With the launch of iOS 14.4, Apple added a new feature for the HomePod mini that's designed to provide haptic feedback when your iPhone 11 or 12 is near the speaker to facilitate the simpler handing off of songs from one device to another.

HomePod mini iOS 14
When moving your ‌iPhone‌ closer to a ‌HomePod mini‌ after installing the iOS 14.4 update, the ‌iPhone‌ vibrates quicker and quicker as it gets closer to the speaker, and ‌HomePod mini‌ controls pop up on the screen. If you happen to keep your ‌HomePod mini‌ on a desk or another location where it's often close to your ‌iPhone‌, the proximity notifications can get frustrating fast.

If you've run into this problem and want the popups and vibrations to stop, follow these directions:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Tap on "General." homepod mini handoff settings
  3. Tap on "AirPlay & Handoff."
  4. Toggle off "Transfer to HomePod." disable homepod transfer

With this feature, your ‌iPhone‌ will no longer attempt to transfer music or media to your ‌HomePod mini‌ when it's near the speaker, preventing the haptic feedback and song transfer interface from showing up. The haptic vibrations and transfer features are limited to the ‌HomePod mini‌ and the ‌iPhone‌ 11 and ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, but the option can also be disabled on other iPhones to prevent the standard transfer interface from coming up.

Related Roundup: HomePod mini
Buyer's Guide: HomePod Mini (Caution)

Top Rated Comments

Apple_Robert Avatar
58 months ago
My phone vibrates every time when placing it on my Mac desk. Ir doesn't really bother me. I think it should only vibrate when there is an actual hand off possibility, instead of vibrating just because the phone is close. Maybe Apple will change that aspect.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
58 months ago
I had to turn it off because I have my mini on my desk and it was happening constantly.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Populus Avatar
58 months ago
I like how, with iOS 14, Apple is releasing, step by step, new features on each update, instead of cramming all of them into the release build like they did with previous releases (we all remember the disaster of iOS 13 on its launch). This way they can keep polishing the operating system while they add, slowly, some of the remaining features along the year.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Populus Avatar
58 months ago

This might sound like a stupid/insane question, but is anyone using a HomePod (mini or otherwise) without Siri? I like the idea of a good AirPlay speaker but my wife and I just don't particularly care to have Siri on all the time.
I asked something similar in the past. Some said ”if you don’t want a smartspeaker why are you buying a smartspeaker?”, but there was a useful answer among all of them. Someone told me: “You just ask Siri to stop listening”. I hope this answers your question.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr Lizard Avatar
58 months ago

On the other hand why do you buy an apple smartspeaker if you don’t want Siri?
Some people might want the superb sound quality that the HomePod provides, but without the shuttle wreck of a digital assistant that is Siri.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Romeo_Nightfall Avatar
58 months ago
I don’t care - BUT WHEN COMES THE HOMEPOD2 - i like the mini and have now appetite for the big one!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

When Is iPhone 17 Coming Out?

Thursday July 24, 2025 9:11 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 series is expected to debut in September 2025. This release follows Apple's recent trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. To unveil the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, Apple is expected to hold its annual iPhone announcement event during the week of September 8, 2025, with September 9 or 10 emerging as the most likely...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 16 New Features

Saturday July 26, 2025 5:50 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max should launch in late September, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models, as of July 2025:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

Tipster: iPhone 17 Pro to Feature 8x Zoom, Pro Camera App, and More

Sunday July 27, 2025 7:35 am PDT by
Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models will have several new camera-related features, according to an anonymous tipster who contacted MacRumors today. The tipster claimed to be familiar with an iPhone 17 Pro commercial that is allegedly being produced by a film company that has publicly listed Apple as one of its clients. MacRumors has not independently confirmed any of the information shared ...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Complications

Apple Watch Ultra 3: What to Expect

Thursday July 24, 2025 7:08 am PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is nearly over, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the Apple Watch Ultra 3:Satellite connectivity for sending and receiving text messages when Wi-Fi and cellular coverage is unavailable 5G support, up from LTE on the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Likely a wide-angle OLED display that ...
Apple Partridge Creek

Apple Store in Michigan Permanently Closing Next Month

Saturday July 26, 2025 1:51 pm PDT by
Earlier this month, MacRumors was first to report that Apple was planning to permanently close its Partridge Creek store, just outside of Detroit, Michigan, and now the company has announced a closure date for the location. Apple Partridge Creek Apple Partridge Creek's final day of business will be Saturday, August 16, with the store set to close for good at 8 p.m. local time that day. All of ...
iOS 18

Apple Shares iOS 18.6 Release Notes

Thursday July 24, 2025 6:33 am PDT by
While the focus is now on iOS 26, there is still an iOS 18.6 update incoming. As noted by Aaron Zollo, Apple on Wednesday re-labeled iOS 18.6 Beta 4 as simply iOS 18.6, meaning that it is the Release Candidate version. This change effectively confirms that the update will be released to the public next week. Alongside the new label, Apple shared release notes for iOS 18.6, which is a...
iPhone 17 Colors

All 15 New iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Colors Leaked

Friday July 25, 2025 6:20 am PDT by
We may finally have a definitive list of all color options for the iPhone 17 series, ahead of the devices launching in September. MacRumors concept In a Macworld report this month, Filipe Espósito said he obtained an "internal document" that allegedly reveals all of the color options for the upcoming iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models. The report...
iPhone 17 Pro on Desk Centered 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching in Two Months With These 16 New Features

Tuesday July 22, 2025 5:00 pm PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models, as of July 2025:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone X through iPhone 14...