While blinking volume buttons symptom on the original Apple HomePod maybe caused by a number of different root causes, if it is not due to a corrupt firmware, it is likely due to the disconnect between the flash memory (NAND) and the logic board that sits on top of the woofer just underneath the control surface with the volume buttons.

Like most other issues with the 1st Generation HomePods, which are not designed to be serviced easily, there is no unobtrusive way to remedy the problems causing the blinking volume lights. However, depending on the root cause, the repair may not require opening up your HomePod, so your first objective is to determine whether it is a software issue. Your best course of action for diagnostics and remedy is summarized in two steps:

1 – Determine if the root cause is a software issue: Your first objective is to understand whether the blinking volume buttons is caused by a software failure (corrupt firmware caused by a failure during an OS update or similar), or a hardware failure. If it is a firmware issue, the repair is simpler – although it still requires a physical connection and the right software on a Mac to restore the firmware stored on your HomePod’s logic board. This happened to many of our followers and customers, one of whom had a brand-new HomePod which had an earlier OS from factory and failed during an attempt to update to the latest OS (iOS 18.2 at the time) – she even graciously posted a tictoc video about it. If the software restore step fails, unfortunately, you will need to go to the next step. 

2 – Diagnose for NAND failure: What are some signs that indicate that your HomePod has a NAND failure rather than a more drastic hardware failure?

– First sign is that when you tap into the diagnostics port underneath the HomePod with the right type of connector (I am sure Apple has many of these that are sitting idle somewhere), and connect it to your Mac, the Apple Configurator app on your Mac, which you can obtain from the App Store for free, will show DFU (Device Firmware Update) mode even when it is sitting upright. Normally, your HomePod should go into the DFU mode only when it is flipped upside down before it is plugged in to power. Your HomePod being in permanent DFU mode is one indication that there is likely a hardware issue.

– The other clear sign is more than just an indicator. During the firmware restore process with the right connector and the right software on your Mac, the restore fails during the step where your device restoration fails during the attempt to connect to the NAND flash drive. This shows that the physical connection between your NAND and your logic board may be severed. It can also mean that your NAND itself failed, but this is rather rare.

How to diagnose and restore NAND functionality

The first step would be to access the diagnostics port that is hidden underneath the bottom pad of your HomePod. This bottom pad can be pulled out of the HomePod by getting your fingers between the mesh and the pad, and gradually patiently pulling the bottom pad up and out while separating it from the HomePod. There is an adhesive layer in addition to the plastic tabs with notches that keep the bottom pad in place, and you are physically separating the two. Just be patient, it will come off. We do have a video here that can help in this step.

Now, for the next steps, you will need some special connectors, tools, and the software installed on a mac. 

The connector that will tap into the bottom diagnostics port of your original 1st Gen HomePod is a custom connector which is not available for the average consumer. Apple service should have them, but I am not sure if they even use it any longer as it seems like they refuse to service the Original HomePod at the time of this writing. You need one end of the usb cable to tap into four of those connection pads with good, solid contact.  

More photos and videos will be available on this soon. Please stay tuned.