How to Use the HomePod Intercom

What is the intercom and what is it for?

The intercom is a function that Apple has developed to enable voice communication between different company devices, provided that these devices are within the same house and, of course, this is configured in the Home app. So through the intercom you can notify everyone at the same time by sending a voice message to all members of the house. For example, you can announce that dinner is ready or that you simply need help with a task.

Necessary configuration

First of all, you have to bear in mind that to be able to use the intercom you have to have your devices updated to a series of versions. IOS devices must have, at least, iOS version 14.2 installed, the same happens with iPads, which must install iPadOS version 14.2 or later. For Apple Watch, the required version is watchOS 7.1 or later.

Set up the Intercom

To be able to use this function, first of all you have to update all your HomePods and / or HomePod mini to the latest software version available, in addition to having the necessary operating system versions for the rest of the devices as we have told you before. . As soon as all the devices through which you are going to use the intercom are updated, it will be activated automatically.

Configure the settings to be able to use it.

Once the devices meet the requirements to be able to use the intercom, you have to configure when you want your device or devices to receive notifications from it, selecting which members of your household have access to the intercom as well as which HomePod speaker can use it. To do this you just have to follow the following steps.

1. Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
2. Touch Home and then Home Settings.
3. Click Intercom and select the settings you want to set.
4. Tap Back, and then click OK.

With these simple steps you can configure the use of the intercom to your liking, even being able to notify you of messages when you are not at home and choosing through which HomePod you can use this fantastic function.

So you can send a message

There are many ways to send a message through the intercom, first you can ask Siri or even use the Home app to do it. In addition, you can use your compatible AirPods or Beats headphones to send and receive intercom messages if they are connected to an iOS device, iPadOs, or watchOS. The message will be sent to all selected HomePod speakers in the Home app as well as to all devices that have intercom notifications turned on.

Ask Siri

If you want to use Siri to send an intercom message, you just have to use a HomePod, HomePod mini, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple Watch, AirPods or CarPlay and say something like:

• “Hey Siri, intercom” Time to wake up “”.
• “Hey Siri, ask everyone” Did you feed the dog? ” You can also specifically message a HomePod or room saying something like:
• “Hey Siri, announce upstairs” The movie is starting “”.
• “Hey Siri, ask in the kitchen” What’s for breakfast? “

Use the Home app

If you want to use the Home app to send an intercom message, you just have to follow the following steps.

1. Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch.
2. On the Home tab, tap the existing frequency symbol in the upper right corner of the screen.
3. Say your message.
4. When you’re done, click OK.

Reply is also possible

The moment any device that can receive an intercom message receives it, you will be able to respond to that message. In case the received message also has the rest of the house as recipients, your answer, in the same way, will be heard on all the devices in the house that have notifications activated, on the other hand, if the message is sent to a specific room, the reply will only be sent to the HomePod or device that sent that first message. In this way you can make answers like:

• “Hey Siri, reply ‘I’ll be right away'”.
• “Hey Siri, answer ‘I fed him this morning'”.

In case you want the response to only be sent to a certain speaker, you will have to say something like:

• “Hey Siri, answer in the living room” What movie are you watching? “
• “Hey Siri, reply below” I’ll be there in 5 minutes “”.

Don’t you want to be disturbed? Turn off or limit notifications

By default, all household members receive intercom notifications on all their compatible devices while indoors, however this can be changed as you can disable intercom notifications on your iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS devices, and thus receive them only when you are at home or establish that they always reach you. In addition, you have to know that in order to receive notifications from the intercom on your device you have to activate location services, for this you have to go to Settings> Privacy> Location.

To customize the notifications that you can receive from the intercom you have to follow the following steps.

1. In the Home app, click on the home symbol and click on Home settings.
2. Press Intercom.
3. Perform any of the operations they show you.

This deactivates the Intercom

Another option that you can carry out if you do not want to receive messages or notifications from the intercom is to deactivate the intercom itself on the speakers you choose, for this you have to carry out the following steps.

1. In the Home app, tap the Home icon and then click Home Settings.
2. Press Intercom.
3. Do any of the following:
   • Turn off intercom for a HomePod: On HomePod, turn off a HomePod.
   • Turn off the intercom for a household member: In People, turn off the household member you don’t want to send or receive intercom messages on their iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS devices.