HomePod only works with Apple Music over Siri. So if you want to play something from Spotify, you have to use AirPlay. That’s all well and good but by default, anyone in your periphery can just stream to the HomePod using AirPlay! If you’re sharing your home, if you live in a dorm, or if you just live on the ground floor of an apartment, things can go wrong very quickly.
Thankfully, there’s a way to restrict AirPlay access to only people who are on the same Wi-Fi network or users who you’ve shared your Home with using HomeKit. Here’s how you can set this up.
Read more: How to Setup HomePod The Right Way
How to Restrict AirPlay Access on HomePod
Step 1: Open the Home app on the iPhone or iPad you used to set up your HomePod.
Step 2: Tap on the Add Home button (it looks like a small location arrow icon).
Step 3: Tap on Allow Speaker Access from the Speakers section.
Step 4: Now you can choose who you want to give access to HomePod. Currently, it will be set to Everyone. You can switch to Anyone on The Same Network to only allow users you’ve given access to your Wi-Fi network. Only People Sharing this Home option restricts this further to only users you’ve expressly shared the Home with using the Home app.
Step 5: If you want even more security, you can require them to enter a password. To enable this option, tap on Require Password. Tap on the password to change it.
That’s it. You should now avoid drive-by media streaming using AirPlay.
HomePod: Everything You Need To Know
Did you just get a HomePod and are still learning the ropes. Find out everything you need to know about HomePod in our FAQ guide!
What do you think of HomePod? Do you think that its hardware justifies the cost? Does the awesome sound quality make up for the lack of smart features? Share with us in the comments below.
