How to use Intercom on HomePod for announcements in your home

With a lot of updates and new features to your Apple devices this year, one more will have you and your family communicating throughout the house. Intercom on HomePod gives you a quick and simple way to speak to family members in other rooms of the house.

You can use your HomePod, or all of them if you have more than one, as a loudspeaker of sorts. Speak into another device like your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch and your message will be heard on the HomePod(s) in your household.

Here, we’ll show you how to use the Intercom on HomePod, customize the settings, and make the most out of this cool new feature.

Intercom messages with HomePod

Customize the Intercom settings

Make sure that you’re running the latest software on all of your devices. The Intercom will actually turn on automatically. But you can adjust a few settings for it before you use it.

Receive notifications

You can decide when to receive notifications for the Intercom. And you can adjust this setting on any of the HomePods you own or in the Home Settings. No matter which spot you make the change, it will apply universally. So, open the Home app and do one of the following to set up notifications.

In the HomePod settings

1) Navigate to a HomePod in the Home app.

2) Press and hold the HomePod icon.

3) Scroll down to the settings and select Intercom. You may have to tap the gear icon to display them all.

4) Under Receive Notifications When, choose from Never, When I’m Home, or Anywhere.

Home app Intercom Notifications on iPhone

In the Home Settings

1) Tap the Home icon on the top left and choose Home Settings.

2) Scroll down a bit and tap Intercom.

3) Under Receive Notifications When, choose from Never, When I’m Home, or Anywhere.

Allow user access

To control the users who can send Intercom messages, you’ll head to the Home Settings in the Home app.

1) Tap the Home icon on the top left and choose Home Settings.

2) Scroll down a bit and tap Intercom.

3) Under People, enable the toggles for those HomePod users you want to allow access to Intercom communications.

Home Settings for Intercom People on iPhone

Choose the HomePods

Just because you have a HomePod in a room doesn’t mean you want to send and receive Intercom messages with it. You can enable only those speakers you want to use the feature. Similar to setting up notifications, you can choose the HomePods to use in either their settings or the Home Settings.

In the HomePod settings

1) Navigate to a HomePod in the Home app.

2) Press and hold the HomePod icon.

3) Scroll down to the settings and select Intercom.

4) Under HomePod, enable the toggles for the HomePods you want to use with Intercom.

Home app Intercom for HomePod on iPhone

In the Home Settings

1) Tap the Home icon on the top left and choose Home Settings.

2) Scroll down a bit and tap Intercom.

3) Under HomePod, enable the toggles for the HomePods you want to use with Intercom.

Send and receive Intercom messages

You can use your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple Watch, CarPlay, and AirPods to send Intercom messages. This makes it convenient to communicate with your family from anywhere, anytime. Plus, Siri can help send Intercom messages and reply to them too.

Use the Home app

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, open the Home app to send an Intercom message. As of this writing, the Intercom feature in the Home app is not available on macOS Big Sur or earlier.

1) In the Home app, tap the Intercom icon in the toolbar at the top. The icon looks like a sound wave and can be found on the Home tab or the Room containing a HomePod.

2) Speak your message to play it on the HomePod(s) in your home. For a certain one, add the room or zone for that HomePod. So you can say something like, “Let everyone know I’ll be late” or “Tell [office] I’m running behind”.

3) Tap Done when you finish.

Send Intercom Message in the Home app

Within a few seconds, the Intercom message will play for all to hear!

Use Siri for announcements

If you want to send an Intercom message with Siri, it’s just as easy. And this is how you’ll send messages using your Apple Watch, CarPlay, AirPods, or compatible Beats headphones.

You can use phrases like these:

“Hey Siri, announce that dinner is ready.”

“Hey Siri, intercom everyone it’s time to wake up.”

“Hey Siri, ask the [living room] what they want for lunch.”

“Hey Siri, tell the [upstairs] that Rover needs a walk.”

Related: ‘Announce Messages with Siri’ feature surfaces

Reply using Siri

The nice thing about Siri, aside from the charming personality, is that you can reply to Intercom messages using Siri as well. Just insert the word “reply” and of course, make sure you’re near the HomePod for Siri to hear you and send your reply.

Try replies like:

“Hey Siri, reply I’ll be right there.”

“Hey Siri, reply I need another 10 minutes.”

“Hey Siri, reply to [kitchen] a sandwich sounds good.”

“Hey Siri, reply to [office] you walk Rover, you could use the exercise.”

Wrapping it up

The Intercom feature for HomePod is a useful one. And if you have more than one HomePod in your house, it’s even better!

What do you think about the Intercom? Are you going to give it a try? Let us know!