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Alon1

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 10, 2014
101
84
Just switched to the 6 from the 5 and this whole touch id thing is new to me, so pardon my ignorance. When I press the home button and tell Siri to do something that requires launching an app ("siri, launch spotify," for example), it's teling me that I need to unlock the iPhone first. But I just pressed my fingerprint against the Touch ID so what sense does it make? If I am an authorized user I would expect Siri to just authenticate and launch the app no questions asked. Or is it just a bug? Also, the fingerprint authentication from that screen doesn't work and I have to resort to using my password.
 
Just switched to the 6 from the 5 and this whole touch id thing is new to me, so pardon my ignorance. When I press the home button and tell Siri to do something that requires launching an app ("siri, launch spotify," for example), it's teling me that I need to unlock the iPhone first. But I just pressed my fingerprint against the Touch ID so what sense does it make? If I am an authorized user I would expect Siri to just authenticate and launch the app no questions asked. Or is it just a bug? Also, the fingerprint authentication from that screen doesn't work and I have to resort to using my password.

Well in that case, unlock the phone first by using the touch ID then ask Siri to open whatever the app you want. Maybe in iOS 10 they will implement what you have asked for.
 
Just switched to the 6 from the 5 and this whole touch id thing is new to me, so pardon my ignorance. When I press the home button and tell Siri to do something that requires launching an app ("siri, launch spotify," for example), it's teling me that I need to unlock the iPhone first. But I just pressed my fingerprint against the Touch ID so what sense does it make? If I am an authorized user I would expect Siri to just authenticate and launch the app no questions asked. Or is it just a bug? Also, the fingerprint authentication from that screen doesn't work and I have to resort to using my password.

Dude, it was like that since the begining.
Ok tell me one thing?
Does siri recognize your voice? No. She dont know to whom she is talking whether you are owner or anyone else. And for better privacy and security it is must for Siri to ask for password if someone has locked their device with Passcode or Touch ID. Or anyone can look into your phone by just asking Siri.
 
Dude, it was like that since the begining.
Ok tell me one thing?
Does siri recognize your voice? No. She dont know to whom she is talking whether you are owner or anyone else. And for better privacy and security it is must for Siri to ask for password if someone has locked their device with Passcode or Touch ID. Or anyone can look into your phone by just asking Siri.

You have misunderstood the OP's point.

J[...]Also, the fingerprint authentication from that screen doesn't work and I have to resort to using my password.

Yeah I noticed this today; a bit frustrating.

Edit: I've just tried this and the phone opens apps no problem. Maybe try repositioning your finger?

Also when I use another finger it asks for authentication and does let me use touch id. The time that it wouldn't was when I asked Siri to read my last message. Password was the only option.
 
Dude, it was like that since the begining.
Ok tell me one thing?
Does siri recognize your voice? No. She dont know to whom she is talking whether you are owner or anyone else. And for better privacy and security it is must for Siri to ask for password if someone has locked their device with Passcode or Touch ID. Or anyone can look into your phone by just asking Siri.

Yeah, but...he touched the home button to activate Siri, so theoretically he could be authenticated at that point.

It's a reasonable question/suggestion.
 
Check Settings/Touch ID & Passcode and scroll down to 'Allow Access When Locked'. Is Siri on?

I'm able to access Siri from the lock screen and then if she switches apps for me, my phone is unlocked.
 
There's some authentication going on.

For example, from lock screen, if I activate Siri with one of the finger prints I've got registered, I can do a "Show me my last e-mail". Activating Siri with an unregistered finger, I will be given the password prompt, which allows for TouchID.

Something like a contact entry, yes, valid finger or not, I can bring up a contact.

I was able to launch an app (TuneIn Radio) from lock screen with Siri. If I launched Siri with a registered print, it immediately launched the app. If I started Siri with some other finger, it brought up the password box, but it says above the text entry box "Touch ID or Enter Passcode". When you hit this screen, it goes back to Siri screen, the mike spins a little, then you get your app.
 
It depends how you do it.

I find if I hold the button properly it goes - lock screen, unlock, siri and will show me my email.

If I hold the button with the wrong finger, or at an angle it won't read, it goes lock screen, siri and demand a passcode with no touch option.
 
If I hold the button with the wrong finger, or at an angle it won't read, it goes lock screen, siri and demand a passcode with no touch option.

Yep.

To OP:

Five strikes, and one is out, so, need to pay attention to holding finger in most readable manner. And remember to hold, not tap the sensor.

Maybe reregister ones finger and be extra vigilant during the "press finger edges" phase, making sure to get full coverage, so that more angles are readable (did that with the finger I figured I'd use the most for Touch ID).
 
Siri will only tell you that she needs to unlock the phone if she wasn't able to capture your fingerprint when you activated her. If she can successfully capture a fingerprint then the phone will be unlocked and she can launch the app or do whatever immediately.
 
Ok, after reading the answers and experimenting with it some more, I realize that it does authenticate. You have to keep your finger square on the sensor - any movement at all and your only option is to type in your passcode. Almost takes some muscle memory to get the gesture right (at least for me.)

Thanks everybody!

Edit: realized it preauthorizes your request, I just haven't been getting my fingerprint captured I guess.
 
I have noticed this wile riding my motorcycle

Hi all,
I have noticed this while riding my motorcycle. I have Bluetooth headset for my helmet. For example, I want to open I heart radio… It asks me for my password. The Bluetooth head set is authorized. I can make and receive phone calls on it. So why do I have to stop and enter the passcode. Not very convenient for a hands free phone! I don’t know, is it the same for a car? Is there a work around or something I can do?
 
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Hi all,
I have noticed this while riding my motorcycle. I have Bluetooth headset for my helmet. For example, I want to open I heart radio… It asks me for my password. The Bluetooth head set is authorized. I can make and receive phone calls on it. So why do I have to stop and enter the passcode. Not very convenient for a hands free phone! I don’t know, is it the same for a car? Is there a work around or something I can do?

I noticed that if I ask it to launch a certain music app, it will ask for me to unlock the phone. However, if I'm already listening to music on a certain app (for me it's spotify), I can tell Siri to "resume music" and it will resume the music on spotify. So maybe make sure that you launch iheartradio before you go on your motorcycle so it's running in the background and see how that goes. Hope it somewhat helps.
 
I wish apple would open up siri to third party music apps already. It'd be great if I could tell Siri to play songs on a certain music app and it would just do it.
 
Re: bluetooth headsets: can understand why you still need to enter a passcode or finger print. Just because the headset is authorized, does not mean the user is authorized. Yeah, it's odd some of the things you are allowed to do yet not. But guess the main reason for Bluetooth headset is for making calls, so...

For me, Bluetooth works the same as pressing the home button for Siri. Will always ask me for passcode or finger print, whether app is "running" in background or not, if I invoke Siri any way other than a registered fingerprint. Push the home button with a registered fingerprint for Siri, then you can by-pass the password requirement.
 
Last edited:
Re: bluetooth headsets: can understand why you still need to enter a passcode or finger print. Just because the headset is authorized, does not mean the user is authorized. Yeah, it's odd some of the things you are allowed to do yet not. But guess the main reason for Bluetooth headset is for making calls, so...

For me, Bluetooth works the same as pressing the home button for Siri. Will always ask me for passcode or finger print, whether app is "running" in background or not, if I invoke Siri any way other than a registered fingerprint. Push the home button with a registered fingerprint for Siri, then you can by-pass the password requirement.

I just tried resuming my music after I haven't listened to anything in a while and siri said "ah... You're not listening to anything". But after I had spotify running, saying "resume music" did resume spotify. I don't remember it being that way in ios 7

Edit: tried it with an unauthorized finger and it works as well. The equvilant of pressing play in the playback controls on the lock screen I guess.
 
The couple of music players I tried were Pandora and TuneIn Radio.

Couldn't launch ("open Pandora") without authorization. Would not let me pause/stop them, Apple's iPod/Music app can be paused. "Resume music" will start last music player used without authorization. If last used app was not in the App Switcher, the app still fired off, but, was not visible in App Switcher.

And based on some other threads, odd mix of what Siri can and can't do from a locked screen.

Can't say much about 7 vs 8: I do not use Siri much (at times has had trouble understanding me, only really useful for me while in the car "find nearest...", "reply to text"; each release has done a much better job understanding me, and 8 looks to be no different: working much better for me).
 
Siri's security inconsistencies have been around since it released. It's pretty frustrating that for some things it requires authentication, but a complete stranger can grab your phone and have Siri give them a list of your recent calls and messages.
 
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