'Hey Siri' no longer works when Smart Cover closed?

[Steveatesh]

it appears that, as the title, Siri no longer responds/wakes up to the “hey Siri” call when the Smart Cover is closed. She does on the lock screen, but it defeats the object if I have to pick my iPad up, open the case then ask Siri a question.

Before updating to IOS 11 I could ask her questions with the Smart Cover closed which was actually quite useful at times.

I have a 9.7” iPad Pro.
Anybody else experiencing this?

 

[jonnyb098]

Encountered something strange since upgrading my iPad Pro 10.5. Hey Siri doesn’t work with a Smart Cover attached. In theory this sounds like it may be a good thing but when using AirPods with a Smart Cover attached also completely cuts off the double tap command on a single AirPod. VERY ANNOYING.

Taking the Smart Cover off returns everything to normal. Anyone else notice this??

 

[drysdalk]

Hi,

Yes, I've had this throughout the iOS 11 beta cycle and right through until now, so I assume it's an intentional change in iOS 11 for some bizarre reason. As you say, VERY annoying when you're on AirPods. I just keep the cover folded behind the iPad now if I'm going outisde with the iPad in my bag. Otherwise I can't use the AirPods to invoke Siri, since as you say the double-taps are completely ignored with the cover closed. I'm on the older iPad Pro 9.7", so it's not specific to just one model either.

 

[jonnyb098]

I filed two separate bug reports....one for the AirPods and the other for Hey Siri.

It sounds like this was a design decision but clearly they forgot about AirPods using Siri.

 

[FelixII]

I've also noticed this issue during the beta and filed a bug report back then. Apple only told me that this is "not a bug" and it "behaves as intended".

The new behavior seems to be controlled by the proximity sensor and affects iPhones as well. Cover the sensor with your hand or put the iPhone into a pocket and "Hey Siri" will stop working.

 

[jonnyb098]

I've also noticed this issue during the beta and filed a bug report back then. Apple only told me that this is "not a bug" and it "behaves as intended".

The new behavior seems to be controlled by the proximity sensor and affects iPhones as well. Cover the sensor with your hand or put the iPhone into a pocket and "Hey Siri" will stop working.

Well that makes sense for the phone in a pocket. Except an iPad is not in a pocket and intended to be (apples own marketing) more like a computer. I just feel it was a stupid oversight to not keep the functionality on an iPad.

 

[tx4app]

This is really infuriating. "Hey Siri" worked just perfectly on my iPad Pro BEFORE I upgraded from iOS 10.3.3 to 11.0.3. Now, "Hey Siri" only appear to work if the Smart Cover is open. I have relied on "Hey Siri" functioning multiple times per day from across the room. This isn't a "one-off" feature that I rarely use, but instead employ many times per day. As I am getting dressed, I previously could ask Siri about the weather, invoke voice-commands for Homekit devices around my house, etc. I have lost all of that functionality now. I made sure all my Settings with respect to Siri are enabled, tried resetting, etc., but to no avail. Siri now only responds if the cover is open AND the iPad is face up. I cannot even avoid dust on the screen by having the iPad face down (even with the cover open). It appears that "Hey Siri" now only functions with both the cover open and while it is face up.

 

[MacinMan]

I noticed this with my iPhone 7 Plus this morning walking up to get groceries. I tried asking the time and Siri only responded when i took the phone out of my pocket. I have also confirmed it wasn't how i was speaking as I tried the same tone of voice tonight at home with the iPhone in the open, but about the same distance from my face as it would have been in my pocket, and it worked. In the case of the iPhone would plugging the lightning headphones in bypass this? I know with older iphones the apple earbuds could be used to answer calls without removing the phone from a pocket.

 

[macfacts]

If all iOS devices can be used to access "hey Siri", how would Apple sell HomePods?

 

[Craiguyver]

If all iOS devices can be used to access "hey Siri", how would Apple sell HomePods?

That's a bingo. Just like moving the magnets around on the Pro Smart Covers...

 

[tromboneaholic]

If all iOS devices can be used to access "hey Siri", how would Apple sell HomePods?

From what I have read, more people are experiencing the opposite of what you describe.

Siri is responding on multiple devices at the same time when it hears “hey Siri.”

I don’t know if the Smart Cover issue is Apple attempting to tweak Siri behavior to account for this, but it seems more likely than a conspiracy to sell a product that has been delayed until next year.

 

[goonie4life9]

I’m encountering a bug with “Hey Siri,” in which it won’t work, at all, when I am in the presence of multiple devices. They all register hearing, “Hey Siri,” but after 1-2 s, the Siri screen disappears. I can only get it to work if I disable Bluetooth on the devices. Apple has clearly made some major changes to how “Hey Siri,” works.

From what I have read, more people are experiencing the opposite of what you describe.

Siri is responding on multiple devices at the same time when it hears “hey Siri.”

I don’t know if the Smart Cover issue is Apple attempting to tweak Siri behavior to account for this, but it seems more likely than a conspiracy to sell a product that has been delayed until next year.

 

[tromboneaholic]

I’m encountering a bug with “Hey Siri,” in which it won’t work, at all, when I am in the presence of multiple devices. They all register hearing, “Hey Siri,” but after 1-2 s, the Siri screen disappears. I can only get it to work if I disable Bluetooth on the devices. Apple has clearly made some major changes to how “Hey Siri,” works.

I wind up sending duplicate text messages when I dictate a message to Siri on my watch, and phone sends it as well from my pocket.