Static and crackling sound on HomePod Mini

You can always restart by unplugging it for 10 seconds.

You can also try the hard reset method with the additional step of unplugging for over 24 hours first

Then plug back in and proceed as follows:

1. Unplug HomePod or unplug the power adapter for HomePod mini, wait 10 seconds, then plug HomePod back in.
2. Wait 10 seconds, then touch and hold your finger to the top of HomePod.
3. The white spinning light will turn red. Keep your finger down. 
4. Siri will say that your HomePod is about to reset. When you hear three beeps, you can lift your finger.

After you reset HomePod, you can set up HomePod again.

Reset HomePod or HomePod mini - Apple Support

Thank you., @AppSmack, I think that your reference to the problem starting with OS17.1 may not refer to the same issue. For several versions back, music would play out of sync, pop/honk or not play at all. This seemed to happen where there was a 2.4ghz and 5ghz network with the same SSID. I moved all of my 2.4ghz devices to a separate network and the problem went away at both of my locations. This was at least for OS16 if not before.

After a week on HomeOS 18.1, I’ve had nothing but listening pleasure and for me the problem has been addressed.

note: in both homes there is only one 5ghz network available to the HomePods. If you have 2.4ghz and 5ghz with the same name (SSID) you’ll probably have static, popping and problems. This was an issue many versions ago.

to fix, I appended “_IOT” to the 2.4ghz network then connected those devices to the new name. I then “forgot” the 2.4ghz networks from my 5ghz devices to avoid accidentally connecting to a slow network.

I second all of these experiences and emotions...I hesitate to listen to them any more due to all of the frustrations.

Since I swapped places with my HomePod Minis I haven’t had any static. That’s 4 full days. Now that I’ve posted that I fully expect the static to start again. 😉

Mine started buzzing again at 12:50 today. I'm real disappointed to hear that 18.1 didn't resolve it. This is very frustrating.

Such a shame. My minis all crackling now and disconnecting and also echoing each other my large HomePods also disconnect or don’t respond to commands HomePod two and HomePod ones

All units are already running on 18.1.

The issue does not get fixed by that update.

My HomePods have all been updated to HomePod software version 18.1 and are performing well now, so far the previous problems haven’t reappeared so I’m hoping that’s fixed it !

I’m trying an experiment. Since my HomePod minis are in different rooms and only one of them has the static issue I have swapped their locations to rule out any external interference. I haven’t had any static since their locations were swapped. It seems like powering them off helps with the static, such that it’s a couple of days until it happens again. Hopefully, 18.1 will have a fix in it, but it might not.

You can check the state of the software of your HomePod Minis through the iOS Home App. If they are behind in software you can initiate a software update through the same app as well. Hope this help!

Excellent troubleshooting!

I had locked the 5GHz band on my router to 20MHz a little more than a week ago, and it seemed more stable for a few hours but then the issue reappeared.

I would second the advice to open a support ticket with Apple. The more noise we make, the more likely it will be that our HomePods will soon make less noise.

Yes, had high hopes for the update to 18.1 which seemed quite a lengthy one when installing on homepods last night. Disappointed and angry when the first song I played afterwards was ruined by humming and buzzing feedback again.

Come on Apple. Improvements in the homepod experience and its stability have always been a painfully slow process, but this current issue is a huge step backwards.

I’m sure as soon as I post this the issues will return, but since updating to 18.1 I haven’t had any more trouble. AirPlay is still wonky at times (randomly switches which speaker I’m controlling), but the crackling and sync issues have not been happening over the last couple of weeks.

The problem with crackling of my 4 HomePod minis is persistent, I hope Apple figures it out, this is ruining my accustic experience and I am one person all on the same WiFi in the same home of one user. Bc Apple also keeps pushing me to upgrade as a family. I am one person trying to listen in all of my rooms to the same music or video.