How to play Spotify, YouTube and VLC on HomePod from Windows
ToneRelay sends Spotify, YouTube, browser and VLC audio to HomePod or HomePod mini when the app uses the Windows default output. Connect over your local network, check the app’s output and volume, then verify sound on the speaker.
All HomePod models supported
ToneRelay supports the full HomePod lineup: HomePod (1st generation), HomePod (2nd generation), and HomePod mini.
Play Windows 10/11 x64 default-output audio on a configured HomePod over the same reachable local network. ToneRelay has been tested with HomePod software 27.
| HomePod model | ToneRelay support |
|---|---|
| HomePod (1st generation) | Playback supported |
| HomePod (2nd generation) | Playback supported |
| HomePod mini | Playback supported |
First check the PC-to-HomePod connection
Use a short local audio file that already plays on your PC. If that file cannot play through ToneRelay, solve the connection or no-sound problem before changing Spotify or your browser.
Play Spotify on HomePod from Windows
This sends the Windows audio output over the local network. It does not add HomePod to Spotify Connect or give ToneRelay separate per-app routing.
- Open Windows Settings → System → Sound and confirm the current default output works.
- In the Windows volume mixer, check that Spotify is unmuted and uses that output. Check Spotify’s own playback-device selection too.
- Choose HomePod or HomePod mini in ToneRelay and start the session.
- Play a track in Spotify and confirm audible sound from the HomePod. Compare with the local test file if Spotify alone stays silent.
Play YouTube and browser audio on HomePod
Keep the browser on the Windows default output. Unmute the browser tab, the video and the browser in the Windows volume mixer. Play a video with visible speech to check sound first, then compare lip movement with the audio.
Play VLC and local media on HomePod
Play a known local file and check VLC’s audio-device choice. It must use the current Windows default output for ToneRelay to capture it. After changing the output, restart playback or the app if necessary. If sound works but video is out of sync, evaluate the player’s audio offset separately; an offset does not remove network delay.
If only one app is silent
When the local file and other apps work, check the affected app’s mute, playback state and output device. Reinstalling ToneRelay or buying Pro is not the first fix for an app routed to a different output.
Apple Music and iTunes use their own AirPlay controls
Apple Music for Windows can send its own music to HomePod using its AirPlay selector. iTunes has its own AirPlay controls too. Those choices do not automatically reroute Spotify, YouTube or VLC. If you only want music inside an Apple app, try its built-in option first; for other PC sound, check the Windows default-output path.
Verify playback on your own equipment
Use this repeatable check with your own devices. These are test instructions, not published hardware measurements. Keep the source and environment constant and change one setting at a time.
| Record | Include |
|---|---|
| Versions and date | Actual test date, Windows version and build, ToneRelay 0.1.0, HomePod model and firmware. |
| Playback environment | PC Wi-Fi or Ethernet, source and player, and current default output. Hide device names and network details in public material. |
| Observed result | Record discovery, connection, audible output, reconnection, interruptions and video sync separately; Playing does not prove all checks pass. |
- Test a local audio clip first, then Spotify and a YouTube video one at a time. Keep the same Windows default output and HomePod.
- If only one app is silent, compare its mute, volume and output-device settings in Windows Volume Mixer. Replay the same item after changing one setting.
- For video, record whether sound is continuous and whether speech matches lip movement. Successful music playback does not establish acceptable video sync.
Choose the next step for your setup
Check the requirements first, then follow the guide that matches your speaker or symptom. Try on your own equipment before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Which HomePod models does ToneRelay support?
ToneRelay supports the full HomePod lineup: HomePod (1st generation), HomePod (2nd generation), and HomePod mini. Play Windows 10/11 x64 default-output audio on a configured HomePod over the same reachable local network. ToneRelay has been tested with HomePod software 27.
Does Spotify need an AirPlay button to play on HomePod from Windows?
Why does YouTube work on HomePod but Spotify does not?
Compare both apps with the same local test file. Check Spotify’s playback device, app mute and Windows output assignment. If other sound works, diagnose Spotify’s output before changing network settings.
Can I watch YouTube or VLC with perfectly synchronized HomePod audio?
Network audio has delay. Check your own video, player and speaker during the seven-day trial. A player’s audio offset may help that video but does not guarantee synchronization for other apps or zero-latency playback.