Hey siri says “must unlock phone first”

[JM]

is it normal behavior for me to be unable to send a text or get simple weather conditions using Hey Siri without unlocking phone first?

Hey siri is supposed to be hands free. What a problematic implementation.

“Hey siri, send text to …”
“Hey siri, what is the weather today?”

Siri: you’ll need to unlock your iPhone first.

(*Yes, I have [allow hey siri when locked] on in the settings)

Is this what others experience?

 

[russell_314]

is it normal behavior for me to be unable to send a text or get simple weather conditions using Hey Siri without unlocking phone first?

No, this isn’t normal behavior. I can ask Siri to give me the weather without even looking at my iPhone and she answers.

Some things do require the iPhone to be unlocked. I believe there is a way to get Siri to read your text messages while your phone is locked. I’m not sure how to do this though. This is one of those things where you’re giving up a little security for some convenience. Often people will change the setting because they’ll see a TikTok video or some other article saying “Did you know criminals can access your iPhone through Siri? Change these 12 settings now!” read in the best AI voice available. Then people will change the settings then wonder why later something they’re trying to do is so difficult. Trying to track down the setting is going to be interesting with how convoluted iOS settings are.



My overall opinion of Siri is very low. Despite Apple’s claims, Siri hasn’t received any significant improvement in what seems like a decade. In 2025 Siri still replies “Here’s what I found on the web“ while I’m driving. Really you want me to look at my phone while I’m driving even though you’re supposed to know I’m driving? I mean that even sounds like something a lawyer could use on a case.

Maybe one day we’ll see lawyers advertising “Were you injured in a car crash involving someone distracted by Siri?” 😂

 

[aihpcfl]

Go to Siri in the device settings, see Allow Siri When Locked.

 

[kitKAC]

is it normal behavior for me to be unable to send a text or get simple weather conditions using Hey Siri without unlocking phone first?

Hey siri is supposed to be hands free. What a problematic implementation.

“Hey siri, send text to …”
“Hey siri, what is the weather today?”

Siri: you’ll need to unlock your iPhone first.

(*Yes, I have [allow hey siri when locked] on in the settings)

Is this what others experience?

Works fine here.

 

[JM]

Go to Siri in the device settings, see Allow Siri When Locked.

It says in the OP that that setting is turned on. But thank you.

 

[aihpcfl]

It says in the OP that that setting is turned on. But thank you.

So it does. Missed that.

Did you try cycling off and on. Or perhaps disable the setting, power off the phone, power on, then enable the setting again, and test?

 

[JM]

So it does. Missed that.

Did you try cycling off and on. Or perhaps disable the setting, power off the phone, power on, then enable the setting again, and test?

I’ve tried powering off and on, but not with the setting off, and then again with it on.

I’ll try that thanks

 

[SYCAMOREGRAD]

Can I delete a post in these forums?

 

[aihpcfl]

The op said it was turned on.

Yes, already noted.

 

[JM]

Sigh.

how obnoxious. Sending off to apple feedback I guess.

“Hey siri text (person a)”
What would you like to say?

“Hey siri text (person b)”
What would you like to say?

“Hey siri text (person a) and (person b)”
You’ll need to unlock your iPhone first.

(Though the weather worked…)

 

[JM]

Can I delete a post in these forums?

Just edit the post, and put a period or dash. No big deal, happens sometimes.

 

[jetsam]

Can I delete a post in these forums?

Report your post using the report button, and ask the mod to delete your post.