iPhone 12 Siri in the car and privacy

[ahostmadsen]

I got a bluetooth adapter for my older car to use Siri handsfree (with iPhone 12). Here are the problems

"Give me directions to home." Siri: "Please unlock your iPhone first"
"Read my text messages." Siri: "Please unlock your iPhone first"

So, the whole point of handsfree is gone. I assume the above is due to some privacy policies? Any settings I can change to be able to use handsfree in the car?

 

[DevinNj]

Now that you mention it, I've had that happen on my stand at home a lot lately with my 12 PM. I just got it last weekend, and honestly I think my 11 PM might have done it as well, not sure. I just haven't paid attention to it until now.

"Read my newest message" Siri: "Please unlock..."
"FaceTime my son" Siri: "Please unlock..."

Don't think it happens all the time though, I'll pay closer attention to it.

 

[alFR]

Settings > Siri and Search > Allow Siri When Locked?

 

[DevinNj]

Settings > Siri and Search > Allow Siri When Locked?

Yup, it's set correctly. Nothings changed in my settings just randomly it doesn't allow it unless I unlock my phone first. But not every time.

 

[ahostmadsen]

Settings > Siri and Search > Allow Siri When Locked?

Yes, it's on.

My iPhone 12 (mini) is my first iPhone with face-id. I did not have the issue with my previous touch-id phones. So, either face-id or iOS 14 makes a difference. For example, touch-id phones will show notification on the touch screen before unlocking, while face-id will only show them after unlocking.

My thinking is that face-id phone are more restrictive of what can be seen/done before unlocking, because unlocking is so easy, except during hands-free interaction of course...

 

[ahostmadsen]

There is also a setting "announce messages with Siri" But that only applies to AirPods, not other hands-free interaction.

 

[alFR]

Weird. Only other thing I can think of is that you've not unlocked the phone for >1h before you plugged it in to CarPlay: in that situation you need to unlock it before you can use at least some of the features, but IIRC on my CarPlay setup it won't let you use CarPlay at all unless you unlock in that situation. Hasn't happened for a while so I can't remember for sure. Might be a bug too of course - if you can't find another cause send feedback to Apple.

 

[seezar]

Weird. Only other thing I can think of is that you've not unlocked the phone for >1h before you plugged it in to CarPlay: in that situation you need to unlock it before you can use at least some of the features, but IIRC on my CarPlay setup it won't let you use CarPlay at all unless you unlock in that situation. Hasn't happened for a while so I can't remember for sure. Might be a bug too of course - if you can't find another cause send feedback to Apple.

I don’t think the OP is using CarPlay.

 

[ahostmadsen]

I don’t think the OP is using CarPlay.

Exactly. I only use Siri through bluetooth. Perhaps Apple is thinking: well, if you want to use your iPhone in the car, just use carplay. Therefore, they have not put much thought into how to use the iPhone handsfree without carplay. But I'm not buying a new car just to get carplay...

 

[EM2013]

For example, touch-id phones will show notification on the touch screen before unlocking, while face-id will only show them after unlocking.

That option is still there. Settings - notifications - show previews

 

[ahostmadsen]

That option is still there. Settings - notifications - show previews

Yes, I'm aware of that. But I don't want to show previews before unlocking, I just want Siri to read my text messages. Also, I don't know if changing that setting will allow Siri to read my text messages.

 

[alFR]

I don’t think the OP is using CarPlay.

Ah, ok. Same applies though: maybe try unlocking the phone when getting into the car then trying the handsfree a few minutes later? One other thing might be to check what sort of BT device the handsfree is reporting itself as: if it’s saying it’s something other than just an audio device maybe that’s the problem?

 

[ahostmadsen]

So, it seems this is not a big issue to people. Everybody has CarPlay, or they just use the phone non-handsfree in the car?

At least Spotify works through Siri without unlocking. So, that's about what Siri can do in the car: music from Apple music/Spotify and making phone calls. Nothing else.