iOS 13.5 Siri will not open apps while driving

Just tested it and the Bluetooth steps are unnecessary. Here are updated instructions. Much easier.

Open the shortcuts app

click on the blue plus sign in the top right corner.

then on the next screen click the three dots symbol in the same spot and name your shortcut whatever phrase you want

next click add action and choose the one marked scripting

In the Apps section and hit open app

the hit the shaded section marked "Choose" and scroll down to the app you want like spotify and select it

then hit done in the top right corner.

Now if you are in the car and you want Spotify just say Hey Siri followed by whatever you named that shortcut. After Spotify is open you should be able to push play on the Bluetooth audio screen of your car and whatever station you were listening to last should play. Then you can say Hey Siri play “This is Chris Cornell in Spotify” for example and it will switch stations.

I would think the same steps could be used to open Waze, but I don't use that one. Seems crazy to go to this extreme and I hope Apple fixes this in the next update.

I really hated when I found out I couldn't open Spotify with Siri. Here is what I did. Hope it helps.

I created a shortcut. This seems complicated but it really isn't. Here are the steps.

Open the shortcuts app

click on the blue plus sign in the top right corner.

then on the next screen click the three dots symbol in the same spot and name your shortcut whatever phrase you want

next click add action and choose the one marked scripting

scroll down to the Devices section and choose Set Bluetooth the command should now appear with bluetooth on by default

click on the shaded section of the command that says "on" to set it to off

hit the plus button under the command to add another step

scroll back up to the Apps section and hit open app

the hit the shaded section marked "Choose" and scroll down to the app you want like spotify and select it

hit the plus button to add the last command

scroll back down to the Devices section and choose Set Bluetooth again, this time leave it set to "on"

then hit done in the top right corner.

Now if you are in the car and you want Spotify just say Hey Siri followed by whatever you named that shortcut. The iPhone will still need to be unlocked like it did before the update, wish I could fix that. After Spotify is open you should be able to push play on the Bluetooth audio screen and whatever station you were listening to should play. Then you can say Hey Siri play (and name another station and it will switch to that station.

I would think the same steps could be used to open Waze, but I don't use that one. Seems crazy to go to this extreme and I hope Apple fixes this in the next update.

I upgraded to iOS 13.6 and this problem began for me. After trying many, many things, I finally went to settings, Siri and Search, then turned off Listen for Hey Siri. I turned it back on and it forced me to re-record my voice. After doing this, it began working in my car. However, in the car i had to be more explicit. Instead for just saying “Hey Siri”, I now have to say “Hey, Siri, send text message”, wait for Siri to respond through the car, then finish the instructions. Go figure! You might try this and see if it works for you. It seemed to work for my 2017 Toyota Prius Prime Advanced Edition. Good luck!

iOS 13.6.1 but I do not think the iOS version is relevant anymore. For me, it is clear the apps needed an update to manage this new behaviour.

When the issue started, both Spotify and Waze were failing to take orders via Siri when driving. An Spotify update fixed this then the latest Waze update fixed this too, 2 weeks ago. Please confirm you have both iOS 13.6.1 and Waze version 4.66 (latest) and Spotify version 8.5.73.1119. Open the apps and look for version information under settings.

If other apps are failing too, we need to wait for an update on their side, I don't believe Apple is removing this new 'safety' feature.

This didn't work for me using IOS 13.7 connecting via bluetooth to a Sony head unit. Just got the same message "can't do that for you when you're in the car". Only thing that has worked so far is adding the short cut - under "Scripting" not Apps. You can select an App to open and then it works with Siri when connected to bluetooth. This has clearly been programmed this way and is probably an attempt to deflect liability from Apple as you have to manually set up the short cut yourself and therefore no-ones fault but yours if you use your phone illegally. Just a thought.

Hey there crix17,

Thanks for reaching out to Apple Support Communities. I understand you’re experiencing some issues using apps while connected to your car stereo. I’ll be happy to help with this.

If you haven’t already, check for any updates to your car stereo and the apps in question. You may need to refer to your car manual to check for firmware updates to your car stereo. This link can help you update your apps:

Update apps or use automatic downloads

If this doesn’t help, test other apps to see if this is only affecting Waze and Spotify. If it’s affecting all apps, go to Settings > Bluetooth, tap on the i next to the name of your car stereo and then Forget This Device. Restart your iPhone and car and pair them back together again:

Restart your iPhone

How to connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to your car

Try using your apps once more and see if the issue returns. See if turning off Do Not Disturb While Driving in Control Center has any impact on this as well:

How to use Do Not Disturb While Driving

Regards.

That's exactly what's causing the problem: starting with iOS 13.5, "Siri Eyes Free" mode is enforced whenever it's connected to a car stereo. Before that, it would only be used if you called up Siri using the relevant "Eyes Free" mode on the car or stereo, and would work normally if you used "Hey Siri".

I can tell this 100% certainty because my car stereo, a Sony DSX-A410BT, supports Siri Eyes Free by long-pressing the control knob. Up to and including iOS 13.4, I could use "Hey Siri" and Siri would display what I said, as it does when the iPhone is sitting on my desk; if I long-pressed the button, it would show the car outline (that is how you can tell it's "Eyes Free" — it doesn't show you what it's hearing, nor will show a written response).

In that context, it makes general sense that apps won't be opened: you're driving so your attention should be on the car, and ideally you only talk to the phone and listen to what it says. Some apps should still be exempted, such as third party navigation apps or audio apps, but back then it was irrelevant because we could just say "Hey Siri".

With 13.5 and later, even using "Hey Siri" triggers "Eyes Free" mode, which effectively prevents users from using Siri to control many third-party apps with their voice, just because the phone thinks you shouldn't be doing anything but driving.

Just having a switch somewhere in the settings for the bluetooth device, such as "Always use Siri Eyes Free when connected" or "Allow standard Siri usage", would be great. The problem is: how do we get Apple to look at the issue? :-D

I had the same problem and today I have 13.5.1 and the problem seems to be resolved.

I did update to 13.5.1 and my hands free Siri is back. I have a Chevrolet. 13.5 definitely disabled it.

So I have an update - I spoke with Apple Support, directed them to this thread and they said that an update is forthcoming to fix the issue. They referenced some other problems with the update that they will also be fixing.

Finally solved it in my 2018 Audi A6, may work with others too.

Hey Siri has always worked in my 2018 Audi A6 until 13.5. Spent much time with Apple on the phone with Senior advisors and Engineering. I've turned off bluetooth and its connection to the Audi all the way through 13.6 and still had the problem.

As scheduled, I spent time with my Senior advisor again today and we worked on it again. Interestingly, I just updated to 13.6.1 earlier today and it still didn't work (I still got the car icon). BUT, now after turning bluetooth off and its connection to the Audi and re-connecting, all works as it should.

Hey Siri has always worked fine in my 2009 Audi A4, and still does. Never got the car icon in the A4.

To everyone still having this issue, would you please try this? I followed these instructions from this thread (I can't recall who posted them originally) and they seem to have unlocked it for me.

1. Connect to the car stereo as usual (it should happen automatically when you start the car)
2. Go to the iPhone's Settings app, then Bluetooth; make a note of which device is your car stereo (it should say "Connected")
3. Disable Bluetooth entirely from the top switch
4. Wait 30 seconds
5. Enable Bluetooth again
6. Tap on the line of your car stereo ("Connected" should turn into a "Wait" symbol for a few seconds)
7. Try "Hey Siri" again with one of the queries that fails

If that does work, shut the car down, wait a minute or so for the Bluetooth connection to break, and start the car again. Then try using Siri again, without doing anything else.

Apple support contacted me via Twitter. I wasn't expecting any help on the topic but I humored them by providing the link to this thread and explained details. After clarifying my 2015 Ford Fiesta had the most recent Ford Sync software update, they provided a list of compatible vehicles that support "CarPlay". I already knew CarPlay wasn't a software my vehicle used, but before 13.5 this didn't make a difference. Here is the list: https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/available-models/

When I asked them if CarPlay was a separate software to Ford Sync and if Siri is ONLY compatible now in cars that use CarPlay, they responded with this:

"Yes, CarPlay is separate software as you've discovered it’s only available in some models of car. You'll need to contact your Car manufacturer to find out the compatibly of their car software with Siri. This isn't something that we have control over."

I want to just give up at this point. Apple support will always give us the run around and place the blame on someone/something else. This worked FINE before 13.5. According to my vehicles manufacturer website, CarPlay is compatible with 2017 vehicles and newer that use Ford Sync 3. I don't really even know who to blame at this point since neither side is going to make this work like it used to. The incompatibility issue almost feels intentional at this point to make people feel like they need to buy the newest cars. My car is barely 5 years old and I just bought this phone last year. For safety, it should just work. My next step is trying to contact Ford to see if they have a solution, but my hopes are not high. Will report back to this thread if anything has changed.

Please keep us posted! On an odd number, if I plug-in and use CarPlay Siri will open the apps. Once I unplug it and Bluetooth reconnect it continues to work until I shut the car off. Pain in the butt to have to plug it in to then unplug it and use Bluetooth but at least it seems to be working that way