On HomePod, to keep everyone on the same page, you can send an Intercom message to all members of your home. You can also send Intercom messages to specific rooms or zones, and your voice message is sent to all the HomePod speakers in your home, plus the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch of every member.
After a message is played on HomePod, you can reply back. You can also change settings for Intercom notifications, or turn off Intercom on some or all of your HomePod speakers.
Here’s what you need to know about using HomePod as an Intercom.
Note: Intercom is supported on iPhone with iOS 14.2 or later, iPad with iPadOS 14.2 or later, and Apple Watch with watchOS 7.1 or later.
Send an Intercom message
Siri: Ask Siri something like:
- “Intercom ‘Time for dinner!'”
- “Intercom ‘Who ate the last cookie?'”
- “Announce ‘I’m home!'”
- “Ask everyone ‘Where are my glasses?'”
- “Let everyone know ‘I found my glasses.'”
- “Tell everyone ‘I’m taking the dog for a walk.'”
- “Intercom ‘On my way home, want me to pick anything up?'”
Send a message to HomePod in a specific room or zone
Siri: Ask Siri something like:
- “Tell the office ‘The movie is starting.'”
- “Announce upstairs ‘I’m going to the store.'”
Reply to an Intercom message
Once an Intercom message plays on HomePod, you can reply back. If it was shared with the whole home, your reply goes back to every HomePod speaker in your home, plus the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch devices that belong to all members of your home. If it was sent to your specific room, though, your reply goes only to the HomePod or device that sent the original message.
Siri: Ask Siri something like:
- “Reply ‘I’ll be right there.'”
- “Announce back ‘Just finishing my homework.'”
Change settings for Intercom notifications
By default, everyone in your home gets Intercom notifications on their devices while they’re at home. For your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch, you’re able to turn off Intercom notifications, get them only while you’re at home, or always get them.
- Start the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the More button, then tap Home Settings.
Note: If you have more than one home, you see settings for your current home (based on your location). To edit a different home, tap Homes, then tap the home you want to edit.
- Tap Intercom.
- Do any of the following:
- Turn off notifications: Tap Never.
- Get notifications only while you’re at home: Tap When I’m Home.
- Always get notifications: Tap Anywhere.
- To receive Intercom notifications on your device, you need to turn on Location Services—open the Settings app, tap Privacy & Security, tap Location Services.
Turn off Intercom
You can also turn off Intercom for individual members of your home, or on some or all of your Siri-enabled accessories and HomePod speakers.
- Start the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the More button, then tap Home Settings.
Note: If you have more than one home, you see settings for your current home (based on your location). To edit a different home, tap Homes, then tap the home you want to edit.
- Tap Intercom.
- Do either of the following:
- Turn off Intercom for a HomePod or accessory: Below HomePod, turn off a HomePod or accessory.
- Turn off Intercom for a member of your home: Below People, turn off the member of your home who should not send or receive Intercom messages on their iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
This guide is for HomePod software version 27 or later.
See also
