HomePod owners have long wished they could disable the touch controls on top of their device, and iOS 27.2 finally adds that option. Phantom touches or young children can trigger unwanted actions, so a way to turn off touch interaction has been a frequent request.
According to leaker pdfu, the new Lock Controls setting is officially coming with iOS 27.2 and HomePod 27.2 next week. The HomePod 27.2 release candidate indicates that all HomePod models will support it, including the first-gen HomePod from 2018. Users can find the setting in the Home app under the HomePod's accessory settings after updating both the HomePod and iPhone.
Apple says that when Lock Controls is enabled, the HomePod will stop playing audio or taking action when the top cap is touched. Intercom, timers, alarms, Check In and FaceTime calls will still respond to touch, so essential functions remain available.
The setting is especially useful for households that control HomePods mainly through an iPhone or another device. Owners with toddlers, cats, or devices prone to phantom taps may find it a welcome change.
Source: 9to5Mac · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing