Siri hey, Siri is losing ability

By Brian, 25 October, 2022

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Over the last couple of major iOS updates, Siri seems to be losing its ability to do anything. I have noticed that it is now impossible to add something to the shopping list in notes using Siri. Since updating to iOS 16 it is now unable to recognise this song. If I heard a song I ask Siri to name this song or what is this song? In the past it’s done it with no difficulty. it seems to mishear more frequently than it used to. It’s not only me but other members of the family as well. If I ask a question it more often than not now tells me to look it up on my iPhone or it’s send me a link to my iPhone. It’s almost getting to the point of being useless. Is this just me here in the UK or other people finding the same issues? Come on Apple, either improve it or dump it.

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Comments

By Brad on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

When you ask siri to search for something it brings up the search but also brings up the listen button and it makes it confusing.

I think the search pops up on the screen for a couple of seconds but that's it.

By roman on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

I have to say that Siri is getting worse. Before this new version, Siri wasn't working as expected at all, but now it works fine. Hope that Apple will solve the issue.

By Roxann Pollard on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

Even for simple things such as setting a timer, or answering yes to a question that it asks, it's as if it doesn't hear me correctly. A lot of times I will tell it to set a timer for 30 minutes, but it may hear three minutes. Then, when I try to set the timer again, it will say a three minute timer is already running do you want to change it, I say yes, and it doesn't respond, so I have to say yes once more. Very aggravating, as I use Siri for a lot of tasks, all day, every day. I was hoping that 16.1 might fix this, but apparently not.

By PaulMartz on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

I used to be able to press my home button, hear the ding, and start talking to SIRI immediately. iOS 16 changed to a new ding sound, and SIRI has been very picky and delicate ever since. Through to current 16.0.3, I need to wait a fraction of a second after the new ding before I start talking, or SIRI misses the first word or two. I must do the same when I use the dictate button on the onscreen keyboard, or to confirm a SIRI action.

I believe the ding sound has a peak decibel followed by a ramp down to zero decibels. I want to start talking before the sound file has finished playing, and SIRI doesn't start listening until the sound file has finished playing. Apple should modify iOS so that SIRI starts listening at the same time the sound file hits its peak decibel.

Actually, my preference would simply be to revert back to the old ding sound, which has worked fine for twelve years.

By Siobhan on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

I honestly wonder how many takes on a podcast recording it will take, to get siri to cooperate. I say this because even asking to open accessibility settings, or its' own settings, it's stupid and doesn't respond. apple needs to do a lot of work on this and so many other issues but of course, money, money, money, comes first. They'd rather put out lackluster inferior products then do what's important. I honestly think this might be my last hope they even understand what's wrong. and I also will understand you can't test every use case. But they are completely focusing on shiny devices.

By Brian on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

I also wish they would revert to the original sound. The lower sound is harder to hear if there is a lot of ambient noise.

By Dawn 👩🏻‍🦯 on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

I have to agree with you a bit. I yell at Siri to open Vo. settings, she says she's sorry but she can't. But, she'll open accessibility just fine. She's very temperamental.
However, I DO have a workaround for ONE of your gripes. You won't be able to use Siri, but, I've put this shortcut on page 1 of my homescreen, and, that solved the ease of use and finding problem. The solution is the song identifying shortcut from Shizam! I found it in the shortcuts app a while back and, I love it! You can do a couple things with this including adding it to Apple Music playlist, and, what I do, which is copy the song title and artist info to the clipboard. Where I then either paste it into Spotify's search box and add it to a playlist, or, I paste it into a document so I can refer back to it later. Very handy for if I'm on the road.
Sadly, I can't seem to find the button to share this shortcut with you. But, it is there. I hope this helps! :-)

By Dawn 👩🏻‍🦯 on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

Hello! I FINALLY got the shortcut link for you! It took some fiddling, but, I have it now! Here it is. Keep in mind that you may have to enable the running of untrusted shortcuts. I hope this help you as well!

By kool_turk on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

You can just add the Shazam thing to your control centre, no shortcut needed.

Go to settings, control center, and add music recognition.

Next time you want to know what song is playing, simply go to your control centre and tap on music recognition.

It also keeps a history of the previous songs you shazammed, which you can remove using the actions rotor.

By Roxann Pollard on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

I wholeheartedly agree with your description of the Siri sound, and lack luster response, because of the change. When I heard the Siri sound for the first time, I am mediately noticed that it is not clean, Chris, as it should be. It seems as if it increases into being louder, when, it should just be one sound, at one decibel level. I also think that this has something to do with why the performance of Siri has degraded so much.

I sure hope Apple fixes their mess, soon. I could say much more, but it's already been said, multiple times, on many threads in this forum. Suffice it to say, quite frustrated these days about Apple's performance. Especially, when Apple is supposed to be a company that prides themselves on high-performing devices and accompanying software.

By PaulMartz on Monday, November 7, 2022 - 18:24

Hold down the home button (or side button for models without a home button). When you hear the ding, say, "define sporadic". Say it right after the ding. Don't push the envelope or anything, but say it quickly, as we have always done since 2011.

When I do this, SIRI gives me the mathematical definition of a sporadic group. I believe this is incorrect behavior. It should give me the English language dictionary definition of sporadic.

Now, repeat, but wait about a second between the ding and when you say "define sporadic". This time, SIRI responds with the dictionary definition of sporadic, that is, as a synonym for intermittent. This is the correct and expected behavior, except for the abnormally long pause.

Hey SIRI seems to work fine, for example, "hey SIRI define sporadic" provides the English language dictionary definition of sporadic, not the mathematical definition.