Report: HomePod Software 27.2 Adds New ‘Lock Controls’ Option

Ryan Christoffel reported this week for 9to5 Mac the impending HomePod 27.2 software update RC (release candidate) includes an option to disable the touch panel atop the smart speaker. The discovery was made by the code spelunker known as pdfu, who shared their findings to X. iOS 27.2, et al, is expected to be released sometime next week.

“If you have ever had an issue with your HomePod and phantom touches, or perhaps like me you have a young child, you may have wished for a way to disable touch controls,” Christoffel wrote on Monday. “According to leaker pdfu, that option is officially coming with iOS 27.2 and HomePod 27.2 next week.”

According to Christoffel’s story, the so-named “Lock Controls” setting is described by Apple in the Settings app as “[preventing] HomePod from playing audio or taking action when the top cap is touched. Intercom, timers, alarms” while caveating “Intercom, timers, alarms, Check In and FaceTime calls will still respond to touch.”

Of the two HomePods in my new house—one OG full-size model and one OG mini—the bigger one is the clear workhorse. I use it literally every single day to listen to music and podcasts as I work at my desk, cobbling together blog posts like this one. I’m proud my original HomePod and its A8 processor from 2018 still works and sounds great all these years later; ditto for the blue HomePod mini from 2020 in my bedroom. I don’t use the control panel very often, but have inadvertently brushed against it innumerable times, which invokes unwanted playback. In hindsight, I’m surprised Apple didn’t add this Lock Controls setting at the very beginning with the OG version. A weird omission.