digitaltoast

Q: Siri missing from all settings, ipad 2 16GB, iOS 8.1.12(12B440)

Just spend the last 2+ hours on the phone trying to remotely help an older person with an iPad 2. They've had it a couple of months, so, sadly out of helpline time apparently.

 

Anyway, long story cut short, they'd just found out about Siri, and wanted to know how could they use it. Like an idiot, I thought it would take me 10 minutes to help.

 

2 hours later, we'd updated it to ios version 8.1.2(12B440). Done a reboot. Logged into icloud. Gone through all the settings. Ensured they were logged in with their Apple ID (imagine doing all this with a 72 year old - not fun!).

 

But no-where could we find anything about Siri, not even in Settings>restrictions.

 

I've not got an ios device myself, but I read multiple forum threads and guides, and here's my checklist:

 

Model: MC979B/A

Version 8.1.2(12B440)

Wifi on and working: Yes

Plugged in and charging: Yes

Signed into Apple and icloud: Yes

Fake product: No - purchased new from the well known department store John Lewis.

Country and settings: UK.

Saying "Hey Siri": Nothing

Holding down thumb button: Nothing.

 

At the end of my tether and out of ideas. The last option is to do a full hard reset; is there ANYTHING I can do to avoid that?

It's not very easy for her to get into town to John Lewis where they might help her, she doesn't want to pay the small fortune the Apple Care want for taking it into a store, but if anyone has any last resort ideas for how to find Siri before doing a hard reset, I'd be very grateful.

iPad 2, iOS 8.1.2, 16GB

Posted on Jan 12, 2015 3:15 PM

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Q: Siri missing from all settings, ipad 2 16GB, iOS 8.1.12(12B440)

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  • Helpful answers

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Jan 12, 2015 3:15 PM in response to digitaltoast
    Level 9 (74,159 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 12, 2015 3:15 PM in response to digitaltoast

    Siri is not available on the iPad 2.

  • by digitaltoast,

    digitaltoast digitaltoast Jan 12, 2015 3:18 PM in response to stedman1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 3:18 PM in response to stedman1

    You're kidding me, right? So why are there so many guides to enabling Siri on the ipad? I can post a whole bunch of links from the Apple site about enabling Siri on an ipad!

     

    I'm gonna be p****d if I just spent my whole evening for nothing based on duff info.

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Jan 12, 2015 3:20 PM in response to digitaltoast
    Level 9 (74,159 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 12, 2015 3:20 PM in response to digitaltoast

    Sorry, not kidding. You could post the guides if you wish, but I assure you they will not apply to the iPad 2.

  • by Phil0124,Helpful

    Phil0124 Phil0124 Jan 12, 2015 3:23 PM in response to digitaltoast
    Level 7 (27,849 points)
    iPhone
    Jan 12, 2015 3:23 PM in response to digitaltoast

    While Siri is not available on an iPad 2,  it is available on the other 7 models of iPad out there. Ipad 3, iPad 4, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2,iPad Mini 3.

  • by digitaltoast,

    digitaltoast digitaltoast Jan 12, 2015 3:31 PM in response to Phil0124
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 3:31 PM in response to Phil0124

    Oh, well thanks a bunch Apple, very helpful page you have at Get help with Siri - Apple Support which doesn't mention this AT ALL.

     

    And at https://www.apple.com/uk/ios/siri/ there's a tiny mention right at the very bottom which says

     

    Siri is available on iPhone 4s or later, iPad with Retina display, iPad mini and iPod touch (5th generation),

     

    How is a 70-something and a non Apple owner supposed to know whether an iPad 2 has a retina display? Why not just list the models? (as you helpful did).

     

    Does anyone know why the restriction? Built-in obsolescence kicked in already? I mean, she's had it nearly 3 months already - perhaps she should be camping outside an Apple store all night to get the next model?!

     

    Ugh. I mean, thanks for the help on this thread, but really not impressed with the lack of clear info on Apple's site.

  • by JimHdk,

    JimHdk JimHdk Jan 12, 2015 3:33 PM in response to digitaltoast
    Level 7 (28,565 points)
    iPad
    Jan 12, 2015 3:33 PM in response to digitaltoast

    digitaltoast wrote:

     

    You're kidding me, right? So why are there so many guides to enabling Siri on the ipad? I can post a whole bunch of links from the Apple site about enabling Siri on an ipad!

     

    I'm gonna be p****d if I just spent my whole evening for nothing based on duff info.

    See the third paragraph here: About Siri - Apple Support

  • by stedman1,

    stedman1 stedman1 Jan 12, 2015 3:35 PM in response to digitaltoast
    Level 9 (74,159 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 12, 2015 3:35 PM in response to digitaltoast

    The iPad 2 was released in March 2011, and does not have the required hardware for Siri.

  • by digitaltoast,

    digitaltoast digitaltoast Jan 12, 2015 3:41 PM in response to JimHdk
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 3:41 PM in response to JimHdk

    Thanks Jim; OK, that's great that you found that page, but when you Google for Siri, the first result (for me in the UK anyway) is the first link I posted which mentions NOTHING about this, and the second link is the second one I posted with the tiny line at the bottom about "ipads with Retina displays".

     

    Anyway, I'm done in. Lesson learnt. Just reinforces my views and own choice of phone. I'd leave it there except I now have to make a phone call in the morning to say "hey, you know that thing you were really excited about because you heard you could get it on an ipad and we spend over 2 hours trying to sort out last night? Turns out Apple say you can't have it. Have a great day now!".


    Wish me luck...

  • by JimHdk,Helpful

    JimHdk JimHdk Jan 12, 2015 3:56 PM in response to digitaltoast
    Level 7 (28,565 points)
    iPad
    Jan 12, 2015 3:56 PM in response to digitaltoast

    If you would like to offer them an alternative to Siri consider the Google App which supports voice input and questions. It runs on the iPad 2.

     

    See here:

     

    Google by Google, Inc.

    https://appsto.re/us/gjF-q.i

  • by digitaltoast,

    digitaltoast digitaltoast Jan 12, 2015 4:00 PM in response to JimHdk
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 12, 2015 4:00 PM in response to JimHdk

    Ah, I had no idea of that. The only thing is, this all started because they have major trouble figuring things out like installing apps etc (yeah, I know, but... 72!), and had heard something (on the radio I think it was) that you could say things like "Hey Siri, install Youtube from the app store".

     

    Now, I'm just hazarding a guess, but the Google app surely wouldn't have the permissions to do the equivalent?

     

    I suppose the acid test is to try it in the morning, but suddenly I'm feeling a bit more hopeful! Have a helpful vote

  • by bobseufert,

    bobseufert bobseufert Jan 12, 2015 4:14 PM in response to digitaltoast
    Level 6 (14,065 points)
    iPad
    Jan 12, 2015 4:14 PM in response to digitaltoast

    Next time you search start your search with iPad 2. If you entered iPad 2 Siri the first hit said it's unavailable on iPad 2.

     

    http://ipad.about.com/od/iPad_Guide/ss/How-To-Use-Siri-On-The-Ipad.htm

  • by Philscbx,

    Philscbx Philscbx Sep 21, 2015 9:54 AM in response to bobseufert
    Level 2 (162 points)
    Apple Pay
    Sep 21, 2015 9:54 AM in response to bobseufert

    Apple support search here is totally worthless -

     

    im on this thread for searching iPad Air Siri  -

     

    otherwise support search has no idea what it means - if you add any detail - iOS 8.4' - now you really messed up the search to zero results.

    want to really mess it up - add the model A1474 -

     

    somewhere on this site - there's more likely 537 results of Siri on iPad Air that's not functioning or missing.

     

    NOw now let's try - "iPad Air, Siri missing" -

  • by bobseufert,

    bobseufert bobseufert Sep 21, 2015 4:18 PM in response to Philscbx
    Level 6 (14,065 points)
    iPad
    Sep 21, 2015 4:18 PM in response to Philscbx

    Check settings> general>restrictions> siri and dictation.