How to use Handoff with HomePodSource: Joseph Keller/iMore

For a long time, many of us have hoped that, in addition to Continuity and Handoff for documents, web pages, and other items, Apple's ecosystem would also let you Handoff music and podcasts between devices. Now, with iOS 13.2 or later, Apple has taken its first steps in that direction with audio Handoff for HomePod. This feature lets you tap to either transfer your iPhone's audio to your HomePod or HomePod mini (or vice versa) by tapping your phone to the top of the speaker.

Once set up, transferring audio is very easy. Here's how to use handoff on HomePod or HomePod mini.

How this works

Audio Handoff between iPhone and HomePod lets you transfer audio from your iPhone to your HomePod and vice versa if both your iPhone and HomePod are running iOS 13.2 or later. Say, for instance, that you were listening to a favorite podcast while walking home. Once you get home, you can walk inside, tap your iPhone to your HomePod, and keep listening right where you left off over your HomePod instead of your iPhone. If heading out again, tap your iPhone to your HomePod to transfer the audio back to your iPhone.

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This trick works in one of two ways. If your iPhone is playing from a source that the HomePod can reach on its own, such as Apple Music, HomePod will get the audio over its internet connection. But if you're playing from, say, Spotify, a third-party podcast app, or the web, the audio will transfer over using AirPlay. The transfer also happens if the HomePod is set as a wireless speaker for your Apple TV.

How to turn on Handoff between iPhone and HomePod

First things first, you need to enable Handoff between iPhone and HomePod.

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.

  2. Tap General.

    Open Settings, tap GeneralSource: iMore

  3. Tap AirPlay & Handoff.

  4. Tap the switch for Transfer to HomePod.

    Tap AirPlay & Handoff, tap switchSource: iMore

How to transfer audio from your iPhone to your HomePod

Once you've set it up, transferring audio from your iPhone to your HomePod is incredibly simple.

  1. Play audio on your iPhone. It could be from any source, whether it's the Music app, any podcast app, or the web.
  2. Tap your iPhone to the touchpad of the HomePod.

How to transfer audio from your HomePod to your iPhone

Grabbing your HomePod's audio to play on your iPhone is also very easy.

  1. Play audio on your HomePod.
  2. Tap your iPhone to the touchpad of the HomePod.

Questions?

If you've got any questions about transferring audio between your iPhone, HomePod, and HomePod mini, let us know in the comments.