Siri does not read new text messages from the lock screen.

I actually found a way around this, if you guys are interested.

Since Siri can only read text messages if the preview is enabled on the lock screen, just go ahead and disable it.

Step 1: Settings > Notifications > Messages

Step 2: Show Preview: On

Step 3: View in Lock Screen: Off

This way, nothing will be visible if you don't want it to be, and you still have the convenience of jogging or driving and having Siri read your messages.

Not the the perfect solution, but it works, if you're interested.

Cheers

So how do I get Siri to read my text messages to me automatically, like on the TV commercial?

I don't know of a way to have Siri automatically read a received text message. You have to launch Siri and say 'read message'.

"enabling preview"? How?

Robert Wendel wrote:

"enabling preview"? How?

In iOS 8.

Go into Settings/Notifications/Messages, scroll down and in the Messages Options you need to enable SHOW PREVIEWS.

This broke a fundamental "hands free" feature in the name of security. Security that makes a device less useful is not valuable.

Apple, please give the user the option to have Siri read the unread messages or not.

I can no longer use my iPhone handsfree on my motorcycle or my car for just about anything useful UNLESS I'm willing to let anyone walking by read the texts that pop up on my phone (there's a workaround posted in this thread).

I can't be unlocking my phone in my car every few minutes to read an incoming message. That defeats "Hands Free" that Siri promises.

For several years, I was using the simple command "Messages" with Siri and Siri would read me any new text messages. At some point, I think it was sometime this past fall 2015, Apple added the ability to have Siri open certain apps on your phone, including the "Messages" app.

Since I didn't realize this "Messages" command was changing the action with Siri from reading new text messages to opening the "Messages" app on my iPhone, the response I would get is "You will need to unlock your iPhone first."

I went to an Apple store and explained that I was using a Bluetooth Headset with my iPhone and needed to be able to have Siri read out loud my text messages while driving. That's how we learned about the Siri command change, so we tried using the command "Read new messages" instead of simply "Messages" and then Siri worked fine and read me my new text messages, while the phone remained locked, in my pocket. This discovery was well worth the amount of time (2+ hours) I spent waiting in the Apple Store to speak to an Apple "Genius".

I hope this helps others!

For several years, I was using the simple command "Messages" with Siri and Siri would read me any new text messages. At some point, I think it was sometime this past fall 2015, Apple added the ability to have Siri open certain apps on your phone, including the "Messages" app.

Since I didn't realize this "Messages" command was changing the action with Siri from reading new text messages to opening the "Messages" app on my iPhone, the response I would get is "You will need to unlock your iPhone first."

I went to an Apple store and explained that I was using a Bluetooth Headset with my iPhone and needed to be able to have Siri read out loud my text messages while driving. That's how we learned about the Siri command change, so we tried using the command "Read new messages" instead of simply "Messages" and then Siri worked fine and read me my new text messages, while the phone remained locked, in my pocket. This discovery was well worth the amount of time (2+ hours) I spent waiting in the Apple Store to speak to an Apple "Genius".

I hope this helps others!

It seems iOS 10 broke this feature. I came back to using an iPhone because of this feature. Very important to me to be able to plug in my wired headset, long press the button and use the command "read message". It always read any new messages to me even when the screen was locked.

Now after upgrading to iOS 10, this does not work. I've tried saying other things like 'messages' or 'read new messages' , etc. I even tried 'unlock screen', all to no avail.

Is there a way around this? I am very unhappy with this change and want this functionality back.

Disregard the above post. I had a faulty headset. Works fine now. Should have checked that first I guess.

Message preview must be enabled. Then Siri will read messages when phone is locked. Makes perfect sense.

Show previews under message options.

THANK YOU !! THANK YOU !! It was that last step that fixed it (show previews = always). Works perfectly now. 🙂