Monday October 19, 2026 1:31 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple's latest software update for the HomePod brings a new Sound Glow feature to the HomePod, HomePod mini, and HomePod mini 2. Apple introduced Sound Glow as a HomePod mini 2 feature, but it's available for the second-generation HomePod and the original HomePod mini too.
HomePod Software 27.2 is available as a release candidate update for developers and public beta testers, but it should launch next week. Once you've updated your HomePod or HomePod mini to the new software, you can go to the HomePod settings to turn on Sound Glow. If your HomePods are paired with an Apple TV, you can also use the Apple TV Control Center to turn Sound Glow on or off.
With Sound Glow, the top of a HomePod or HomePod mini lights up with color that pulses in sync with the music or audio that's playing. The feature draws colors from album artwork, and it works with songs, podcasts, Apple's ambient music feature, and more.
Sound Glow is not available on the original HomePod.
HomePod Software 27.2 also adds support for using HomePods as the default speaker for a Mac, support for using for HomePods or HomePod mini 2s as surround sound for an Apple TV, and it adds a Lock Controls feature for disabling touch interactions with the top of the HomePod.
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