Q: iPhone 6 iOS 8 Voice Control comes on randomly while using headphones, how do I disable??

Spoke with Apple Support. No grins. Here's where things stand.

1. They are aware of the problem and are looking into a solution.

2. They asked that I do a full Restore to isolate whether it's a hardware of software issue. I explained that since this problem affects both 5S and 6 phones, and that since the problem didn't occur until the update was released, that pretty much puts the focus on the IOS update. They agreed.

3. They recommended that I don't listen to podcasts in my headset until they come up with a solution, and that if I need to listen to podcasts while driving, find another way to listen.

4. They'll let us know when they have a solution.

I also said that I don't mind passing along what I learn but that I really didn't intend to be an Apple spokesperson, so would they post something on this forum addressing the problem? They said... well, nothing, really. Not no, yes or maybe. So this is probably the only time you'll hear what Apple has to say.

Thanks for information.

As I wrote earlier, my verified advice as a temporarily solution up till the solution from Apple support is:

1. Restore the iPhone from backup (created before this issue occurred, if possible)

2. Deactivate Settings > General > Siri > Siri

3. Deactivate Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver

4. Deactivate Settings > General > Accessibility > Accessibility shortcut (bottom line) > = not chosen VoiceOver (= by triple tap) !

5. Deactivate (temporarily) Settings > Touch ID and password > deactivate iPhone unlocking (by Touch ID)!

Probably I am wrong but IMHO it looks like any problem with Touch ID, iPhone unlocking by Touch ID and VoiceOver activation by triple Home button tap ....

I Figured out the problem. I got the app trivia crack and ever since then siri/ voice control was out of control. I deicided to delete the app and it turned out to be the problem! Nothing wrong with the iphone just the app had some bug. I know trivia crack crashed some other phones as well so im glad i figured it out. Phone is perfect now. apple should still make something to turn off voice control though

Now we just need a solution for those of us who never installed trivia crack.

It started up again! This is so annoying it pops up every two seconds now. I deleted the apps i recently downloaded and it still did nothing. So annoy

Been dealing with this issue since getting new iPhone 6 a few weeks ago. None of the settings has worked for me. The issue seems to be in the use of headphones that have a toggle feature built into the headphone that allows you to control the play/pause settings on the phone. I currently use Skull headphones and any slight movement around the phone jack (without pushing the button) creates an issue. Anything from the speed of voice, automatically turning on voice control and the static on the line all appear to originate from the interface with the headphone.

I switched to another set of headphones that don't have this feature and I can swing the headphones all day and doesn't replicate any of these other issues.

This appears to be more of a hard wear issue and not in the IOS. Maybe they can turn off this control interface but none of the current setting options address this issue. Upgrading to a new set of headphones rather than waiting for Apple because theee are the main features I want from my phone other than phone, web, and business apps.

I really have found the quality of Apple products to be getting worse over time. I should get compensated with free iPhone bucks for the cost of the new headphones

All,

This is exactly what I've found to be the issue...pretty disappointed.

I am having the same problem.I purchased I6 recently

So I think I found a solution.. I was having the same problem and isolated that it had to do with my third party headphones... Put some tape around the top of the headphone plug so that the metal part doesn't contact the top of the iPhone headphone jack. After I've done this I haven't had the issue any longer... It seems like the metal part touching the outside of the iphone jack is triggering Siri/Voice Control.

I found this thread last week and refreshed this morning to see ShaneLK7's post. It's been frustrating to say the least, good headphones are not cheap and I wasn't interested in replacing mine.

After seeing it I compared the plug on my problematic headphones to Apple's. I noticed on Apple's the metal in the plug continues into plastic, with none going 90 degrees to the pole/plug metal itself. However, on my problematic headphone plug (and all the audio cables I have) the metal expands out a bit at the very end, 90 degrees to the main pole/plug.

After seeing ShaneLK7's post, it made me wonder if that metal was coming into contact with the phone and changing the signal to trigger voice control.

I cut a small piece of electrical tape and just pushed the metal plug through it (punching a hole), essentially creating more insulation since there's enough metal to make the required contacts. Since doing that, my headphones are working great again no matter what I do. No one has noticed when I've been on phone calls.

I'd rather Apple allow us to shut off voice control again, but for now this might just do the trick.

Glad I found this post, I thought I was going crazy. Recently upgraded from an iPhone 4 to an iPhone 6 exactly 14 days ago. It was a few days before I had a chance to listen to some music on my phone but when I did I the voice control feature kept interrupting my music in pretty much exactly the same way which has been described by others on this thread.

I had assumed it was a problem with the headphones so it was only when I purchased a new set of headphones and no sound was coming through on one ear I realised there must be an issue with the phone itself. I tried it with another pair of headphones same problem. However I tried it with the apple head phones and a pair of headphones that do not have any sort of control (to skip songs/change volume) and it works. So clearly there is an issue either with Apple's hardware or software or both.

I'm not exactly sure what to do as I have only  had the phone for 2 weeks I am inclined to return it and cancel my contract till they fix the issue. For a brand new phone which is less than 6 months old I shouldn't have to deal with this!

Pretty darn inconvenient. It's clear that Apple does not have a handle on iOS 8 stability issues. In general, I've found that iOS 8 behaves more like Android than iOS 7 with regards to strange and painful things randomly happening. I've run into numerous issues just trying to play music. I'll be using music playback options that don't involve Apple in the future.

Maybe they should skip iOS 9 and just fix iOS 8?

Happens to me at least once a week. Phone is just sitting on the desk while I'm in a meeting, and Siri just starts listening and speaking to me.

Nothing to do with headphones, or jogging, or podcasts. Not even using/touching the phone when it happens. At least my colleagues get a big kick out of it when we're meeting and Siri just chimes in.

Found a temporary solution you guys..

1) set a passcode or touch id

2) Turn siri back on

3) go to your passcode settings and disable siri from being used when the phone is locked

You still cant use your phone and listen to the music/podcast at the same time but atleast it will work for when the phone is locked

For some people, like me, it seems to be a hardware issue. The iphone headset works for me but I had two that did not work. After careful examination I realize that BayviewBadger and ShaneLK7 were spot on. It seems that the metal part of my third party earphones were touching the aluminum (highly conductive) body of the iphone 6. This probably caused the iphone to read some sort of electrical signals.  Iphone without the extra metal at the end of the plug

My other earphones with a metal bulge at the end.

If this is the reason that is causing problems for you, all you have to do is to cover the extra metal part with liquid rubber/electrical tape. I didn't have any on hand so I used liquid bandaid which also worked.