If you've recently bought or received a HomePod Mini, you may be wondering just how to get it started. While Siri has been around for a long time as a smart assistant, it's true that people, in general, are more familiar with Alexa or Google Assistant. This is somewhat due to the fact that the HomePod Mini is currently the only speaker with Siri on board.
But Apple's reputation for ease of use and sleek interfaces carry over here, and setting up the HomePod Mini is incredibly simple as a result.
In this article, we will go over the straightforward steps of setting up the device, as well as tips on how to get the most out of your new smart assistant. If you're interested in the different ways to create a more automated home, take a look at our ranking of the best smart speakers.
1. Unpack your HomePod Mini
Inside the package of your HomePod Mini, you will find the device itself, a charging cable and plug, and instructions. Power up your speaker and place it on a flat surface. It's best to do this in a place where you're going to use the speaker the most. For example, our two HomePod Minis are in the kitchen and the office area of the living room.
2. Pair your iPhone and HomePod Mini
Next, unlock your iPhone (or iPad) and hold it close to the speaker. A pop up should appear with an image of the speaker. Tap the 'set up' button and follow the instructions on screen. If you don't get this pop up, you can go to the Home app and tap the + button to add an accessory.
3. Tweak the settings in the Home app
Once your iPhone and HomePod are linked, you'll need to spend some time in the Home app to get things the way you want them.
Tap your speaker and scroll down to the settings icon. Here you can add or remove the device from your 'Home view' and assign it to a particular room. This is useful if you have more than one Apple device in the home, such as an Apple TV.
There are also automation and 'scenes' that allow you to get the speaker to stop playing when you leave the house, different voices to use for Siri, and a whole lot more. You can use the HomePod as an intercom or, as we'll go through in the next step, pair two speakers to create a stereo pair.
4. Pairing two or more HomePod Minis
If you have more than one HomePod Mini, you will see the option to create a stereo pair in settings. This allows you to use the speakers as part of a surround sound system, placing them behind you or on either side of the TV for more immersive audio. The Minis are some of the best-sounding smart speakers, so this is a great little feature.
There is also the option to have the same audio playing on two or more speakers but without splitting the sound. To do this, you should use the AirPlay function on your iPhone and select all speakers you want to hear. This immediately creates multi-room audio - perfect for when you're walking around the house and want to listen to a podcast or playlist without interruption.
Our favorite things to do with the HomePod Mini
- Call other household members - as mentioned above, you can use the HomePod Mini as a handy intercom, making it possible to announce your return home or just to call the kids for dinner when they're upstairs.
- Switch listening from your speaker to your phone - if there's one fiddly part of leaving the house that we'd like to bypass, it's getting your chosen audio started on your phone when you're about to leave. Thankfully, if you're playing something on your HomePod, you can simply wave your phone near it, and the audio will be transferred.
- Updates - ask Siri what you're supposed to be doing, and they will actually tell you! Just say, 'Hey Siri, what's my update?' and your speaker will update you on everything from new messages and reminders to calendar events and the weather.
You can read more amazing HomePod Mini ideas in our guide.