The Direct Answer: Can a HomePod Connect to Bluetooth Speakers?

The short answer is no, you cannot directly connect a HomePod to a Bluetooth speaker. The Apple HomePod and HomePod mini are designed to be high-fidelity AirPlay 2 receivers, meaning they receive audio from your iPhone, Mac, or Apple TV. They do not have the built-in functionality to act as a source and broadcast audio out to a separate Bluetooth device.

This can be frustrating if you’ve invested in a great Bluetooth speaker and want to use it alongside your HomePod for bigger sound. However, don’t lose hope. While a direct connection is impossible, there are two highly effective workarounds using other Apple devices as a “bridge” to achieve your goal. This guide will walk you through them step-by-step.

Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

Direct Connection: A HomePod cannot pair with or send audio to a Bluetooth speaker on its own. It’s an audio destination*, not a source.

  • Primary Workaround: The best method is to use an Apple TV 4K as a central hub. It can simultaneously play audio to both your HomePod and a paired Bluetooth speaker.

  • Secondary Workaround: You can use a Mac to create a “Multi-Output Device” that combines your HomePod and a Bluetooth speaker into a single audio output for any sound playing from your computer.

  • The Apple Way: The intended solution for multi-room audio is AirPlay 2. You can group a HomePod with any other AirPlay 2-compatible speakers (like those from Sonos or Bose) for seamless, synchronized playback.

The Best Workaround: How to Connect HomePod and Bluetooth Speakers with an Apple TV

This is the most seamless and practical solution I’ve found for daily use. It effectively turns your Apple TV 4K into the brain of your audio setup, allowing it to manage and send audio to multiple speakers at once, including your HomePod and a Bluetooth speaker.

I use this method in my living room to pair my HomePod stereo pair with a subwoofer that connects via Bluetooth. The result is a much richer, fuller soundstage for movies and music that the HomePods alone can’t produce.

What You’ll Need

  • An Apple HomePod or HomePod mini.
  • An Apple TV 4K (any generation, but newer models running the latest tvOS work best).
  • Any standard Bluetooth speaker (e.g., a soundbar, a portable speaker like a JBL Flip, or a premium model like a Bose SoundLink).

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps precisely to get your system up and running.

Step 1: Pair Your Bluetooth Speaker with the Apple TV

First, you need to establish the connection between your speaker and the Apple TV.

  1. Put your Bluetooth speaker into pairing mode. This process varies by manufacturer, so consult your speaker’s manual. It usually involves holding down a Bluetooth button until a light flashes.
  2. On your Apple TV, navigate to Settings.
  3. Select Remotes and Devices.
  4. Choose Bluetooth.
  5. Your Apple TV will search for nearby devices. Select your Bluetooth speaker from the “Other Devices” list to pair it.

Once connected, your speaker will appear under “My Devices.”

Step 2: Set Your HomePod as the Default Audio Output

Next, you need to tell your Apple TV that the HomePod is its primary speaker. This allows you to control the Apple TV using Siri on the HomePod and ensures audio is always ready to play through it.

  1. On your Apple TV, go back to the main Settings menu.
  2. Select Video and Audio.
  3. Go to Default Audio Output.
  4. Select your HomePod or HomePod mini from the list. If you have two HomePods, you can select the stereo pair.

This setting also enables the HDMI eARC/ARC feature, which we’ll cover later.

Step 3: Play Audio and Select Both Speakers

Now for the magic. With both devices connected to the Apple TV, you can select them simultaneously.

  1. Start playing any content on your Apple TV—a song from Apple Music, a show on Netflix, or a YouTube video.
  2. While the audio is playing, bring up the Control Center. You can do this by pressing and holding the TV/Home button on your Siri Remote.
  3. Navigate to and select the AirPlay icon (it looks like a triangle with circles).
  4. You will see a list of available speakers. Your HomePod (the default) will already be checked.
  5. Simply scroll down to your paired Bluetooth speaker and click to select it as well. A checkmark will appear next to both.

Your Apple TV will now send the same audio stream to both your HomePod and your Bluetooth speaker in sync. You can control the volume of the entire system using the Siri Remote.

The Mac Method: How to Connect a Bluetooth Speaker to an Apple HomePod

If you don’t have an Apple TV but use a Mac as your primary media machine, you can achieve a similar result. This method involves using a little-known but powerful utility in macOS called Audio MIDI Setup.

This is my go-to setup for my home office. I have a HomePod mini on a shelf and a Bose Companion speaker on my desk. By creating a multi-output device, I can play music or podcasts from my Mac and have the audio fill the entire room from both sources.

What You’ll Need

  • A Mac computer (iMac, MacBook, Mac mini) running a modern version of macOS.
  • An Apple HomePod or HomePod mini connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac.
  • A Bluetooth speaker paired with your Mac.

Step-by-Step Instructions

This process is a bit more technical but offers great flexibility for Mac-based audio.

Step 1: Open Audio MIDI Setup

  1. Open Finder on your Mac.
  2. Go to the Applications folder.
  3. Open the Utilities folder.
  4. Double-click to launch Audio MIDI Setup.

Step 2: Create a Multi-Output Device

  1. In the Audio MIDI Setup window, look at the bottom-left corner and click the plus (+) icon.
  2. From the menu that appears, select Create Multi-Output Device.
  3. A new device will appear in