How to hand off music or phone calls from your iPhone to a HomePod
Macworld|May 2020
Want your iPhone to play what your HomePod is playing? Just bring the two devices close together.
LEIF JOHNSON
How to hand off music or phone calls from your iPhone to a HomePod

With iOS 13.2 (13.2.1 for HomePod), it’s easier than ever to hand off music or a phone call from your iPhone to your HomePod. Such handoffs were possible before iOS 13.2.1, but they were a bit of a hassle (as we’ll see below). Now, though, Apple provides a “quick way” and a “long way” of making these handoffs. Here’s how to do both.

THE QUICK WAY

If your phone is playing any kind of AirPlay-compatible media—such as a song on Apple Music or Spotify, a podcast, a YouTube video, a Netflix show, or even a phone call—you simply need to hold your iPhone around an inch away from your HomePod. After a one-second delay, the audio track will jump from your phone and start playing on the HomePod. That’s all there is to it.

It’s only visible while you’re within range for the audio transfer.

And this works both ways, too! If you’d like to hand over your music or phone call from the HomePod to your iPhone, simply bring your iPhone to within an inch of your HomePod and the audio will switch back over. Piece o’ cake.

This story is from the May 2020 edition of Macworld.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 2020 edition of Macworld.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MACWORLDView All
Mac 911
Macworld

Mac 911

Solutions to your most vexing Mac problems.

time-read
7 mins  |
December 2024
Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Great-sounding headphones that support aptX
Macworld

Bowers & Wilkins Pi8: Great-sounding headphones that support aptX

B&W's new top-of-the-range Bluetooth earbuds sound great and include an innovative smart case that supports aptX technology for high-quality audio-even on Apple devices.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
AirPods versus AirPods Pro: How they compare
Macworld

AirPods versus AirPods Pro: How they compare

Don't know whether to buy the AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with ANC, or AirPods Pro 2? Here's how they stack up.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2024
Apple's true hit of 2024 isn't the iPhone 16
Macworld

Apple's true hit of 2024 isn't the iPhone 16

Apple's unsung hero of the fall is the AirPods 4.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
Ugreen Revodok Pro 210: Decent speeds at a nice price
Macworld

Ugreen Revodok Pro 210: Decent speeds at a nice price

A hub for users who don't need top performance from their connections.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger: Clever and compact
Macworld

Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger: Clever and compact

Anker proves that with a clever design, you can also achieve compact dimensions suitable for traveling.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2024
Wombat Willow: A solid typing tool with some quirks
Macworld

Wombat Willow: A solid typing tool with some quirks

This isn't a keyboard that lets you simply plug in and go-you need to read the manual.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024
pdfFiller: An overpriced, half-baked PDF editor for macOS
Macworld

pdfFiller: An overpriced, half-baked PDF editor for macOS

A basic PDF editor that doesn't fulfill its promises and costs too much.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2024
iPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS REVIEW: THE PHONE FOR EVERYONE CREEPS INTO PRO TERRITORY
Macworld

iPHONE 16 & 16 PLUS REVIEW: THE PHONE FOR EVERYONE CREEPS INTO PRO TERRITORY

APPLE'S BEST ALL-AROUND PHONE IS BETTER AND ALL-AROUNDER.

time-read
8 mins  |
December 2024
APPLE WATCH SERIES 10 REVIEW: MODEST IMPROVEMENTS TO A PROVEN FORMULA
Macworld

APPLE WATCH SERIES 10 REVIEW: MODEST IMPROVEMENTS TO A PROVEN FORMULA

IF YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A BIG APPLE WATCH REVAMP, THIS ISN'T IT, BUT IT'S STILL THE BEST SMARTWATCH AROUND.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2024