How to stream Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music, and more to HomePod

By Lory Gil
last updated

The HomePod may not be a traditional Bluetooth speaker, but it is a standard AirPlay speaker (with some added smarts, of course). That means you can't stream music from an Android device (without a complicated workaround) or connect it to an audio source using Bluetooth. It does, however, mean that you can stream any audio from your connected iPhone and iPad using Airplay, even if it's from a third-party music streaming service. Here's how.

AirPlay doesn't mean Siri play

Though you can use AirPlay to stream any music from your iPhone or iPad, that doesn't mean you can use Siri to control playback. That only works with Apple Music and iTunes Match. You'll have to start the beats from your iPhone or iPad and control whether you skip or replay songs from either your device or the control panel on top of the HomePod.

How to AirPlay any music streaming app to your HomePod

Streaming Spotify, music from your iTunes, SoundCloud favorites, YouTube Premium content, or whatever audio you want to your HomePod is as easy as connecting it to AirPlay.

  1. Swipe up from the bottom bezel on your iPhone or iPad to bring up Control Center (swipe down from the upper right corner on iPhone X).
  2. Tap the audio options icon in the upper right corner of the Now Playing control panel.
  3. Tap your HomePod.

Launch Control Center, then tap audio options, then tap HomePod

Whichever music app is playing will automatically play through the HomePod, even if you switch apps.

How to stop streaming third-party music services on your HomePod using AirPlay

If you'd rather get your music directly from Apple Music on HomePod, or if you want to play something else, you can quickly bring the audio back to your iPhone or iPad.

  1. Swipe up from the bottom bezel on your iPhone or iPad to bring up Control Center (swipe down from the upper right corner on iPhone X).
  2. Tap the audio options button in the upper right corner of the Now Playing control panel.
  3. Tap your HomePod to send the music back to your iPhone or iPad.

Launch Control Center, then tap audio options, then tap HomePod

Troubleshooting AirPlay on HomePod

Here are some common issues with AirPlay that can easily be fixed.

  • Make sure your iPhone or iPad has Bluetooth enabled.
  • Make sure your iPhone or iPad has wi-fi turned on.
  • Make sure your HomePod is paired to your iPhone or iPad.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about playing music from third-party streaming apps to HomePod using AirPlay? Put them in the comments and we'll help you out.

Homepod

○ HomePod review
○ HomePod: Everything you need to know!
○ HomePod Buyers Guide
○ What HomePod color should you buy?
○ HomePod vs: speaker comparison
○ Buy HomePod now (opens in new tab)
○ HomePod Beginner's Guide

Lory Gil
Lory Gil

Lory is a renaissance woman, writing news, reviews, and how-to guides for iMore. She also fancies herself a bit of a rock star in her town and spends too much time reading comic books.  If she's not typing away at her keyboard, you can probably find her at Disneyland or watching Star Wars (or both).

3 Comments
  • Great series of articles on Homepod. Thank you!
    I am keenly awaiting delivery of my HomePod. I am an Apple Music subscriber but I also use TuneIn, Spotify and Amazon Prime Music.
    As regards Apple Music, I don't want to use Siri for everything. Sometimes I just want to browse through my Music app on my iPhone and select music from there. My question is this - will I be able to control what's playing on Homepod (from Apple Music) directly from my phone - rather than just by voice? I do understand that I will need to use AirPlay for my non-Apple Music services.
  • This is one of the many iMore articles I see lately that gets basic facts wrong.
    You can control music with Siri from any service after starting it by tapping the Airplay icon. This is really well known so you could not have even tried it.
    For example raise or lower volume, skip to next track, stop playing, all work by using Siri no matter what service you are using.
    Also there are many ways to easily Airplay to Home pod or other Airplay devices from Android.
    Get it together iMore. Stop using Android people to write Apple articles.
  • So in other words even you have to admit that after using your iPhone to start what ever you want to listen to then you can use your voice in a very limited way. If you want to switch to something else or go to a specific song, or other item. Then you have to use your iPhone again. This is NOT a smart speaker, especially if you looked to see what the competition is already doing. You may as well buy a Bluetooth speaker which connects to everything.