Keep notifications off your HomePod
Updated November 13, 2026.
When your Mac’s sound goes to a HomePod, every sound goes with it, alerts included. Apple’s “Play sound effects through” setting can keep alert sounds on the Mac, but calls and videos still play on the HomePod. StreamPod sends only your music app to the HomePod: notifications, calls and every other sound stay on your Mac.
Why do notifications play on my HomePod?
Picking a HomePod in Control Center, or making it your Mac’s default sound output with HomePod software 27.2, sends it the Mac’s audio as a whole. Apple says that as the default output, a HomePod plays all your audio, from movies and games to video calls.
Can macOS keep alerts on the Mac?
Partly. macOS can play its sound effects on a different device from the one playing your music.
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings, then click Sound in the sidebar.
- In Sound Effects, open the “Play sound effects through” menu.
- Choose your Mac’s own speakers.
Apple describes this as the device that plays sound effects, such as the alert sound. A video call, a movie or a game still follows the output you picked, so it plays on the HomePod.
How do I send only the music to my HomePod?
- Download StreamPod and drag it to your Applications folder.
- Keep your Mac’s speakers as its sound output: in System Settings > Sound, click Output and select them.
- Play music in Spotify, Apple Music or Podcasts.
- Click the StreamPod icon in the menu bar, then click the HomePod’s room.
The music plays on the HomePod. Messages, Slack, Zoom and FaceTime stay on your Mac. StreamPod is free, for macOS 26 or later.
Good to know
- StreamPod sends one app: Spotify, Apple Music or Podcasts. Videos and calls stay on your Mac.
- You can send the music to several rooms at once, each at its own volume.
- It works with HomePod, HomePod mini, stereo pairs, Sonos and other AirPlay speakers. Not yet: Apple TV, Chromecast or Bluetooth.