HomePod 15.1 Software Update Brings Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Support

Apple on Monday released a new 15.1 software update for the HomePod and HomePod mini. The new update comes alongside the release of the iOS 15.1 update.

The update brings Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio to HomePod models. Lossless Audio is available on both the ‌HomePod‌ and ‌HomePod mini‌, while Spatial Audio is available on the larger and now-discontinued ‌HomePod‌.

To enable Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos, open up Home Settings, tap on your profile, and then under Media, tap on Apple Music. Then, toggle on Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos. Please note that these options appear in the iOS 15.1 beta, but the ‌‌HomePod‌‌ 15.1 beta seems to be needed to actually use the features on the ‌‌HomePod‌‌.

HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but it can also be manually updated in the Home app by doing the following:

1. Open the Home app.
2. Tap on the home icon, which can be found in the upper left corner of the app display.
3. If you have only one home set up, this will take you directly to settings, and you can skip directly to Step 5. If you have multiple homes set up, tap “Home Settings” on the sheet that pops up.
4. Tap your desired home.
5. Scroll down to “Software Update.”
6. Pull down from the top of the iPhone or iPad screen to check for an update.

Once you’ve tapped on “Software Update,” you’ll see the current version of the ‌HomePod‌ software that is installed on your HomePod or HomePod mini. You can also toggle off automatic updates if you want.

If there is an available update, tap the “Install” button to update your ‌HomePod‌. If you have more than one HomePod or HomePod mini in your home, each one will be updated at the same time via this software update feature.