The HomePod 17.1.1 software update might make Siri do what you ask it to more reliably

A white Homepod alongside two homepod minis, one white one blue

(Image credit: Future / iMore)

If you own a HomePod, HomePod 2, or HomePod mini now is the time to get your hands on a new software update that Apple believes fixes an issue related to a particularly irritating bug.

That bug causes some HomePods to respond to Siri requests more slowly than would normally be the case. In some instances it would simply refuse to carry out the request fully, something that's sure to be an annoyance for a device that is supposed to be a smart speaker capable of interacting with smart home accessories, set timers, and more.

The new update, version 17.1.1, is now available for download as a free update for all compatible HomePods — which is to say all of them.

Bug, fixed

Apple's release notes, detailed in a support document on its website, don't go into too many specifics about what this new software update has to offer. But they do confirm the bug fix, suggesting that Apple is pretty confident that it was able to get to the bottom of what was going on.

"Software version 17.1.1 addresses an issue where some HomePod speakers could respond slowly or fail to complete requests," the release notes read.

This new update comes not too long after Apple released HomePod software version 17.1, an update that brought with it much more of note. That release added support for the Enhance Dialogue option to the HomePod mini and original HomePod. The feature, when the HomePods are connected to an Apple TV 4K, makes it easier to hear what people are saying in TV shows and movies — a vital addition for those of us who previously found that turning on subtitles was the only way to follow along. It's getting harder and harder to hear what's being said, and this feature goes some way to helping fix that.

Your HomePod should automatically install the new software unless you disabled automatic updates. If that's you, head into the Home app and the update should be available via your HomePod's settings screen.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.