Apple Still Hasn't Fixed Siri Issue That Nixed Call, Email, and Voicemail Features Used by Low Vision and Blind Users [Updated]

[MacRumors]

With the launch of iOS 15, Apple changed Siri functionality and removed features that were heavily relied on by low vision and blind iPhone users. Siri commands that provide details on phone calls, voice mails, and sending emails are no longer working, and Apple has yet to fix the issue.

We first shared details on this problem in September, shortly after the launch of iOS 15. Prior to the launch of the update, low vision users were able to ask Siri to play voicemails, check call history, check recent calls, and more, commands that no longer work.

We have received ongoing complaints from ‌iPhone‌ users who are missing this key ‌Siri‌ functionality, or their relatives who are attempting to help them navigate the changes. The ‌Siri‌ feature removals have also been documented on the AppleVis forums for blind and low vision users of Apple products, and complaints have continued to pile up on the Apple Support Communities. One user explains the issue:

Siri is 'unable' to read missed calls or call last missed call all of a sudden. i use this feature everyday due to visual impairment and since this morning siri has replied with "i cant help with that" when asking for missed calls, call last missed call etc. i rely on this feature heavily and suddenly siri is unable to do this. please can someone help. no settings have been changed and others iphones are having the same issue too.

Asking Siri to provide details on recent phone calls or voicemails now results in the following response: "I can't help with that, but you can ask me to open the Phone app." Asking about email results in a similar response about ‌Siri‌ being unable to help.

MacRumors reader Joshua got in touch with us and explained that the change makes the iPhone almost unusable for his mother, and he's frustrated with Apple's lack of help.

For many fully blind people (like my blind mom) this makes their phone almost unusable, because they can't ask Siri who has called, and they can't ask Siri if they have voicemail. (Their official "workaround" for voicemail, in fact, is calling the old-school carrier voicemail number, to check your voicemail over the phone.)

Joshua got in contact with Accessibility Support and received a non-answer about calling in to be added to the official engineering report as an "affected user" and to fill out Feedback Assistant, but he said he previously submitted a Radar and got no response. Other users on the Apple Support Communities are becoming increasingly upset with Apple. From user Maboc:

Not understanding how Apple cannot have this resolved by now. Taking away a critical functionality for the disabled, the inability for sight impaired to now check for missed calls and messages via Siri and no response or action does not speak well for this Support Community or Apple itself. We purchased a new iPhone 13 for my aging, sight impaired mother at the recommendation of the School for the Blind. Apple being a leader in the Accessibility feature field. Can no-one offer a timeline for a fix out there? HELLO APPLE???!!!???

We asked Apple when a fix might be coming or if the removal of the Siri functionality was intentional back in September, but we never heard back. Apple's lack of effort to address this issue for blind and low vision users is disappointing from a company that is usually on the forefront of accessibility.

Update: It appears that Apple is going to be addressing these Siri issues in the iOS 15.2 update, which is available to developers and public beta testers at this time. In iOS 15.2, the missing call, email, and voicemail Siri features have been reintroduced and are functional.

Article Link: Apple Still Hasn't Fixed Siri Issue That Nixed Call, Email, and Voicemail Features Used by Low Vision and Blind Users [Updated]

 

[Force332]

I don’t believe Apple has even acknowledged it’s an issue. To me that sounds like it was intentional. Not saying I would agree with it. I have very strong feelings about Siri and it’s lack of direction or progress. But, Apple’s usually at least good about acknowledging an issue exists and saying they’re working on a fix. This feels more like a feature rather than a bug based on their (lack of) response.

 

[symplcat]

That’s extremely disappointing.

Is there any legal action that can be taken?

 

[rgeneral]

That’s extremely disappointing.

Is there any legal action that can be taken?

Legal actions takes years.

 

[jz0309]

That is not good, actually it’s bad, this should be a priority for Apple!
Shame on you Apple

 

[dk001]

Anyone know of a current work-around for these folks?

 

[eicca]

Of course it’s intentional. They’ve intentionally removed tons of useful things over the years.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

Apple’s busy making new emojis.

 

[BreakingKayfabe]

Apple Still Hasn't Fixed Siri Issue That Nixed Call, Email, and Voicemail Features Used by Low Vision and Blind Users​

 

[DakotaGuy]

Siri has to be the only voice assistant that loses ability instead of gaining it as time goes by.

 

[bizzaregood]

“who just called me?” Works for some reason

 

[se/30-4eva]

This actual article isn't very friendly to poor-sighted people since it jumps around with video ads inserting and vanishing all the time.

 

[now i see it]

Is it true what everyone is saying that that iOS 15 has been one of the worst so called upgrades in iOS history?

 

[_Spinn_]

Siri has to be the only voice assistant that loses ability instead of gaining it as time goes by.

Well Cortana was a thing at one point. It was pretty decent when it first launched and slowly lost features until Microsoft killed Windows Phone.

 

[DakotaGuy]

Well Cortana was a thing at one point. It was pretty decent when it first launched and slowly lost features until Microsoft killed Windows Phone.

I forgot about Cortana, but I hope that’s not the assistant Apple is benchmarking when developing Siri.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Why didn’t MR contact Apple again (email and phone call), before publishing the article?

I think Apple needs to restore function for all the people affected.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Is it true what everyone is saying that that iOS 15 has been one of the worst so called upgrades in iOS history?

I have been pleased with it thus far.

 

[xxray]

I just don’t understand what would motivate Apple to remove features that already existed.

 

[ouimetnick]

Wished they focused more on accessibility than emojis and Memojis. Would really like some help for those with essential tremors. If you can’t swipe straight up on the Lock Screen, you accidentally enter the camera app. No way to turn that off. Very frustrating for my mother.

 

[antiprotest]

Is it true what everyone is saying that that iOS 15 has been one of the worst so called upgrades in iOS history?

Been using since iPhone 3GS. This time it's not fantastic but it's not the worse for me.

 

[Lozza013]

Just like how they stuffed up DND. Everytime I activate it, everyone's device in our household has its DND turned on

 

[AndyBMac]

Agree

With the launch of iOS 15, Apple changed Siri functionality and removed features that were heavily relied on by low vision and blind iPhone users. Siri commands that provide details on phone calls, voice mails, and sending emails are no longer working, and Apple has yet to fix the issue.

We first shared details on this problem in September, shortly after the launch of iOS 15. Prior to the launch of the update, low vision users were able to ask Siri to play voicemails, check call history, check recent calls, and more, all commands that no longer work. Some of the removed features:

• Do I have any voicemails?
  
• Play my voicemail messages
  
• Check my call history
  
• Check my recent calls
  
• Who called me?
  
• Send an email
  
• Send an email to [person]

We have received ongoing complaints from ‌iPhone‌ users who are missing this key ‌Siri‌ functionality, or their relatives who are attempting to help them navigate the changes. The ‌Siri‌ feature removals have also been documented on the AppleVis forums for blind and low vision users of Apple products, and complaints have continued to pile up on the Apple Support Communities. One user explains the issue:Asking Siri to provide details on recent phone calls or voicemails now results in the following response: "I can't help with that, but you can ask me to open the Phone app." Asking about email results in a similar response about ‌Siri‌ being unable to help.

MacRumors reader Joshua got in touch with us and explained that the change makes the iPhone almost unusable for his mother, and he's frustrated with Apple's lack of help.Joshua got in contact with Accessibility Support and received a non-answer about calling in to be added to the official engineering report as an "affected user" and to fill out Feedback Assistant, but he said he previously submitted a Radar and got no response. Other users on the Apple Support Communities are becoming increasingly upset with Apple. From user Maboc:We asked Apple when a fix might be coming or if the removal of the Siri functionality was intentional back in September, but we never heard back. Apple's lack of effort to address this issue for blind and low vision users is disappointing from a company that is usually on the forefront of accessibility.

Article Link: Apple Still Hasn't Fixed Siri Issue That Nixed Call, Email, and Voicemail Features Used by Low Vision and Blind Users

they are dragging there feet fixing this issue. I am starting to think this is all because of the stupid Siri Shortcuts I bet they replaced old Siri framework with new Siri Shortcuts framework and the new frame work is missing all the features we lost. I hate Siri Shortcuts. It seems so unnecessary. Everything worked in iOS 14 and now simple stuff that just worked want you to make a shortcut and then you have to watch or run, why?!?!? This is so frustrating come on Apple do the right thing and fix what you broke.

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

So short-sighted (no pun intended). Apple's always going on and on about accessibility, so this really flies in the face of that.

Ugh, sometimes Apple (the company as a whole) reminds me of a child jumping around, randomly focusing on one thing at a time, impulsively, and without reason. Throwing toys right and left. No structure, no plan. Just kind of going with their mood. One day it's all about the Mac, the next it's all about the (rumored) Car, then it's all about homeOS. Hard to predict.

This kind of behavior was fine and even fun in the 2000s, but today, it's just gotten old. Apple needs to slow the eff down, really sit down, work through all their bugs, figure out a cohesive software and hardware plan, and just LISTEN. Focus on fixing up current software issues and creating a stable foundation, then add features.

I guess I'm just annoyed with Apple right now because of this article, but seriously... this is a basic thing they missed. I feel terrible for blind/low vision users, they suffer as much as it is already.

 

[AndyBMac]

With the launch of iOS 15, Apple changed Siri functionality and removed features that were heavily relied on by low vision and blind iPhone users. Siri commands that provide details on phone calls, voice mails, and sending emails are no longer working, and Apple has yet to fix the issue.

We first shared details on this problem in September, shortly after the launch of iOS 15. Prior to the launch of the update, low vision users were able to ask Siri to play voicemails, check call history, check recent calls, and more, all commands that no longer work. Some of the removed features:

• Do I have any voicemails?
  
• Play my voicemail messages
  
• Check my call history
  
• Check my recent calls
  
• Who called me?
  
• Send an email
  
• Send an email to [person]

We have received ongoing complaints from ‌iPhone‌ users who are missing this key ‌Siri‌ functionality, or their relatives who are attempting to help them navigate the changes. The ‌Siri‌ feature removals have also been documented on the AppleVis forums for blind and low vision users of Apple products, and complaints have continued to pile up on the Apple Support Communities. One user explains the issue:Asking Siri to provide details on recent phone calls or voicemails now results in the following response: "I can't help with that, but you can ask me to open the Phone app." Asking about email results in a similar response about ‌Siri‌ being unable to help.

MacRumors reader Joshua got in touch with us and explained that the change makes the iPhone almost unusable for his mother, and he's frustrated with Apple's lack of help.Joshua got in contact with Accessibility Support and received a non-answer about calling in to be added to the official engineering report as an "affected user" and to fill out Feedback Assistant, but he said he previously submitted a Radar and got no response. Other users on the Apple Support Communities are becoming increasingly upset with Apple. From user Maboc:We asked Apple when a fix might be coming or if the removal of the Siri functionality was intentional back in September, but we never heard back. Apple's lack of effort to address this issue for blind and low vision users is disappointing from a company that is usually on the forefront of accessibility.

Article Link: Apple Still Hasn't Fixed Siri Issue That Nixed Call, Email, and Voicemail Features Used by Low Vision and Blind Users

It’s nice to see macrumors reporting on this again. I think they should update us about it a little more often please. And let’s all lay some pressure on Apple. The low vision people really need these features back we all do. Plus I’m sure these issues tie back to HomeKit too my whole house is broken since this crappy iOS 15 was installed.

 

[jonblatho]

I just don’t understand what would motivate Apple to remove features that already existed.

It’s a form of technical debt. For a company allegedly obsessed with metrics to the point of pushing their retail/service employees to mental health-related leaves of absence and even suicide, if not enough people are using a feature, why keep investing engineering effort into making it work?

Edit: I’m not saying it’s right, it’s just how it is. If there’s insufficient usage and it doesn’t otherwise have any money in it…at the end of the day, for all its “enrich people’s lives” marketing, it’s a corporation.