Homepod mini stuck on configuring

I'm having issues with my two HomePod Mini's. From the onset, they just wouldn't recognise the 18.0 update, even though toggling the "automatic updates" in the Home app told me there were updates to be applied. They just wouldn't show up.

So I plugged them into my MacBook and did a restore to 18.0. They appear to recognise and setup fine, but they're both stuck in a 'Configuring' state in the Home app.

Things I've tried without success.

1. Restored them from my MacBook to 18.0 and set them up with my iPhone 13 Pro Max.
2. Restored them again (using the hold for 10 seconds after power on method), and also deleted them from my iCloud devices list.
3. Set up a second "home" in the Home app, and added them to that.

I've restored them and ran through combinations of the above no less than 10 times now. Each and every time, they sit there at the 'Configuring' state. I left it overnight thinking it might just take a while, but that didn't make a difference.

So I can't explain how or what I did specifically, but 1 of 2 HomePod Mini's managed to complete the setup successfully, and is no longer in a 'Configuring' state. Works with personalised Siri commands, etc... The other one, even with repeated setup attempts, is still stuck in the 'Configuring' state.

Since my post above, this is what I've done, in no particular order. I don't know what (if any) of it made any difference.

1. Once again reset the HomePod, using the hold for 10 seconds after power on method, and switched it off without setting it up.
2. Removed the HomePod from my iCloud devices list.
3. Removed all configured 'Homes' in the Home.app on my iPhone, and setup a new one.
4. Explicitly removed my WiFi 5G connection, and connected only to the 2.4G band. I have other smart plugs that can only be added to the Home.app when I'm on the 2.4G band.

I then setup both HomePod Mini's again, and after some time, one of them completed setup. No luck with the other.

As mentioned by another user, I didn't make any changes to my Apple account region. So while it may be a potential solution, I have one of my HomePod Mini's working without doing so. It's something to do with the account though. At one stage, the state of the HomePod in the Home.app was flipping between 'Configuring' and 'Account !', indicating issues with the account to some extent.

I have exactly the same problem. No matter how much times I restart it, it want pass configuration. That problem occurs with my Serbian Apple account.

On the other hand, when I try exactly the same procedure with my US Apple account, configuration passes almost instantly.

Reading on online forums, and experiences of other HomePod users, I can only conclude that the problem lies in Apple account.

So basically, until Apple solves the underlying problem, you can use it as airplay speaker.

If your problem is exactly the same as mine, and your account isn't US based, and you don't have any active subscriptions, you can try switching your account to US. I believe that you’ll be able to configure your HomePod after the switch.

After updating HomePod tvOS18: horror, nightmare, scary - crackling, stereo (delay on one speaker), interrupted playback, humming, freezing and no response.

Factory reset 3 beeps and red light, deleting HomePods in iCloud, deleting the home, deleting the Home app - I did it a dozen times and nothing. Warning about no internet connection and a problem with the Apple ID account.

I did this:

1. software recovery of HomePod 1 and 2 via MAC via USB-C. Delete Homepod 1 and 2 in iCloud and the home in the app.

2. Connect HomePod1, configure. (The message "configuration in progress..." was almost 1 hour, but disappeared and the homepod was ready to work. Miracle!

3. I wanted to do the same with homepod2, but the message "configuration in progress" lasted several hours and nothing. Message about no internet connection, etc. so ...

5. I disconnected the power supply from homepod1. I restored homepod2 to factory settings (3 beeps and a red light). I connected and started the configuration as a separate homepod (without stereo) and it was successful.

6. I turned on Homepod 1 (previously turned off). After loading, I had two homepods turned on in 1 room. I paired the stereo and ... it works.

I wasted a whole day because of this.

Dear Apple, what have you done? Don't do this again!

I finally got my last HomePod working. While it was stuck in the 'Configuring' state, I left it like that, and went into my iCloud devices list and removed it. It was late at night, so I went to bed, but by morning, it was registered and working correctly!