Upgrade Your HomePod: Experience Sound Glow and Lock Controls with Version 27.2

The debate continues on whether the upcoming second-generation HomePod will receive Siri AI capabilities, but Apple is introducing a new feature from the HomePod mini 2 to older HomePod models.

The recent release of iOS 27.2 includes the HomePod Software of the same version, bringing the new Sound Glow feature to the original 2020 HomePod mini and the 2023 HomePod 2.

It remains unclear if this feature will be available for the original 2018 HomePod model, as Apple has not yet released HomePod Software 27.2 for it. Apple typically does not offer beta software for the original HomePod, and there are speculations that the older LED matrix and A8 chip may not support it. Confirmation will only come with the public release next week.

Introducing Sound Glow

Upon updating to HomePod Software 27.2, users will find the Sound Glow toggle in the Home app for each HomePod.

This feature allows users to select which HomePods will utilize Sound Glow. The toggle also extends to tvOS 27.2 for HomePods paired with an Apple TV, making it convenient to activate it for a party and deactivate it for a more subdued listening experience.

Sound Glow does not illuminate the room brightly. The LEDs on top of the HomePods are not very intense, and Sound Glow does not extend beyond the usual lighting seen when the HomePod is in operation or responding to commands.

What sets Sound Glow apart is its ability to adapt colors to match the album artwork of the music being played, creating a unique color palette for each track. Apple also promises “bespoke animations for a soothing atmosphere” when selecting ambient soundscapes like rain.

Lock Controls Feature

Apple is also introducing a new Lock Controls setting, a small yet practical addition that will be appreciated by users who need to clean the top of their HomePod.

The Lock Controls toggle beneath Sound Glow disables touch interactions for touch, touch and hold, and volume adjustments.

Certain features that require active confirmation, such as Intercom, alarms, timers, and FaceTime calls, will still respond to touch input, which is logical.

The addition of the Lock Controls feature seems overdue, as users previously had to rely on workarounds like Touch Accommodations to prevent accidental activations. Now, a single toggle in the Home app can completely lock the top panel.

It remains to be seen if this feature will be available for the original HomePod, pending the release of HomePod Software 27.2 for that model.

While awaiting the arrival of Siri AI, it is noted that the HomePod mini 2 will not initially support Apple’s smarter voice assistant. The inclusion of Siri AI for the second- and third-generation Apple TV 4K in tvOS 27.2 is also pending, with expectations that it will be activated once the new Apple TV 4K is launched next month.