As with the Amazon Echos, Apple‘s HomePod can also recognize the voice of different users. An important feature that improves the user experience that they are going to have with it, because in this way the music recommendations and even access to personal data are those of this in question. The problem is when this is not the case, but there is an easy solution.
Assigning a main profile to HomePod
When it comes to using any type of smart speaker, there is an option that we have already talked about for proposals such as Amazon’s and that is very interesting. We refer to voice profiles . Thanks to them, it is possible for these devices to know who is speaking at all times and that improves the user experience.
Because, in the event that there are several people at home who use it, if they ask for a recommendation of music or access to the calendar, for example, the data that it will give will be his and not that of another suitable person. Without forgetting also what it can mean for the security of purchases by voice.
Well, if Alexa and Google Assistant have this ability to identify and create profiles for each user, Siri does too, although it doesn’t always work precisely. But calm, because with the version of iOS 14.3 the operating system of the HomePods now allows to establish a main profile by default .
What is a main profile for on HomePods? Well, so that, regardless of the account that configured the speaker or not, in the event that it does not detect which user is speaking to it, use the selected profile for everything related to the reproduction and recommendation of music and podcasts.
Thus, for example, if at home you have several HomePods distributed in different rooms and some of them are mainly used by another member of the family, so that what appears in recommendations, etc., is to your liking. Which would also prevent your recommendations from being affected over time.
To be able to configure a profile as the main one in HomePod, the first thing is to have it updated to version 14.3 of iOS. Once this is done, you just have to follow the following steps:
- Launch the Home app on the iPhone or iPad. You can also use the Mac app
- Select the HomePod to which you want to assign a main profile
- Once done, on the next screen you will see that a gear icon appears in the lower right corner that gives access to the configuration options
- Go to Music and Podcasts
- On the next screen you will see that there is an option that indicates Main user, select it
- Now you just have to choose which will be the main user profile that will be used in that HomePod and voila, you will have it
An upgrade for multi-HomePod households
This detail, which has not been given much importance, not even in Apple’s own update notes, is an improvement that users with several HomePods at home and that are used by different users will appreciate.
However, despite how the use of Siri is improving in the two models of smart speakers that Apple has, the truth is that compared to Alexa it is still behind. But if you bet on them, it is logical to think that you do it for that sound quality and, above all, for the value that having all the products of the same brand brings to the ecosystem.
