Apple is rolling out a new feature for the second-generation HomePod mini and large HomePod called Sound Glow. This illuminates the touch surface of your speaker with colors that reference the album art of the song currently playing, perhaps adding extra ambiance to a party atmosphere.
Here’s how to enable the new Sound Glow feature…
Sound Glow is supported by HomePod mini and HomePod mini 2, as well as the second generation HomePod. Original HomePod 2018 is not supported.
Sound Glow displays animated ambient light effects based on what’s playing, so you need to be listening to music or a podcast with album artwork for it to work. In practice, we see two or three dominant colors of the work appear on the illuminated surface. The colored balls bounce to give a little movement.
The output brightness of a HomePod “screen” isn’t that bright, but if you place the HomePod against a white wall, you can get a visible color cast in a dark room, even if you can’t see the top of the HomePod itself.
How to enable Sound Glow on HomePod
To enable Sound Glow, make sure to update to the latest software version 27.2 (currently in beta candidate). Next, open the Home app, long-press your HomePod, and scroll down to Settings. There will be a new toggle for Sound Glow. Simply toggle it on and start playing music to see it in action.
You can also enable Sound Glow from the Control Center on an Apple TV, when paired with HomePods. Long press the Apple TV remote, scroll to select the HomePod menu item, then click to turn Sound Glow on or off. It’s very convenient that it’s easily accessible here, as it means you can quickly turn it on if you’re having a party, and easily turn it off for the rest of the year when it might be too distracting.
FTC: We use automatic, revenue-generating affiliate links. More.
Gn tech
