How can we use voice commands to play downloaded music from an iPad to external speakers?

Guidance for setting-up and using Siri voice commands can be found within the frequently overlooked iPad User Guide. Here is a direct link to the relevant section of the guide:

Turn on and activate Siri on iPad - Apple Support

Siri is not designed to operate over large distances - and as such, will need to be relatively close for voice commands to be reliably recognised.

Be aware that iPad is not waterproof. While is may survive being accidentally splashed if immediately dried, it will suffer irreparable damage if allowed to get wet or is submerged.

A smart speaker will presumably be connecting to online music streaming services - independent of Apple services and your iPad.

As for suitably of a poolside smart speaker, in conjunction with any advice that can be offered by the respective manufacturer, only you can determine suitably for your needs. Hopefully it goes without saying that anything placed adjacent to the pool must be powered only be internal batteries.

A third-party smart speaker will not be able to access Siri - or remotely control/access your iPad.

I use a third party speaker via Bluetooth. All I do is Hey Siri play such and such and it does… Hey Siri what’s the weather… What Time is it… raise/lower the volume… set volume to 60%.

Siri can’t put the iPad in the standby mode. The work around is Hey Siri restart iPad. And lastly… Hey Siri turn off iPad.

Even if you have the iPad plugged in to a power supply. If you drop the iPad into the pool you won’t get electrocuted. It’s DC… If this was so there would be reports of people getting electrocuted. Just don’t drop the AC plug into the pool. Then again the pool being big you probably won’t get electrocuted before a break trips.

Never, ever, allow anything that is connected directly or indirectly to an AC supply near water - especially a pool - even if the Power Adapter converts AC-mains power to DC.

If the Power Adapter has an undiagnosed electrical fault - or is connected to an unreliable ELCB - you are gambling with yours (or somebody else's) life.

LotusPilot wrote:

Never, ever, allow anything that is connected directly or indirectly to an AC supply near water - especially a pool - even if the Power Adapter converts AC-mains power to DC.

If the Power Adapter has an undiagnosed electrical fault - or is connected to an unreliable ELCB - you are gambling with yours (or somebody else's) life.

Nobody said anything about AC. If it’s a big pool even if someone let the AC plug fall into the pool it wouldn’t kill anyone. That why we have breakers. Besides who would place their iPad near the pool in the first place.

David M Brewer wrote:

Nobody said anything about AC. If it’s a big pool even if someone let the AC plug fall into the pool it wouldn’t kill anyone. That why we have breakers. Besides who would place their iPad near the pool in the first place.

Yikes, that's why we have breakers? I hope you are kidding and not suggesting to someone that it is no problem to use a hair dryer in the bath tub because the breaker will save your life. Is it really a debate on how big a pool it is on whether it would be safe or not?

Mac Jim ID wrote:

David M Brewer wrote:

Nobody said anything about AC. If it’s a big pool even if someone let the AC plug fall into the pool it wouldn’t kill anyone. That why we have breakers. Besides who would place their iPad near the pool in the first place.

Yikes, that's why we have breakers? I hope you are kidding and not suggesting to someone that it is no problem to use a hair dryer in the bath tub because the breaker will save your life. Is it really a debate on how big a pool it is on whether it would be safe or not?

I’m not going to address your reply. Was a lineman for many years. My father a Navy fighter jet electrician for 29 years.

David M Brewer wrote:

Even if you have the iPad plugged in to a power supply. If you drop the iPad into the pool you won’t get electrocuted. It’s DC… If this was so there would be reports of people getting electrocuted.

DC can kill you, if there is high enough voltage and low enough resistance. However, AC's potential to kill you got a little more "marketing" help:

Snopes – Fact Check: Edison Electric Chair

"Claim:  Locked in a war with Westinghouse over which of them would control the future of electric power, Edison worked to discredit his rival's alternating current with claims that it was unsafe — so unsafe that it could be used to kill people.

Status:   True."

Mac Jim ID wrote:

Yikes, that's why we have breakers? I hope you are kidding and not suggesting to someone that it is no problem to use a hair dryer in the bath tub because the breaker will save your life.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (November 26, 2025) – CPSC Warns Consumers to Immediately Stop Using DHGate.com Hair Dryers Due to Shock and Electrocution Hazards; Risk of Serious Injury or Death

"The hair dryers, which lack an integrated immersion protection device, can cause death or serious injury due to electrocution and shock hazards. The hair dryers are in violation of the federal regulations for hair dryers and present a substantial product hazard."

"CPSC urges consumers to immediately stop using the hair dryers, and destroy them by unplugging, cutting the cord, and disposing in the garbage. Do not sell or give away these hazardous hair dryers."

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (August 14, 2025) – Empower Brands Recalls Remington Hair Dryers Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Electrocution and Shock Hazards

Also, many people have hair dryers made before the "integral immersion protection" rule went into effect on July 28, 2011. I would expect that many of those pose a "risk of serious injury or death" to anybody foolish enough to use them in a bath tub.

Federal Register – Substantial Product Hazard List: Hand-Supported Hair Dryers

Servant of Cats wrote:

Also, many people have hair dryers made before the "integral immersion protection" rule went into effect on July 28, 2011. I would expect that many of those pose a "risk of serious injury or death" to anybody foolish enough to use them in a bath tub.

Yep, not something I would be willing to risk or recommend to others despite having a breaker. Also notice that the hair dryer was sold for over a year and a half before the CPSC issued the recall, despite the rule that went into effect in 2011 meant to protect consumers. Just surprised to get the ole My Dad is "smarter" than your Dad response.

Specifically for the iPad, I would still follow Apple's recommendations:

• WARNING: Failure to follow these safety instructions could result in fire, electric shock, injury, or damage to iPad or other property. Read all the safety information below before using iPad.
• Using damaged cables or chargers, or charging when moisture is present, can cause fire, electric shock, injury, or damage to iPad or other property.

Important safety information for iPad - Apple Support

You're very welcome. Whether or not I was actually any help in assisting with your dilemma.... 🙂

You’re telling the iPad not the speakers. The response comes out of the speakers.