Siri says “You need to unlock your iPhone first”

Same for me with Sena comm set. Only solution (so far) before each ride, go to Settings > Display & Brightness,

scroll down to Auto-Lock and set it to NEVER. then go back to the home screen (without hitting the lock button upper right),

gently place it in your pocket. Then connect your bluetooth device.

Works all of the time, unless it gets bumped. Sometimes ends up cranking its brightness and burning up battery... but its the only thing that works. Agree this is infuriating. Android has "trusted connection" that will keep it open to that device. seems simple.

SOLVED - Controlling Siri from Cardo Packtalk (or other) motorcycle headset: I have a Cardo Packtalk that I use as a headset when I ride. I’ve only had it about 6 months and could never get it to work with Siri. You’re supposed to say “Hey Siri” to wake up Siri on your phone to accept commands. I’d do this and the phone would acknowledge that I’d spoken to Siri, but then there would be a long pause (up to a minute) and then my phone would say “something has gone wrong” and would go back to streaming music or whatever I was doing before.

I confirmed that the “allow Siri while locked” setting was turned on in Siri settings. Last weekend, I started checking EVERYTHING in frustration and looked in my Bluetooth devices. The Packtalk Bold was listed there so I touched the “i” to check for further settings. Under the name of the device, it said “Device Type”, with no value there. I touched on that and was presented with several options: Car Stereo, Headphone, Hearing Aid, Speaker, and Other. None were checked. I selected “Headphone” and now it works perfectly!

The problem was that because the phone didn’t see the Cardo as a headset, the “Hey Siri” command was being passed to the phone from the Cardo unit, but the phone was then waiting on the command on the phone microphone instead of the Cardo. That’s why there was the long pause after initiating the command, while it waited. Now that it sees the Cardo as a headphone, it accepts the Siri commands through it.

This seems to be a new iOS setting (back to version 13 or 14). Good luck!

I found a solution that works for me on my iPhone 12 and iOS 14.5. I use a Freecom 4, but I assume it would work with other devices. This uses Apple voice control.

I followed the instructions in this article: https://ios.gadgethacks.com/how-to/use-secret-voice-command-unlock-your-iphone-0384501/

Basically, I recorded screen taps that can be played when I say a phrase. So I record a tap sequence that brings up the keypad and types my unlock phrase. It will only record 5 taps, so if you have a 4 digit unlock code you are golden. The first tap is used to bring up the keypad. If you are like me and have a 6 digit unlock code, you will have to have 2 phrases. One for the first 4 and another for the last 2.

It took several tries to get it right. Using it is frankly tedious, but it does work hands free.

I click the buttons on my helmet to wake up Siri and ask to read my messages. She tells me I have to unlock the screen. I say the first phrase and wait then I say the second phrase. The screen unlocks and she reads my messages if I have any. Like I said if you have a four digit unlock code you'll only need one phrase.

You'll have to decide if it's worth it for you.

Ok- I think I finally found a solution though I am not sure if it permanent. In addition to allowing Siri while locked as mentioned elsewhere I. This thread - I went to Settings > notifications > Show Previews -

> and temporarily changed from “When Unlocked” to “Always” then verified announce messages with Siri worked and then changed it back to “When Unlocked” and Siri Announce messages still works.

I had similar issue with my IPhone 12 Pro.

I turned off and turned on the “Voice dial” in Settings -> Face ID & Passcode.

now I am able to make calls without unlocking the iPhone.

Software version is 14.7.1

I have an IPhone 12 and I have a Cardo Systems motorcycle intercom (Packtalk). I can listen to music, make and answer phone calls and send and (supposedly) receive messages through the intercom unit as well as talk with my motorcycle buddies. Receiving messages though was a problem when I received a message and asked Siri to read the message I got “You have to unlock your phone first”. I solved this with “Hey Siri. Read my message(s) and so far that has worked.

I have tried everything as well. it does not matter if you're driving or if your phone is face up on the counter. it doesn't matter if your bluetooth says its a car or a headset.

If it doesn't unlock, it doesn't answer your question like: What's on my calendar tomorrow?

If it is in your pocket while driving or it can't see your face while sitting on the counter with "Hey Siri", it won't answer your question.

My solution:

I got an iPhone holder to hook up to my car vent and pointed it at me while I drive so I can see google maps etc. Now even if it is locked and I ask what's on my calendar tomorrow, it sees my face, unlocks and tells me my answer.

It will cost you a dash mounted iPhone holder BUT it definitely works.

However, it should not require this to answer a simple calendar questions etc. It did not use to do that until mid version 13 sometime in my recollection. Apple still needs to fix this. we are at 15.2 now and they still haven't figured it out!!!

solution that i found is to either increase iphone auto-lock to never for duration of driving (settings, display and brightness) or remove temporarily any security lock feature ya have (face id, passcode, etc)

Or as those pointed out is to ask siri a question rather than making an order while phone is locked

suppose its a safety issue so only user have proper access to device

voice recognition could help get around this but then a recording would probably be able to unlock your device, which would be concerning.

I have a solution. I have used it with wired headphones, Cardo packtalk, and AirPods and it seems to work flawlessly. In settings> notifications> Messages change “Show previews” to “Always”. It will allow Siri to read your messages even when the phone is locked. Downside is that when you aren’t riding, anyone can read your messages from the Lock Screen. Hope this helps.

I have been having the same issue. I can have Siri make a call but when she announced an incoming call, I would normally say "answer" and Siri would answer the call. now Siri says "I need to unlock my iPhone first" after I upgraded to iOS 14.8. with the phone unlocked, Siri answered when I say "answer" but that does not solve my problem. after checking all the settings, calling apple support to no avail, turns out that when the phone is locked and a call comes in, instead of saying "answer" like I did before, now I have to say "yes" or "no". that that fixed my issue. perhaps for the other issues people are having here, they might just be saying the wrong command.

Okay. After pushing zillions of buttons in a like number of settings menus. So many in fact I couldn’t keep track of what I turned on or off. I was able to receive and listen to a text message through my Cardo Systems Packtalk headset while riding on my motorcycle for the first time on my iPhone 12. When I pushed the appropriate button on the Packtalk to bring up Siri instead of saying “read message” I said “Hey Siri”. “Read my message(s)” and it did. I was floored. Try it I hope it works for you all too. Now it was only one time but I hope it is the fix.

Yep. That’s the one and same with me. Cardo techs said go to your Bluetooth menu. Go to the Bluetooth channel you use for your car hit the “i” button. Go to advance settings and check “Car Stereo” or whatever type device you listen to through Bluetooth. I had never seen that kind of menu choice on my iPhone 6. I haven’t tried that for my device yet (mine would be headphones but yours would be car stereo). Hope it works.

yeah, the guy was a jerk, from the moment I got transferred to him I had a feeling he could not be bothered.

As for the problem at hand, I haven't found a different command but I did find a setting that I think has not been mentioned. on my phone I went to - settings - notifications - Announce Messages with... -

I made sure "Announce Messages with..." is turned on and I tapped "Messages" below that and selected "everyone", it was preset as "contacts" once I did that, I sent a text to myself and Siri announced it and read it. I didn't have to ask. however, if I wanted Siri to read it again, then I got the “You need to unlock your iPhone first”. I think I can live with that..

Try enabling “Hey Siri” see if that works. It is a different menu or button than just enabling Siri. It depends on which iPhone you have later models allow “Hey Siri” even if not connected to a charger.

Hello AntonKorol,

We understand that you're experiencing issues using Siri on iPhone while the device is locked, and we'd like to get you pointed in the right direction for a resolution. We understand that you've double checked your settings already, even enabling some others, to try troubleshooting. However, we want to make sure that everything is set up as expected: Change access to items when iPhone is locked

Make sure everything you need has access, including Siri. Once that is complete also ensure that "Voice Dial" is enabled at Settings > Face ID & Passcode, if you're looking to make phone calls.

To reply to Messages, ensure that you've set up everything as shown here: Announce Messages with Siri on AirPods

We hope this helps. Take care.