recognize your voice, the update has happened...

The HomePods still show iOS 12.4 in my iCloud settings.

I saw some posts from people saying to unplug them to kill the download???

 

[ctdonath]

Leaving mine unplugged until 13.2.1 is released.

 

[mudflap]

Called Apple yesterday. Took 5 minutes. Return box for bricked HomePod arrived this morning. Brand new unit arrives on Halloween.

I really wish it didn't happen in the first place, but damn that's SOLID customer service.

 

[Piva]

I have 2 Homepods and one has just been replaced under warranty due to the previous update. It froze and kept flashing the volume lights forever.
Today I spent the night trying to upgrade my two devices and luckily couldn't.
It is absurd for Apple to be silent about this new issue with Homepod updates.
It's a lot of incompetence!

 

[mudflap]

Are you still under warranty? Mines isn’t and I don’t have AppleCare. Does anyone know if Apple will still fix since they caused the situation?

They will replace, warranty or not.

 

[KeithJenner]

Hey folks. I downloaded the update but haven’t installed it. When I launch the Home app I am asked if I want the HomePod to recognize my voice. I’m worried about answering that for fear it will install the update.

How do I remove the update from my phone and iPad? Where is the setting to turn off automatic updates?

My phone asked me if I wanted HomePods to recognise voices after I updated my phone to 13.2. I haven't updated my HomePods.

I said yes, and I think it may have given a message saying it wouldn't happen until HomePods were updated.

 

[whoknows2597]

The HomePods still show iOS 12.4 in my iCloud settings.

I saw some posts from people saying to unplug them to kill the download???

Don’t! Simply go to the Home App, Remove Accessory (Ungroup Accessories if you have Stereo pair first!), then add it back in.

It will force the HomePod to “forget” the update if it was downloaded but not installed (Clicking the Install Button.) The HomePod should now say that it’s on 12.4, and no update notifications should come up now.

If you installed it then you’re screwed.

 

[lakerchick4life]

Don’t! Simply go to the Home App, Remove Accessory, then add it back in. It will force the HomePod to “forget” the update if it was downloaded but not installed (Clicking the Install Button.) The HomePod should now say that it’s on 12.4, and no update notifications should come up now. If you installed it then you’re screwed.

on my Ipad it shows the update as downloaded but NOT installed as mine is set to manually install..so when the new fix comes out what happens, it overwrites the bad update with the good one?

 

[Chris The Bipolarbear]

Just spoke to Apple support and the Guy Recons a few days yet before update, possibly next week They are working on One, but he stressed do not tru to add devices Rome from current device or try reset.

 

[eagleglen]

Don’t! Simply go to the Home App, Remove Accessory, then add it back in. It will force the HomePod to “forget” the update if it was downloaded but not installed (Clicking the Install Button.) The HomePod should now say that it’s on 12.4, and no update notifications should come up now. If you installed it then you’re screwed.

This worked. Thanks!

 

[whoknows2597]

on my Ipad it shows the update as downloaded but NOT installed as mine is set to manually install..so when the new fix comes out what happens, it overwrites the bad update with the good one?

I wouldn’t be 100% confident that it will happen. With iOS updates, as long as you didn’t download the software, then the next release will overwrite. If I were you, I’d still remove the HomePods from the App, then add them again, just in case.

 

[lakerchick4life]

I wouldn’t be 100% confident that it will happen. With iOS updates, as long as you didn’t download the software, then the next release will overwrite. If I were you, I’d still remove the HomePods from the App, then add them again, just in case.

If I remove the homepod from the app will the homepod still work? Sorry totally new at this

 

[Chris The Bipolarbear]

If I remove the homepod from the app will the homepod still work? Sorry totally new at this

Did you update it to IOS 13.2 If you did do not as it would need reseting and it would then need sending back to apple if your still on iOS 12.4 then it can be reset and removed from the app

 

[whoknows2597]

If I remove the homepod from the app will the homepod still work? Sorry totally new at this

Sort of. You pretty much have to set up your HomePod as new. The HomePod will do its chime and a white circle will appear. If you bring your iPhone close to it then a message will appear prompting you to set up your HomePod.

 

[lakerchick4life]

Did you update it to IOS 13.2 If you did do not as it would need reseting and it would then need sending back to apple if your still on iOS 12.4 then it can be reset and removed from the app

No did not update to 13.2 thank goodness..Will just leave it alone, I didnt install anything it just shows that there is an update ready to install just wont bother with it and will see what happens

 

[3460169]

No did not update to 13.2 thank goodness..Will just leave it alone, I didnt install anything it just shows that there is an update ready to install just wont bother with it and will see what happens

Not sure if the whatever fix they come up with will overwrite your already-downloaded 13.2 update. If and only if you have not already applied the bugged 13.2 update, you can remove your HomePod from the Home app and this will reset its settings -- including removing the downloaded but not-yet-installed 13.2 update. Make sure your Home app is set to *not* automagically download updates, and then you can re-add your HomePod to your Home layout. You should find that it will still be on 12.4 and there will be no sign of 13.2 anywhere and if you try to look for HomePod updates it will tell you that 12.4 is the latest version (since Apple pulled the bad 13.2 update). I had an earlier post about this somewhere buried amongst these 16 pages.

 

[lakerchick4life]

Not sure if the whatever fix they come up with will overwrite your already-downloaded 13.2 update. If and only if you have not already applied the bugged 13.2 update, you can remove your HomePod from the Home app and this will reset its settings -- including removing the downloaded but not-yet-installed 13.2 update. Make sure your Home app is set to *not* automagically download updates, and then you can re-add your HomePod to your Home layout. You should find that it will still be on 12.4 and there will be no sign of 13.2 anywhere and if you try to look for HomePod updates it will tell you that 12.4 is the latest version (since Apple pulled the bad 13.2 update). I had an earlier post about this somewhere buried amongst these 16 pages.

Thanks so much so that is all I have to do..just remove the homepod from the home app and thats it? I dont have to press anything on the homepod itself?

 

[DeepIn2U]

Oh ...so many trolls.

sorry this is NOT trolling... this is real world users, not simply fanboys or paid employees/investors trying to drum the Apppe juice.
We recall great Apple coders like Employee #8 (who’s still there but on lesser projects: he’s been an employee since 16yrs old!), or like Bertrand Serlet who released proper OSX (screw the nostalgia rebrand it’s STILL OSX which jibs stayed will serve apple for 20yrs at launch and we’re at year 19!), with not rapid bug fixes because it was not needed. Quality is releases, not half thought half worked on fixes by over paid bonus hoggin hair flaunting is team leads who are NOT working smart nor hard to earn their worth!

 

[Arran]

No did not update to 13.2 thank goodness..Will just leave it alone, I didnt install anything it just shows that there is an update ready to install just wont bother with it and will see what happens

My homepods were left like that this morning.

I just unplugged power for a minute and then reconnected. No need to remove from the Home app. After a short while I closed and reopened the Home app and it was no longer advertising there was an update available.

24-hours later and I'm back where I started! Not complaining. Others got hit worse.

 

[3460169]

Thanks so much so that is all I have to do..just remove the homepod from the home app and thats it? I dont have to press anything on the homepod itself?

Yes. You could remove it from the Home App, wait for the HomePod to reset (it should make some sound or whatever when it's ready, and have a white swirly on its touch panel on top), and then set it up again like you did when you first got it.

Or..... apparently you can just unplug it, wait a minute or two, then plug it back in.... according to Arran's post above mine here.