iOS 13.5 Siri will not open apps while driving

Don't waste your time. Apple either can't or won't fix this. I spent HOURS with reps and escalation and resetting and reconnecting. The latest update put the do not disturb while driving in a default always on state. Nothing will change that until Apple codes a change into an update. All work arounds involve more hands on which makes our cars dangerous. My bottom line was a hard decision especially after all of the time and money I put into my devices. I am going to jump ship. I will replace each of my 10 devices with other manufacturers. The first will be my phone then ipads, computers etc. Apple's overreach can no longer frustrate me..

As you say it's a design choice on Apple's end to force dnd while driving to always on as far as Siri is concerned, so they could fix this... if they wanted to.

The irony is that if only Apple Maps were decent outside of the US this wouldn't even be much of an issue, but there's a reason why many of us use Waze...

I agree it is software - not hardware.

In our 2018 Toyota car - it used to work just fine - not sure when it stopped - probably around 13.5. There have been zero software/FW changes in the car audio. It is "Siri Eye-Free" compatible, but not CarPlay, always has been under Entunes.

In our 2010 car - it works fine - all the time. No Siri Eyes-Free or Car Play.

My off the wall guess - they made a change to Siri Eyes-Free or CarPlay that is not allowing it to work properly now.

Exactly, all they need to do is get on with `git blame` (or `git diff` or whatever works for whoever works on the Siri codebase) and see what got changed between 13.4 and 13.5.

I still think this is a bug, because it essentially enforces Siri Eyes Free without any option to avoid it taking over.

What if I'm in the car, but not driving? Why can't I use all of Siri's features then?

The irony is that the way things are now, it's actually MORE dangerous than it would be if this issue didn't get in the way.

It had worked for me for a while, but it seems to be back to not working; it's all quite random, and it makes me wonder how much of this is run on the server side, since Siri is generally useless without an internet connection. If that's the case, all Apple needs to do is allow music and navigation apps to bypass the Siri Eyes Free lock; the App Store category would be enough for 99% of them.

Personally, I really just want to be able to say "Hey Siri, directions to [wherever] using Waze" while I'm driving, like I used to. Why that's so complicated to fix is beyond me. I understand that Apple's focusing on iOS 14, but at least please get it fixed in 14.0...

Many are having this problem, as described, and the inability to interact hands-free with our phones while driving may indeed cause distractions leading to loss of life. Plain and simple, and Apple is aware of the problem QED. Apps like Dragon Anywhere can no longer be launched while driving. That app was relied on for accurate dictation beyond what Siri would allow in a very short blurb before cutting you off and sending a truncated, meaningless text response.

Now, the car screen shows up and Siri says it can't help us with that while we are driving. It will not open Google Maps and other programs without forcing you to pick up the phone and open the app.

This is true when sitting in the driveway and attempting to order from a local restaurant's app.

It won't launch Waze, et al.

This needs to be repaired, ASAP. It is NOT automobile specific, as demonstrated.

To the bright mind who explained here that shortcuts can be used to somewhat circumvent the problem, THANK YOU. It has provided some relief. However, Apple - this should have been repaired in a month of it being reported, and your support staff should have been made aware so that so many of us can understand what is happening and that it is being addressed in an update expected in X days/weeks/months.

Instead, you've sent us all on this fishing expedition, and very likely have caused dangerous and unnecessary interactions with your phones when they are used on the road.

Unfortunately, there’s no access to Apple’s native apps like Measages app either. For instance, if you dictate a text using Siri, the old behavior showed what the text looks like before you have Siri send the message or manually send it yourself. Now, you get the same “car” logo screen if you’re using BT in your car.

Interesting that Waze works for you.

For me on 2 iPhones (8 & new SE):

iOS 13.6.1 & Waze 4.66.0.0 -> “car” logo screen

iOS 13.7 & Waze 4.66.0.0 -> “car” logo screen + Siri verbal prompt that it cannot open the app while in the car

Fermin Bernaus wrote:

Well I see this reasonable. You shouldn’t be reading when driving. But the message can be sent, right? I see nothing wrong here

This makes sense in theory, but then the iPhone should also enforce DND While Driving and prevent me from seeing incoming notifications while I'm driving, which it doesn't — I can see them just fine. The only thing that gets activated is Siri Eyes Free when we trigger Siri, which once again (in my humblest opinion) points to some software regression introduced in 13.5 about how Siri works when the device is connected to a car stereo.

A little update, for what it's worth: Waze currently seems to work for me. I just said "Hey Siri, directions to home using Waze" (in Italian, but that's the language I use with Siri) and it worked, despite showing the car icon.

Apple’s response is a lie. They say they have no control of Siri working with ‘some’ car stereos.

Last I checked. Siri worked in my car just fine when driving with “Do Not Disturb While Driving” set to ‘Manually’ prior to May this year and upgrading to iOS 13.5.

“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."

Why is there even a ‘Manually’ option at all in the DNDWD settings?

And why no mention of even tampering with this option in the iOS version update/notes?

All I want is Siri to voice through my car stereo & overhead mic and act as a ‘wireless’ auxiliary connection like it did pre May 2020. I do not want Siri to interact with ANY other functions on my car stereo !

And if iOS is clearly showing a manual option to toggle DNDWD, then it should ********* work !

3 incremental updates and a major upgrade later and it’s still doesn’t work.

I’ve said it before. This is a bug. A very, very annoying and DANGEROUS Apple bug.

I tried both commands while connected to BT and they worked. The only differences were that I spoke in Italian (as that's what my Siri is set up for) and asked for the nearest bank (we have no Starbucks here). I'm just realizing now that the screen was on though, as I generally always have Waze open when I'm on the car. I can give it a try with the screen completely off tomorrow, and report accordingly.

Tonight, however, the screen showed neither my speech (I set it up so that it always shows it), nor Siri's answer. That confirms that "Siri Eyes Free" is still engaged, only it makes even less sense compared to iOS 13... since it doesn't even hide whatever's on the screen!

Is anyone on the latest beta for 14.2? I got a message on Feedback Assistant that it should be fixed in the latest beta, but I'm not going to install it on my main phone. (Unfortunately I can only reply "yes it's fixed" or "no it's still borked", so I can't let them know.)

This issue has nothing to do with any factor other than the 13.5 update. It renders Siri almost useless in the car. It needs to be fixed.

Same here... still not solved. I'm stil using shortcuts to all the apps I want to open while in my car! )-:

I still think it's an issue between iOS and certain auto systems. I don't use Waze or Spotify. I still get nothing but the car icon when I use Siri, even though I used to see the text i just said.