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

[lakerchick4life]

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.

And that will even work even if I already downloaded the update but didnt install it..it shows up in My Home says update available
[automerge]1572382360[/automerge]

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.

By unplugging the homepod and plugging it back in its not being reset by doing that? I wont have to do anything else? Basically it would be like the power went out and back on

 

[iConcept]

If the update is pulled, anyone know why when I just went into my Home app has it told me to download and install 13.2?

 

[Arran]

And that will even work even if I already downloaded the update but didnt install it..it shows up in My Home says update available

Yeah. I unplugged just one this morning (because it had taken over as "primary" HomeKit hub and I wanted to quickly bounce hub responsibilities back to one of the other two. Why, you ask? Long story. Not relevant here).

Anyway, after I plugged it back in I noticed it was no longer advertising an "Update available". So I did the same with the other two homepods and that was it! That also took the, "An update is available..." notice off of the Home app's "My Home" page (the page that shows Your Home's name, lights on/off status, favorites, etc.)

By unplugging the homepod and plugging it back in its not being reset by doing that? I wont have to do anything else? Basically it would be like the power went out and back on

Yep. Just power on and off. I didn't need to set them up again or anything.

 

[lakerchick4life]

Yeah. I unplugged just one this morning (because it had taken over as "primary" HomeKit hub and I wanted to quickly bounce hub responsibilities back to one of the other two. Why, you ask? Long story. Not relevant here).

Anyway, after I plugged it back in I noticed it was no longer advertising an "Update available". So I did the same with the other two homepods and that was it! That also took the, "An update is available..." notice off of the Home app's "My Home" page (the page that shows Your Home's name, lights on/off status, favorites, etc.)



Yep. Just power on and off. I didn't need to set them up again or anything.

Awesome that did it..took a second for it to reconnect because of my crappy Wifi signal but the home app no longer shows any update available..is it Ok to check for update just to see if its truly gone or just forget it? Thanks so much !!
Edit: Just checked yep shows 13.2 is gone

 

[archer75]

If the update is pulled, anyone know why when I just went into my Home app has it told me to download and install 13.2?

It may be back now. Mine has been stuck on "installing" since yesterday. It just recently switched to "download and install 13.2" I didn't reset or add/remove.

 

[billcod]

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.

Thanks for the advice. This worked for me, too. Although I got a bit nervous when it took so long to set up the second of my stereo pair. But, eventually they both started to play. Like you say, it is on 12.4, with no update mentioned. Auto-update turned off.

 

[bbbobbb]

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.

Thank you thank you thank you, saved me from calling apple. You do have to "ungroup" though if your HPods are in a Stereo pair.

Thanks!

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

Time for the armchair quarterbacks to whine about “quality assurance”. Every update on every device ever produced by humans has bugs etc. Apple quickly pulled it and they’ll fix it. Get over yourselves

Bugs yes. Widespread bricking of a device with only one model that people pay hundreds of dollars for? No.

To tell others to get over themselves as they are sitting with a device they cannot use through no fault of their own, is just absolutely positively ridiculous. 🙄

 

[sidewinder3000]

All 9 of my HomePods are dead. This might be the straw that makes me defect to Microsoft. And after ordering the new AirPods this morning I'm just in utter shock at this point that they allow this to happen.

Where do you even begin in discussing a software update bricking $3,000 in speakers and they offer a certified replacement unit because of their foul up? This is a new record low in my opinion and might move to Sonos if this is what they deem as acceptable. Singlehandledly 5 hours ago turned my smart home into a brick.

@TimApple, unbelievable!!!

It sucks that your 9 HomePods are bricked. I have 5 HomePods that are messed up and so believe me, I understand. But just to be fair, it’s not like Microsoft, or Sonos, or Google don’t have their share of software issues as well. As Apple users we are intimately aware of every issue because they impact us, and the media lovvves Apple news because it’s great for clicks, but I think it’s a mistake to think the grass is greener on the other side. Wanna know why you never hear about glitches in FitBit or Cortana, or Nest software? Because those stories aren’t interesting to the press.

I have no idea how you fix a bricking problem with software, but I’m guessing Apple has all hands on deck to fix this ASAP. 🤞
[automerge]1572387930[/automerge]

Bugs yes. Widespread bricking of a device with only one model that people pay hundreds of dollars for? No.

To tell others to get over themselves as they are sitting with a device they cannot use through no fault of their own, is just absolutely positively ridiculous. 🙄

JimmyHook’s delivery might be gruff, but he’s right. This stuff happens. And yes, even to fancy, expensive speakers. And it happens with all companies. In the end you need to decide for yourself, which company do you trust to fix the inevitable problems that do crop up the quickest?

 

[archer75]

It did recently happen to google with their home devices. An updated bricked some of them. If you're affected they will replace them.

 

[sracer]

This is simply unforgivable - there is precisely one version HomePod out in the wild - no diversity of hardware whatsoever - and they manage to screw that up.

Customers won't bear premium prices for products that simply don't work for much longer.

Yes, they will. This is far from the first snafu with an Apple product and their revenue is just fine.

Apple will continue to botch up things like this until every customer buys AppleCare+ for every Apple product they buy. So many posts here on MR by people who (A) are "thankful" they bought AC+ for their product that failed, or (B) didn't buy AC+ but will definitely buy it the next time they buy an Apple product.

Only in Appleland do customers reward a company for producing a product of declining quality by giving them MORE money. 🤪

 

[tothemoonsands]

Looks like 13.2 is back to being available. The question is....is it safe now??

 

[upandown]

So the new music handoff and different personalized voice features aren't working. Any ideas?

Edit: They work for the "owner" but not me, a family member.

 

[JLBJ]

OK - it’s 4:16 PM PST and I just got off the phone with Apple. Here’s what I was told...

Don’t touch 13.2
The issue has been farmed out and no ETA is known for a new version
The new version will LIKELY have a new number associated with it - like 13.3
Watch the Apple site for the go ahead

I hope this helps.

 

[tothemoonsands]

OK - it’s 4:16 PM PST and I just got off the phone with Apple. Here’s what I was told...

Don’t touch 13.2
The issue has been farmed out and no ETA is known for a new version
The new version will LIKELY have a new number associated with it - like 13.3
Watch the Apple site for the go ahead

I hope this helps.

Thank you - much appreciated!

 

[ErikGrim]

I'm not sure what the intervals are, but my Apple TV is set to auto update and it's gone days without automatically updating before (and yes, being used in that time). I imagine that most people experiencing problems manually ran the update first, even if their HomePod was set to auto-update.

By the time I read this article, mine were already in the process of updating. It was only dumb luck that I was able to stop them.
[automerge]1572393362[/automerge]

It's fun to program different scenes. Ask Alexa to set the mood and dim lights everywhere, tell her it's time to make dinner and she lights up the kitchen, starts some music. I pull up my favorite recipes on Echo Show installed in the kitchen and start cooking. At the end of the evening I can say "going upstairs," and Alexa will shut off the lights downstairs, turn on the staircase light for one minute, lock the front door, turn on the lights under the bed in the master bedroom and set both nightstand lights to low blue light for nighttime. Wake up in the morning and tell Alexa it's time to get ready and master bathroom lights will go on, bedroom lights will brighten, weather for the day will be announced along with calendar entries. I love it.

This is exactly how I use the HomePods and Siri. Nothing you are mentioning here is unique to Alexa in any way.

 

[rjjacobson]

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.

I can verify that this works. Unplugged for minute then back on shortly I looked at the settings in home app and no update available and 12.4 is up to date so there is no 13.2 waiting in wings. Like that I did not have to remove the home app and start over almost. Simple fix to get rid of the notification for 13.2 that is pulled. I do not think it ever downloaded anyway because of all the server problems at that time of day yesterday.

 

[whoknows2597]

Thank you thank you thank you, saved me from calling apple. You do have to "ungroup" though if your HPods are in a Stereo pair.

Thanks!

Oops! Thanks for reminding me! I was in a rush to type out the necessary info that I completely overlooked that minor detail!

 

[MadeTheSwitch]

And yes, even to fancy, expensive speakers.

Sonos has had their fancy speakers lock up?


I really wish people would stop being apologist for companies and stop defending poor quality control. This is why we can’t have nice things. 🙄

 

[thomamon]

I have mine unplugged for now. I hope they have a fix out soon. Now I have to get up to turn on the lights... I can't have that. 🤣

 

[Spankey]

Removed all of mine from Home app and re-added. Update is gone. So lucky I found this thread last night. Thanks for the help all. Sorry for those that got bricked.

 

[Digital Dude]

Another well-executed major update from Apple. I would've thought they would've tried it on at least one HomePod before pushing it out to the masses. Fortunately, they have money to burn, so replacing a bunch of HomePods won't hurt them.
[automerge]1572407843[/automerge]

Poor quality control and lack of appropriate testing. Add to that, senior management putting the developers under pressure to release products before they are ready and appropriately tested to maximise potential sales and that's your answer.

I have to hand it to you; your response was a bit more kind than mine. "The force of marketing is greater than the force of technology."

 

[viettanium]

anything news from Apple?

 

[Expos of 1969]

Yes, they will. This is far from the first snafu with an Apple product and their revenue is just fine.

Apple will continue to botch up things like this until every customer buys AppleCare+ for every Apple product they buy. So many posts here on MR by people who (A) are "thankful" they bought AC+ for their product that failed, or (B) didn't buy AC+ but will definitely buy it the next time they buy an Apple product.

Only in Appleland do customers reward a company for producing a product of declining quality by giving them MORE money. 🤪

sracer: Sad but very true in many cases. I am always amused by those who post "Take my money now!!" as soon as an over-priced item is announced.

 

[tomtendo]

It seems the culprit is if you "reset" the homepod... I updated with no problems, but I guess if I reset, then gameover?

Question what is a reset? Is that the same as restarting it? Unplugging and letting it boot back up?