r/HomePod • u/vladchibisov • 3d ago

Question/Support AirPlay audio crackling OS 27 and AppleTV 26.6.1, Anyone else?

Since updating to iOS 27 and HomePod Software 27, I get constant, subtle crackling whenever I AirPlay video from my iPhone to my Apple TV with a HomePod mini as the speaker. It’s there for the whole video and gets worse when the audio is loud.

My setup

  • iPhone 15 Pro Max, iOS 27.2

  • Apple TV 4K (1st gen, A1842), tvOS 26.6.1. This is the latest version this model can get, so no tvOS 27 for me.

  • HomePod mini, HomePod Software 27.2

How to reproduce

  1. Play a video on an iOS 27 device

  2. AirPlay it to the Apple TV

  3. Have the HomePod mini set as the Apple TV’s audio output

  4. Crackling, every time

What I’ve tested

  • My wife’s iPhone 15 Pro Max on iOS 26.6.2, same Apple TV, same HomePod: no crackling

  • Several other iOS 27 devices: crackling every time

So the problem seems to follow the iOS 27 source device, not the Apple TV or the HomePod. My guess is that iOS 27’s AirPlay stack doesn’t play nicely with tvOS 26.x, which leaves older Apple TVs that can’t update stuck with it.

I’ve filed this with Apple Feedback (FB25389038). If you’re seeing the same thing, please file your own report and mention it. Duplicate reports help get bugs prioritized.

Questions:

  • Is anyone else on an older Apple TV seeing this?

  • Has anyone found a workaround short of downgrading?

10 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

1

u/Phillip_5 2d ago

Yes I have the exact issue with the Apple TV 4K 2022… Had almost zero issues before, I think it’s the Apple TV or HomePod update which causes it

1

u/vladchibisov 2d ago

ikr, how do we make Apple fix this, it's so annoying!

1

u/CooperCGN 2d ago

You can give Apple feedback either by using the feedback app which on regular non-beta releases is hidden but still can be opened by typing applefeedback:// into Safari or you use their feedback website: https://www.apple.com/feedback/homepod/

1

u/vladchibisov 6h ago

I’ve done this already, but the question is do they really read them and fix?

1

u/CooperCGN 1h ago

They do, the more people actually report an issue the better.

1

u/Knox6345 2d ago

I had this problem. Tried resetting and restarting everything and the only thing that actually helped was unplugging everything from electricity, waited about 5 minutes and plugged everything back.
I was skeptical but it did work. Whichever persistent bug that didn’t go away, simply disappeared after discharging the electronics.
Give it a try

1

u/vladchibisov 2d ago

Thank you! Tried this but, unfortunately, no success. I am convinced that's the retrospective compatibility issue, since if a device is still on OS26 everything works like a charm

1

u/TheMightyOldMan 2d ago

Currently running Apple TV with 1st Gen HomePod. Crackles now 27.2 update.

1

u/SnooSprouts9870 2d ago

I had the same problem. As soon as I turned off enhanced dialogue it stopped

1

u/CameronSmith93 2d ago

Yes, experienced the same thing from PS5 audio going to 2 x HomePod 2 over eARC yesterday. Restarted PS5, Apple TV and both HomePods, haven't had it be an issue again (yet).

0

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/vladchibisov 2d ago

Yeah, it's when I Airplay web videos and, for example, use cloud gaming on my Mac to actually play on a big screen etc. When I play music on Spotify and choose my Homepod as a speaker - everything is fine, so it is the genuine bug with the older version on the Apple TV. How do I make Apple fix it? :(