Apple Releases HomePod Software 18.2 With Natural Language Search for Apple Music

Alongside iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2, Apple today released new HomePod Software 18.2 that's designed for the ‌HomePod‌ and the HomePod mini.

HomePod 2 and Mini feature 1
The new ‌HomePod‌ software adds support for Apple Music natural language search, which means you can describe what you want to hear in more casual language.

You can ask Siri for music using different combinations of genres, moods, activity, decades, and more. Examples include "songs about cats," "songs with a vibe," "relaxing songs," "artists similar to Taylor Swift," "sad 80s songs," and "songs about food."

The update also improves Enhance Dialogue with the Apple TV 4K to make speech clearer over background sounds.

Software version 18.2 includes bug fixes and stability improvements.

Siri on HomePod is now integrated with Apple Music natural language search so you can describe what you want to hear using any combination of categories like genre, mood, decade or activity.

Enhance Dialogue on HomePod (2nd generation) when paired with Apple TV 4K gives you the option to hear speech more clearly over background sounds using real-time audio processing and machine learning.

‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated in the Home app by tapping on the More button, choosing Home Settings, and then selecting the Software Update option.

Related Roundups: HomePod, HomePod mini

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
crossbody strap

iPhone 17's 'Crossbody Strap' Accessory to Feature Magnetic Design

Thursday August 28, 2025 7:49 am PDT by
Apple's cases for the iPhone 17 lineup will be accompanied by a new Crossbody Strap accessory with a unique magnetic design, according to the leaker known as "Majin Bu." Apple's Crossbody Strap reportedly features an unusual magnetic design; it likely has a "flexible metal core" that makes it magnetic along its entire length. At the ends, "rings polarized oppositely to the strap close the...
Awe Dropping Apple Event Feature

Five Things to Expect From Apple's 'Awe Dropping' September 9 Event

Tuesday August 26, 2025 4:17 pm PDT by
Apple today announced its "Awe Dropping" iPhone-centric event, which is set to take place on Tuesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. There are a long list of products that are coming, but we thought we'd pull out five feature highlights to look forward to. That Super Thin iPhone - Apple's September 9 event will see the unveiling of the first redesigned iPhone we've had in years, ...

Top Rated Comments

ignatius345 Avatar
10 months ago
I'm not holding my breath for mine to stop being as dumb as a bag of rocks. The number of times it fully bungles Home commands or even requests to play radio stations is deeply maddening.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kleber20 Avatar
10 months ago
What about being able to ask the HomePod for music titles in a different language than the speaker itself set up to? I am tired of saying Spanish titles with English accent!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vodouman Avatar
10 months ago
This is all well and good. But I bet it still won’t provide practically useful stuff. For example, sometimes, I’ll ask them to play a song and for some reason it’ll play a censored version, and I’ll ask it to play the explicit version and it plays the same song. Or I’ll ask Siri to play a song and it’ll play a live version for some reason and if you ask it to play a studio version or opt for a live version it has no idea what to do.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
haruhiko Avatar
10 months ago
The original HomePods from 2018 are still getting “new” features today. That’s great.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
10 months ago

Please send my way if possible
In the Home app, Automation tab, create a new automation, event “A Time of Day Occurs”, next select your HomePod(s), next Media > Audio > “Adjust Volume Only” > “Set Custom Volume”.

It’s an automation that normally lets you play some media, optionally with custom volume setting, but also has an option to only set the volume without playing anything.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rychiar Avatar
10 months ago
I'm sure ill still be screaming the basic HomeKit scene commands at it that used to work flawlessly 5+ years ago....
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)