Why can’t Siri turn VPN on for me?

[Mr_Ed]

Is there a way to turn on VPN the does not require switching to settings app? I figured surely our “digital assistant“ could handle that, but apparently not. I’m not even talking about some 3rd party VPN app, I mean the built-in VPN in iOS.

It seems especially silly when you consider I can ask Siri on my iPad to turn off WiFi and it will happily comply even though Siri is effectively committing suicide with that action.

 

[Lex404]

Shortcuts and/ or automations.

You can add Connect to X VPN

Run shortcuts with Siri, the Shortcuts app or Siri Suggestions – Apple Support (UK)

 

[Mr_Ed]

Shortcuts and/ or automations.

You can add Connect to X VPN

Run shortcuts with Siri, the Shortcuts app or Siri Suggestions – Apple Support (UK)

Thanks for the reply.

I don’t see any option to turn on VPN in Shortcuts. Perhaps specific VPN apps publish shortcuts, but I’m trying to connect the built-in iOS VPN.

 

[Lex404]

In the built in IOS VPN you have both built in settings or apps

It should look like this, when you press VPN you select the VPN setting you want to automate

 

[Mr_Ed]

No dice. There is nothing for VPN under Scripting/Network, and nothing related to VPN in the available actions for the “Settings” app. I’m currently running iOS 16. Maybe it was added in 17?

 

[Mr_Ed]

It works on my iPad, BTW. The shortcut is available there.

 

[Mr_Ed]

Ok, the shortcut is available on the iPhone after updating to 16.7 (had 16.3 previously)

Thanks for the assist.

 

[Mr_Ed]

So, Siri refuses to do anything with VPN, even with a shortcut in Shortcuts. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised Siri is still little more than a glorified search engine

 

[Lex404]

Strange. My Siri connects to VPN.

You need to name the shortcut as “connect to VPN” if that’s what you tell Siri.

To disconnect, duplicate the shortcut and create one with Disconnect from and named it accordingly

 

[Lex404]

So make sure you name the shortcut as you want to tell Siri the action.

I’m using hotspot shield but the Setup VPN is an IOS action and you should be able to select any VPN setting that appears in Settings>VPN

 

[Mr_Ed]

So make sure you name the shortcut as you want to tell Siri the action.

I’m using hotspot shield but the Setup VPN is an IOS action and you should be able to select any VPN setting that appears in Settings>VPN

View attachment 2297220

You nailed it! I was asking Siri using the name of the shortcut as it was created, which did not work for me. Renaming it as you suggested works.

Thank you again. Really appreciate the assist.