audioOS 26.6 is the Release Candidate for the HomePod's stable line — the same build (literally, same build number) as tvOS 26.6, packaged for speakers. For a device the whole household talks to, RC is the pre-release tier that makes sense: final quality, early delivery.
Updates run through the Home app; the only decisions are which speakers to enroll and whether to leave automatic updates on.
What you'll need
HomePod or HomePod mini
All models — 1st gen, 2nd gen and mini — run the 26.x line.
Home app + owner account
The home owner's Apple Account must be beta-enrolled; invited home members can't manage beta toggles.
Step-by-step
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1Open the speaker's settings
Home app > long-press the HomePod tile > gear icon > Software Update.
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2Enable beta updates on this speaker
Toggle beta updates on — visible when the home owner's account is enrolled. Stereo pairs enroll and update together.
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3Install audioOS 26.6
Start the offered update and leave the speaker powered. The light pulses white while flashing; 15–30 minutes typical, longer on first-gen HomePods.
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4Decide the toggle's fate afterward
After the public release ships, either turn the toggle off (speaker rejoins the stable track) or leave it on to receive future RCs early.
After installing
A quick four-part check: music request, timer, one smart-home command, intercom. All four working means the household won't notice anything except whatever got fixed.
Troubleshooting
No beta toggle visible
You're either not the home owner or the owner account isn't enrolled. Both are fixable in two minutes — enrollment at beta.apple.com.
Speaker seems stuck mid-update
Don't unplug during the white pulsing light unless it's been over an hour. After that: power-cycle; the updater recovers or re-offers the build.
Siri behaves oddly after updating
Give server-side features a day to settle, and confirm the speaker's language matches your phone's. Persisting issues: report via the Home app's feedback path.
Frequently asked questions
Why does audioOS share build numbers with tvOS?
Same platform underneath. When our homepage shows identical builds for tvOS 26.6 and audioOS 26.6, that's Apple's architecture, not a typo.
Can I downgrade if something breaks?
No — HomePod restores reinstall the current enrolled-channel build. RC quality makes this a non-issue in practice.
Do both speakers in a stereo pair update together?
Yes, always — pairs share enrollment and install in lockstep.