Play Mac System Audio Through a HomePod or HomePod Mini

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This guide shows you how to route all of your Mac’s system audio—music, videos, games, notifications, everything—through a HomePod or HomePod mini. This is useful when you want better sound than your Mac’s built-in speakers, or when you want audio to fill a room. You’ll need a Mac running a recent version of macOS (Catalina or later), a HomePod or HomePod mini, and both devices signed into the same Apple ID with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.

What You’ll Need

A Mac running macOS Catalina (10.15) or later.
A HomePod or HomePod mini set up in the Home app.
Both devices signed in to the same Apple ID.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on for both devices (Bluetooth is used for initial setup and AirPlay discovery).

Step-by-Step

Make sure your Mac and HomePod are on the same Wi-Fi network. Check the Wi-Fi menu on your Mac and the Home app on your iPhone or iPad to confirm both are on the same network.
Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS). Click the Apple menu (top-left corner) and select “System Settings…” (macOS Ventura and later) or “System Preferences…” (macOS Monterey and earlier).
Go to the Sound settings. In System Settings, click “Sound” in the sidebar, then click the “Output” tab. In System Preferences, click “Sound” and then the “Output” tab.
Select your HomePod from the list of output devices. The list shows all available audio output devices. Your HomePod should appear with its name (e.g., “Kitchen HomePod”). Click it to select it as the output device.
Adjust the balance and volume. Once selected, you can adjust the output volume using the slider. The balance should be centered unless you have a reason to change it.
Test the audio. Play any audio (a song, a video, or a system sound) to confirm it comes out of the HomePod. If it doesn’t, try the troubleshooting steps below.
To switch back to your Mac’s speakers, repeat steps 2-4 and select “MacBook Speakers” or “Internal Speakers” (the exact name depends on your Mac model).

Common Mistakes

Selecting the HomePod as an AirPlay device instead of an output device. Some users try to use AirPlay from the Control Center, which streams audio but may not route all system sounds. Using the Sound settings ensures all system audio goes to the HomePod.
Forgetting to update macOS. Older versions of macOS may not support HomePod as a system output. Make sure you have the latest updates installed.
Having both devices on different Wi-Fi networks. This is the most common cause of the HomePod not appearing in the output list.
Bluetooth being off. Even though AirPlay uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth must be on for the initial handshake and for the HomePod to appear as an available device.

Tips

Use the Control Center for quick switching. Click the Control Center icon in the menu bar, click the Sound icon (or the AirPlay icon), and select your HomePod. This is faster than going through System Settings, and it also lets you switch back instantly.
Create a stereo pair. If you have two HomePods (or two HomePod minis), you can create a stereo pair in the Home app. This will make them appear as a single output device in your Mac’s Sound settings, giving you true stereo sound.
Use the HomePod as a speakerphone. If you select the HomePod as both input and output in the Sound settings, you can use it for FaceTime or phone calls. To do this, go to the “Input” tab and select the HomePod as the microphone.
Keep your Mac awake. If your Mac goes to sleep, the HomePod will stop playing audio. You can adjust your energy saver settings to prevent this if you’re streaming for a long time.

Troubleshooting

HomePod doesn’t appear in the output list:

Check that both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network.
Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your Mac.
Restart both the HomePod (unplug it, wait 10 seconds, plug it back in) and your Mac.
Check that your Mac is not in “Do Not Disturb” mode, which can sometimes interfere.
Sign out of iCloud on your Mac and sign back in, then try again.

Audio is choppy or drops out:

Move your Mac and HomePod closer to your Wi-Fi router.
Reduce interference from other devices (microwaves, cordless phones).
Try a different Wi-Fi band (2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz) on your router.

Audio plays from both Mac speakers and HomePod:

This is rare, but if it happens, go to Sound settings and make sure only the HomePod is selected. If your Mac has multiple output devices selected (e.g., via a multi-output device in Audio MIDI Setup), remove the extra ones.

HomePod disconnects after a while:

This can happen if your Mac goes to sleep. Adjust your Energy Saver settings to prevent sleep when the lid is closed (if using a laptop) or set a longer sleep timer.
Check for macOS updates, as Apple frequently fixes AirPlay bugs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a HomePod as a Mac speaker for all apps?

Yes, once you select the HomePod as the output device in Sound settings, all system audio—including app sounds, notifications, and music—will play through the HomePod.

Do I need an Apple Music subscription to play Mac audio on HomePod?

No. The HomePod acts as a standard AirPlay speaker, so any audio from your Mac (including from Spotify, YouTube, or any other app) will play through it.

Can I use two HomePods as a stereo pair with my Mac?

Yes, if you create a stereo pair in the Home app, it will appear as a single output device in your Mac’s Sound settings. The Mac will send stereo audio to the pair.

Why is there a delay between video and audio when using HomePod?

AirPlay introduces a slight delay (around 1-2 seconds) to buffer audio. This is normal and can be noticeable when watching videos. Apple’s AirPlay 2 is designed to reduce this, but it may still be present. If it’s too distracting, consider using a wired connection or a different speaker.

Can I use the HomePod as a microphone for my Mac?

Yes, you can select the HomePod as the input device in Sound settings. This is useful for FaceTime calls or voice memos, but note that the HomePod’s microphone may pick up room noise.

Will my HomePod work with a Mac that doesn’t support AirPlay 2?

HomePod requires AirPlay 2, which is supported on Macs running macOS Catalina (10.15) or later. If your Mac is older, you may not be able to use the HomePod as a system output.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.