Apple Music update: Awesome crossfade feature for HomePod now available!

Apple Music update: Awesome crossfade feature for HomePod now available!

Music lovers in Cologne can rejoice! Apple has some exciting updates for iOS 26 and HomePod software 26 in the pipeline for next fall. The focus is on improving the audio ecosystem, especially for Apple Music and the HomePod. Of particular note is the introduction of the Crossfade function, which enables seamless transitions between songs and eliminates silent pauses. This makes listening to music a continuous experience that no longer has any interruptions. According to stadt-bremerhaven.de, this function can be activated in the Home app and users have the opportunity to determine the duration of the crossfade themselves between 1 and 12 seconds.

However, to use the new crossfade option, an Apple Music subscription is required. The feature is currently in testing and will be part of the iOS 26 update released in fall 2025. Users already have the opportunity to get a taste of this feature by installing the beta version of iOS 26 on their iPhone and also enrolling the HomePod in the beta firmware, informs idownloadblog.com.

Practical application of the crossfade function

The steps to enable the crossfade option on HomePod are simple and straightforward. Users simply need to open the Home app on their iPhone, iPad or Mac and select “Home Settings” from the three-dot menu. A HomePod user can then be selected in the People section at the bottom. There, “Apple Music” is specified under “Connected media”, followed by activating the crossfade switch and setting the crossfade duration.

Let's not forget that the crossfade feature doesn't work over AirPlay or for non-Apple Music music requests. It should also be noted that crossfade is not activated when playing albums in order, but it does come into play when shuffling the songs in an album. Another point is that the crossfade option may not be available when two HomePod speakers are connected in a stereo configuration for Apple TV as the default audio output if one of the speakers is an original HomePod that does not support this feature.

Innovation through AutoMix

iOS 26 also introduces the new “AutoMix” feature, which replaces crossfading. This innovative feature utilizes technologies such as time-stretching and beat-matching to create transitions between songs that are reminiscent of a DJ's skills. With this function, Apple has created another tool for its users to further improve the music experience. However, it should be mentioned that AutoMix will not be available for iPadOS 26 and macOS Tahoe 26.

Apple has set up a very useful page for all technical questions and support regarding the music features. There you will find information about identifying your HomePod's software version and performing updates. According to support.apple.com, voice search via Siri on HomePod is also constantly being improved to ensure an even more user-friendly experience.

Overall, these updates show that Apple has a good hand at making the audio market even more attractive. The introduction of the Crossfade feature and AutoMix is ​​sure to create excitement among music lovers, so stay tuned!