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bbplayer5

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Apr 13, 2007
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Is there a fix to this? When I am on youtube and I want to search by voice, the microphone button on the remote just exits the app and does an Apple TV search instead. I cannot use the remote to do any searches. By older Apple TV works perfectly fine. is this a known issue? My girl's Apple TV does the same thing.

Thanks.
 
I’ve just this second had a chance to check my YouTube app on ATV4K and dictation search works fine.
Are you sure you’re selecting the search function first down the left hand side before you press the mic button?
It’s the same with all apps, you need to select the search function first.
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I’ve just this second had a chance to check my YouTube app on ATV4K and dictation search works fine.
Are you sure you’re selecting the search function first down the left hand side before you press the mic button?
It’s the same with all apps, you need to select the search function first.
564cfa954657abf0477c965cb5da1c0b.jpg

11d1516d3b57e9694e370f034da4853d.jpg


Yes, I am selecting that on the Apple TV 4K. When I press and hold my mic button, it exits YouTube, and does an Apple TV search instead.
 
The fact is it shouldn’t be behaving in the way you describe so if you’re definitely opening the search bar first before pressing the mic button then the only obvious things to try would be:
1) Make sure both the ATV and Apps are updated to the latest versions.
2) Double press the home button and manually close down all apps and then re-open them.
3) If you’ve tried the first two then there’s just one of two things left to rule out, a Restart.
4) Last resort a Reset.
 
The fact is it shouldn’t be behaving in the way you describe so if you’re definitely opening the search bar first before pressing the mic button then the only obvious things to try would be:
1) Make sure both the ATV and Apps are updated to the latest versions.
2) Double press the home button and manually close down all apps and then re-open them.
3) If you’ve tried the first two then there’s just one of two things left to rule out, a Restart.
4) Last resort a Reset.

I will try a reset, none of the other options worked. Thanks.
 
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We had the same exact problem and got super frustrated. Turned out after a reset that dictation was not turned on. In case it might be the same settings issue, try going to settings->general and scroll down to dictation to toggle it on. Worked for us. Hope it works for you.
 
In case it wasn't clear in the previous reply, this was done in the general Apple TV settings, not in the YouTube app itself.
 
I’ve noticed since the latest update the voice dictation doesn’t search Netflix.

Not sure if it’s Netflix blocking it? It’s bizarre. The search will look through everything else.
 
Update: I’m not alone on this issue - searching Twitter and numerous people noting it.

Wonder who is to blame for this?



I think Universal search is not what you think it is here. This is where you can be on any screen, ask Siri for a film & it shows the film & all platforms it’s on, be it Netflix prime or Apple etc.
Out of curiosity, have you tried using the remote app on the iPhone & doing a Siri local in app search from there & do you get the same result?
 
I think Universal search is not what you think it is here. This is where you can be on any screen, ask Siri for a film & it shows the film & all platforms it’s on, be it Netflix prime or Apple etc.
Out of curiosity, have you tried using the remote app on the iPhone & doing a Siri local in app search from there & do you get the same result?
I'm talking about asking the Siri remote to find said show.

For example, I'm watching Sons of Anarchy on Netflix. I ask it to find the show and it now only lists the Amazon Prime version.
 
I'm talking about asking the Siri remote to find said show.

For example, I'm watching Sons of Anarchy on Netflix. I ask it to find the show and it now only lists the Amazon Prime version.
Sorry my bad, I’d read the OP’s question & thought this was just a follow on. I’m pretty sure Netflix in the UK wasn’t on universal search since the day the AppleTV launched, I would check, but canx it due to the increasing costs!😬 i think its the same as up next in the AppleTV app, if your programmes show there it should work, if they don’t, it doesn’t.
 
Sorry my bad, I’d read the OP’s question & thought this was just a follow on. I’m pretty sure Netflix in the UK wasn’t on universal search since the day the AppleTV launched, I would check, but canx it due to the increasing costs!😬 i think its the same as up next in the AppleTV app, if your programmes show there it should work, if they don’t, it doesn’t.
It was available in the UK from the moment the ATV App launched, hasn’t been for quite some time now though.
I can’t quite recall when it stopped but it definitely hasn’t been so since before tvOS 14 launched.
 
It was available in the UK from the moment the ATV App launched, hasn’t been for quite some time now though.
I can’t quite recall when it stopped but it definitely hasn’t been so since before tvOS 14 launched.
I always blamed netflix, but maybe chuck it at apple's door according to this (although hasn't been updated since Sep 2020 - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT205321

& for the voice in-app search not working, maybe check out this thread - https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8578018
 
That voice button is currently the most annoying thing about the AppleTV remote, and that's saying a lot. The button is like a shortcut for the Apple TV app and otherwise useless. With such an already limited remote, it's a much bigger deal than the stupid Netflix ads on every Roku remote. It seems that in a few precise scenarios it will just do what it's supposed to, but otherwise it's pointless.

Accidentally bumping the mic/voice button on the remote instantly exits whatever app you're in and launches into the search screen in Apple TV. If you're lucky you can get back to what you were doing with a double-tap of the 'screen' looking button and a precision swipe over to the last app followed by an even more precise touch-pad press that has absolutely zero lateral movement.

You know, it just works.
 
Having the same issue. it used to work fine. Now when I press the microphone to search YouTube the Siri comes up and wants to search the entire Apple TV. It used to just put up the words in the search box for YouTube as long as I was on the search page. Now it won't do that.
 
Try going into the settings and enabling dictation if it's not enabled.

Somehow it had been turned off the entire time my friend had her Apple TV 4K, it blew her mind when I turned it on LOL
 
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We had the same exact problem and got super frustrated. Turned out after a reset that dictation was not turned on. In case it might be the same settings issue, try going to settings->general and scroll down to dictation to toggle it on. Worked for us. Hope it works for you.
Thank you so much, I love you!
 
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