knirirr

Q: Siri won't send text messages

I've been trying to send text messages on an Apple Watch connected to an iPhone 5S, both running the latest OS at the time of writing. iMessage is disabled.

 

If I open the messages app on the watch and dictate a message then it will send. I can also reply to messages on the watch. If I use Siri on the phone along the lines of "Hey, Siri, send a message to #{contact} saying #{message}" then I will be presented with buttons for cancelling and sending; selecting send does what one might expect. But, the same command to Siri on the watch results only in a "don't send" button and the message is never sent. Can anyone suggest what this might be, and how I might fix it, please? The ability to send a message by voice only is a critical feature.

Posted on Jul 29, 2016 12:32 PM

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Q: Siri won't send text messages

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Carolyn Samit,

    Carolyn Samit Carolyn Samit Jul 29, 2016 12:38 PM in response to knirirr
    Level 10 (120,219 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 12:38 PM in response to knirirr

    On your paired iPhone go to Settings > General.

     

    Switch Siri off then back on then try again.

  • by knirirr,

    knirirr knirirr Jul 29, 2016 12:42 PM in response to Carolyn Samit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 12:42 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

    Unfortunately, following this suggestion I still see nothing but the "don't send" button.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 29, 2016 1:15 PM in response to knirirr
    Level 7 (30,763 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 1:15 PM in response to knirirr

    Hi

     

    Siri enables you to send messages without needing to touch your watch - so there is not supposed to be a Send button.

     

    To send messages via Siri:

     

    • Instruct Siri to send a message (eg "Hey Siri, send a message to <whom> saying <what>");
    • When you have finished, wait until Siri shows what you have dictated on the screen for you to review it;
    • Then either:
      • Lower your wrist, following which the message will be sent automatically;
      • Or tell Siri to send it (eg "Hey Siri, send it").
    • Having reviewed the message, if you would prefer to cancel it, you can either:
      • Use Siri: "Hey Siri, cancel";
      • Or tap on the Don't Send button.
  • by knirirr,

    knirirr knirirr Jul 29, 2016 1:24 PM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 1:24 PM in response to Jonathan UK

    I've tried those options. Simply waiting results in nothing happening - the message is never sent.

     

    Also:

     

    "Hey, Siri, send a message to #{contact} saying #{message}" => message appears on screen, ready to send.

    "Hey, Siri, send it" => "Sorry, there has been a problem" etc. etc., assuming that my command of "send it" is heard correctly, which is not always the case.

     

    What I need here is for the message to send automatically unless I tap the "don't send" button, but that is not happening.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 29, 2016 1:36 PM in response to knirirr
    Level 7 (30,763 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 1:36 PM in response to knirirr

    knirirr wrote:

     

    "Hey, Siri, send it" => "Sorry, there has been a problem" etc. etc., assuming that my command of "send it" is heard correctly, which is not always the case.

     

    What I need here is for the message to send automatically unless I tap the "don't send" button, but that is not happening.

     

    The latter is what should happen a few moments after you have lowered your wrist (such that the display sleeps).

     

    Given the error message that you are receiving after instructing Siri to "send it", I suggest that you try the following steps:

     

    • Restart both your iPhone and your watch:
      • Close all open apps on your iPhone (double-click the Home button and swipe up on each app preview).
      • Turn both devices off together, then restart your iPhone first;
        • To turn your watch off: press and hold the side button until you see the Power Off slider; drag it to turn off;
        • To turn it on: press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.

     

  • by knirirr,

    knirirr knirirr Jul 29, 2016 2:04 PM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 2:04 PM in response to Jonathan UK

    I've tried the first option. The phone still works normally but the watch now says "No Siri Connection. Neither Apple watch nor iPhone can access Siri".

    There's no time this evening to try the second option, perhaps later tomorrow afternoon.

     

    Edit: Siri is now accepting commands after another reboot of the watch, but still not sending messages.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 29, 2016 2:07 PM in response to knirirr
    Level 7 (30,763 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 2:07 PM in response to knirirr

    It may also help to turn iMessage off (Settings > Messages), pause for few moments and then turn it back on again.

  • by knirirr,

    knirirr knirirr Jul 29, 2016 2:18 PM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 2:18 PM in response to Jonathan UK

    Unfortunately I don't use iMessage; I'd much rather messages went as SMS no matter what the receiving device. I'll try unpairing and reparing when time permits tomorrow.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 29, 2016 2:28 PM in response to knirirr
    Level 7 (30,763 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 29, 2016 2:28 PM in response to knirirr

    What versions of watchOS and iOS are installed on your devices?

  • by knirirr,

    knirirr knirirr Jul 30, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 30, 2016 8:57 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    iOS: 9.3.3 (13G34)

    watchOS: 2.2.2 (13V604)

     

    I have now tried repairing as suggested above, but the situation remains the same; messages will not send if dictated to Siri and an attempt to send with "Hey, Siri, send it" results in a message saying "Uh oh, there's a problem. Try that again?" (or something similar).

     

    I have sent several messages today by means of the messages app on the watch and Siri is also capable of sending text messages by means of voice only from the phone. It is this one scenario of hands-free text messaging on the watch which fails (of course, that's the thing I'm most keen to use).

  • by knirirr,

    knirirr knirirr Jul 31, 2016 7:12 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 31, 2016 7:12 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Thanks for your various suggestions. I eventually got it working by turning on iMessage and leaving it on. This is not ideal but at least I can now send messages.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Jul 31, 2016 7:44 AM in response to knirirr
    Level 7 (30,763 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jul 31, 2016 7:44 AM in response to knirirr

    You're welcome!