Richard's Tech Reviews

Automating HomePod to device Handoff with Shortcuts, for switching to headphones

Apple's Shortcuts is a powerful automation feature.  You can basically script a set of actions.

In addition, you can activate Shortcuts by name (including renaming them to whatever phrase you want), using Siri on your iOS device or your HomePod.

Handoff is a way to switch audio from your device to the HomePod, or from the HomePod to your device.

It is supposed to work by bringing your device near the top of the HomePod, but I couldn't get this to work.

You would create the below set of actions using the Shortcuts app on your iOS device.

Shortcut to Switch Audio (Handoff) from HomePod to iOS device

For the life of me I don't know why Apple hasn't just clearly documented every possible shortcuts command online.

Anyway, the shortcut you want is

Hand off playback from [device Source] to [device Destination]

Yes, it is two words, "hand off". To handoff from your HomePod to your iOS device, it's going to be your HomePod name, e.g. it might be called "Den HomePod".

So the Shortcut will look something like

Hand off playback from Den HomePod to iPad.

Shortcut to Switch to Headphones

Once you've switched to your iOS device, there is an additional step if you want to switch to headphones.

The syntax is

Set playback destination to [audio destination]

Again you will need to use your local device name, e.g. "My Cool AirPods Pro". Shortcuts will give you a picklist of available audio devices. Your device will probably need to be connected in order to show up.

Set playback destination to My Cool AirPods Pro

Maybe Optional: Actually Make It Play

I wasn't able to do enough testing to determine whether the audio just switches over and plays continuously, or if you need to give it a nudge to play again. If it doesn't play automatically, try adding the shortcut

Play on [devicename]

e.g.

Play on iPhone

Full Script

So a full example script for switching audio from your Den HomePod to your iPhone, and then playing on My Cool AirPods Pro is:

Hand off playback from Den HomePod to iPhone
Set playback destination to My Cool AirPods Pro
Play on iPhone

Give It A Name

You probably want to rename this something like

Switch from HomePod to Headphones

(or "to big / small / black / white headphones" if you have multiple different headphones - you'll need a shortcut for each set of headphones and each shortcut will need a different name)

All being equal, with any audio stream playing on your HomePod you should now be able to just say

"Hey Siri, Switch from HomePod to Headphones"

and the audio should move from your HomePod to your headphones, via your iOS device.

Appendix: Personal Requests

You will almost certainly need Personal Requests enabled to make this work.

You will need to enable Voice Recognition

Apple - Set up voice recognition on HomePod or HomePod mini

and then Personal Requests.

Apple HomePod User Guide - Set up voice recognition and Personal Requests

It will only work for requests using your voice.

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Let me know if it works or if you encounter any problems.

Fixing clock alerts low volume on iOS

If your iOS 17.2+ Clock alerts (and other alerts) volume is so low that alerts are almost inaudible,

and if your Settings -> Sounds & Haptics -> Ringtone and Alerts volume is already at maximum,

you can fix this by changing Settings -> Face ID & Passcode - Attention Aware Features to OFF and then restarting/power cycling your phone.

It's clearly a bug.

I have to admit I didn't even know this setting existed.

Solution from Apple Discussions: Alarm volume is too low.

Audiobooks on Smart Speakers in 2024

There is no interoperability; vendors only support voice control of audiobooks from their own stores on their own devices or apps.

Amazon smart speakers

The Amazon voice assistant Alexa can control audiobooks on Amazon smart speakers (e.g. Amazon Echo), but for Amazon Audible only (Amazon owns Audible).

See Audible (an Amazon Company) - Voice Commands for Listening on Alexa Devices.

Google smart speakers

Google is discontinuing support for audiobooks on its smart speakers.

Google is removing the audiobook feature in 2024:

• Playing and controlling audiobooks on Google Play Books with your voice [will no longer be supported]. You can still cast audiobooks from your mobile device.

Apple HomePod smart speakers

Information below for iOS 17 / iPadOS 17 / HomePod 17 (and later versions).

You will need to enable Voice Recognition

Apple - Set up voice recognition on HomePod or HomePod mini

and Personal Requests. 

Apple HomePod User Guide - Set up voice recognition and Personal Requests

It will only work for requests using your voice, for content from your device.  It's not playing it centrally from an Apple server, it's airplaying it from your device (which means if you try to play other audio from your device strange things will probably happen).  It uses the Books app on your device, so you will have to have Books installed.

The syntax is just to say "play audiobook [audiobook title] on Books".

e.g.

"Hey Siri, play audiobook The Thursday Murder Club on Books"

and, all things being equal, it should start playing on your HomePod.

Appendix: Amazon Audible app

Just as a side note, you can also voice control the Audible app on an iOS device, but only if the app is open and in the foreground.  This is on the device only, it won't work through a smart speaker as far as I know.

Amazon Audible newsroom: Hands-Free Listening Comes to the Audible App. Just Ask Alexa.

“Alexa, read The Sandman.”

This is just one of many voice commands that the Audible app can understand