New HomePod Stuck on Configuring - SOLVED?

I believe I may have solved the issue of a HomePod getting stuck on "Configuring" (YMMV). Posting since other threads are old/closed. I hope this helps you.

My new HomePod 2 (MQJ83LL/A) running version 17.6 (21M71) would not connect to my network. It was stuck for ~18 hours on "HomePod is being configured. Additional settings will be available shortly..."

This is my second HomePod running in a home with an AppleTV and the other HomePod. The new HomePod would not move beyond "Configuring." I searched these forums, Reddit r/HomePod, and Apple's site. The best answers I could find were "you need to RESTART it" to "RESET it to factory settings" to (my least-favorite) "create a new Apple ID, move it to that account, then back to your main account." Hard pass.

I tried multiple troubleshooting techniques found here and elsewhere:

1. Restart the HomePod from the app
   1. Go to "Home" app (iOS or MacOS)
   2. Right click on the HomePod and select "Accessory Settings"
   3. Scroll to the bottom and select "Reset HomePod..."
   4. Select "Restart HomePod"
2. Restart the HomePod physically
   1. Unplug the HomePod
   2. Wait ~10 seconds, then plug it back in
3. Reset the HomePod to factory settings via app
   1. Go to "Home" app (iOS or MacOS)
   2. Right click on the HomePod and select "Accessory Settings"
   3. Scroll to the bottom and select "Reset HomePod..."
   4. Select "Remove Accessory"
   5. NOTE: Some users also suggest going to appleid.apple.com > Devices and removing the HomePod from your account as well--I tried it with and without this step
4. Reset the HomePod to factory settings physically
   1. Unplug the HomePod
   2. Wait ~10 seconds, then plug it back in
   3. Wait ~10 seconds until you see the white light, then hold your finger (~10-15 seconds) until it turns red
   4. Keep holding (HomePod is red) until you hear three beeps
   5. The HomePod will restart as a new device
5. Create a new "Home" and setup the device in that home (I won't document the steps here, but will say that didn't work for me)

Finally, after much searching, I found another method. This method appears to address a networking issue and requires forcing your router and the HomePod(s) to get a new address via DHCP. Following this method, everything worked correctly.

Resolving Networking issues affecting HomePod

1. In this order, unplug each device for at least 30 seconds
   1. HomePod(s)
   2. AppleTV(s)
   3. Router
   4. Modem
2. Plug in the Modem first, then Router (if separate from the modem) and wait until your network is back online (1-2 minutes)
3. Plug in the Apple TV, then:
   1. Confirm it's connected to the correct network (found in Settings > Network)
   2. Confirm it's connected to the correct Apple ID (found in Settings > Users and Accounts > then confirm it's the correct account for "Default User")
   3. Confirm it is connected to your "Home" and is a Hub
      1. From Apple TV, open Settings > Airplay and HomeKit
      2. Under "Home Hub" at the bottom, make sure the correct Home is selected (you likely only have one) and it says "Connected"
4. Plug in the HomePod(s), then confirm it's connected to the correct network (as noted above under "Accessory Settings")
5. Wait ~5 minutes and the "Configuring" status on the HomePod should disappear

This resolved my issues and allowed me to connect my two HomePods as a stereo pair.

If anyone at Apple is browsing this user forum, a few thoughts:

1. This is UNNECESSARILY difficult and would (does) cause casual users to stop using these devices
2. The "Home" apps (iOS and MacOS) do not give enough information to troubleshoot this issue, which (based on internet searches) is not random and rare
3. Identifying why the HomePod is "Configuring" or what needs to be configured would help users to understand if they should "just wait and it'll work" or if they need to escalate their issues
4. There is a disturbing lack of documentation on Apple's official Support site to HomePod and this issue

Hope this helps! Your mileage may vary, but hopefully this is successful for you.