The Verge reported on November 1, 2026 that it could not get the Mac speaker feature to work, although Apple’s HomePod software version 27.2 added support for using HomePod speakers with a Mac (The Verge). Apple’s support page describes the feature as setting HomePod as the audio output for everything done on the Mac, over a responsive and persistent AirPlay connection (Apple). Other 27.2 features, Sound Glow and Lock Controls, appeared in The Verge’s testing (The Verge).
Promised vs. Delivered
| Item | Promised | Delivered | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| HomePod as Mac output | Apple: HomePod as the audio output for everything on the Mac | The Verge: Sound pane offered no option to set a HomePod via AirPlay as default output | Apple, The Verge |
| Connection quality | Apple: responsive and persistent AirPlay connection | The Verge: occasional artifacting, drop-offs and some lag with notification sounds | Apple, The Verge |
| Lock Controls | Apple: disable the touch controls on top of HomePod | The Verge: a Home app setting locks the top controls on all HomePods | Apple, The Verge |
| Sound Glow | Apple: top of HomePod pulses and glows in sync with media | The Verge: works only with Apple Music and Podcasts | Apple, The Verge |
Timeline
- 2026-10-27: 9to5Mac published a hands-on of HomePod 27.2 that described the Mac speaker feature as significantly reducing latency (9to5Mac).
- 2026-10-28: Apple’s support page listed HomePod software version 27.2 with Sound Glow, home theater surround sound, Mac speaker support and Lock Controls (Apple).
- 2026-11-01: The Verge reported that the Mac speaker setup did not work for its reviewer (The Verge).
Details (as Reported)
9to5Mac reported that Apple addressed wireless latency in 27.2 for the HomePod mini 2 and HomePod (2nd generation) when used with Mac desktops and laptops that support Wi-Fi 6E, which excludes some early Apple Silicon machines such as the M1 family (9to5Mac). The requirement, the outlet added, applies to the Mac hardware and does not imply a user needs a Wi-Fi 6E router (9to5Mac).
The Verge reported that it used a Mac that supports Wi-Fi 6E, a Mac Mini M4 running the public release of macOS 27.2, with HomePods on HomePod Software 27.2 (The Verge). The HomePod showed up and connected like any other AirPlay speaker, and the Mac defaulted to its built-in speakers after a restart or whenever Siri was activated on the HomePod (The Verge). A stereo pair of HomePod mini 2 units also played over regular AirPlay (The Verge).
According to The Verge, 9to5Mac’s hands-on indicates that the HomePod should appear as a default system output device in System Information, with an option under Play sound effects through in the Sound pane, and neither appeared for the reviewer (The Verge). After both HomePods updated to 27.2, the reviewer reset them and the feature still did not work (The Verge). The reviewer also reported seeing other reports of the same issue (The Verge).
On Lock Controls, 9to5Mac reported that touch, touch-and-hold and volume adjustments are disabled when the setting is on, while intercom, alarms, timers, Check in and FaceTime calls still respond to touch, and described it as the only 27.2 feature that appears on all HomePod models (9to5Mac).
What Is Not Yet Confirmed
- The Verge reached out to Apple about the Mac speaker issue and reported that the company had not responded (The Verge).
- Siri AI is not yet available on the HomePod mini 2, The Verge reported, and Apple said it is coming later in a software update (The Verge).
- Toggling Sound Glow by voice requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, 9to5Mac reported, and whether Siri AI comes to the HomePod mini 2 and the HomePod (2nd generation) remains to be seen (9to5Mac).
- 9to5Mac’s reviewer had not personally tested the home theater surround sound feature because the reviewer did not yet have the newest Apple TV 4K (9to5Mac).