Want some background ambient noise to fall asleep? Learn how to play relaxing sounds like a crackling fireplace, nighttime, ocean waves, rain forest, and more on your HomePod to get a good night’s sleep.
Your HomePod can play soothing sounds to help you focus or fall asleep. Apple calls them “Remastered Soundscapes.” So, whether it’s just for unwinding after a long day or for those times when you’re seeking a subtle audible background for working or focusing, this cool feature can be helpful.
Remember that your iPhone, iPad, and Mac can also play ambient sounds without downloading an app, but since HomePod is a dedicated speaker, I think it’d be better to use it instead.
Available sounds
The HomePod software includes seven ambient sounds:
- Forest
- Fireplace
- Night
- Ocean
- Rain
- Stream
- White noise
While the soothing sounds from nature create a peaceful oasis for drifting off to sleep, white noise is better suited as an audible background for work or when you need to focus. Best of all, you can listen to ambient sounds without an Apple Music subscription.
Trust me when I say that these are all very, very high-quality soundtracks.
Siri commands to play ambient sounds on HomePod
To play one of the available ambient sounds, simply ask Siri.
- “Hey Siri, play forest sounds.”
- “Hey Siri, I want to listen to fireplace sounds.”
- “Hey Siri, I want to enjoy some night sounds.”
- “Hey Siri, play ocean sounds.”
- “Hey Siri, play rain sounds.”
- “Hey Siri, play stream sounds.”
- “Hey Siri, listen to white noise.”
Set a timer to stop ambient sounds
After you have asked your HomePod to play one of the ambient sounds, just ask it something like, “Hey Siri, stop playing in 30 minutes.”
Your HomePod will now play the white noise for 30 minutes and then automatically stop doing that. Hopefully, by then, you have fallen asleep.
You can also set stop timers for your favorite music, podcasts, and other audio.
Related: How to set multiple timers on your HomePod
Check out Apple’s collection of ASMR relaxing sounds
Don’t have a HomePod yet? No problem, as Apple also provides a nice collection of similar ambient sounds through its official channel on YouTube. As we previously explained, there are four such YouTube clips, and each of them falls into the ASMR category.
ASMR, or autonomous sensory meridian response, is a popular audio type that provides a combination of positive feelings and a distinct static-like tingling sensation on the skin. The obvious advantage to listening to Apple’s ASMR videos is that you don’t need a HomePod.
Here are four videos on Apple’s YouTube channel:
- Whispers From Ghost Forest
- Satisfying Woodshop Sounds
- Crunching Sounds on the Trail
- A Calm Rain at Camp
On a related note: