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iPhone 6 Siri won't work, neither dictation!!

I don't know what's wrong, since 3 days i can't get siri to hear me, i press the home button to summon siri, the wave line moves a lot as if it was receiving a lot of noise and then goes off as if didn't recognize anything, i've tried everything, turning siri on/off, reseting phone, reseting settings, i've checked the discussions and there doesn't seem to be any solution to this.siri does work if i use the earphone set that came with the iphone, but clearly there's a problem, and 3 days ago worked just fine!!!

iPhone 6, iOS 8.1.2

Posted on Jan 7, 2015 1:32 PM

Reply
69 replies

Oct 6, 2015 11:55 AM in response to dumax8

OK, I think I have a pretty good idea of what's going on here: I've been having all the same issues...Voice Dictation WORKS, Voice Recordings WORK FINE. SIRI will not hear me. It's not a bluetooth problem, as it works fine with those devices/headsets.


I realized the other day that if I put the speaker REALLY close to my mouth, and almost YELL into the microphone (like, put your lips on your phone), Siri will start to catch some words, if not all of what I'm saying. It's almost as if there are two separate microphones, one being used exclusively for SIRI (not likely true, but makes my point).


It's a HARDWARE issue. That, or the gain is turned way down for the mic when Siri is activated.


iOS updates are not going to fix this problem.

Oct 6, 2015 12:16 PM in response to dumax8

Since updating my iPhone to iOS 9.0, I have the same issue.


"when i press the home button to summon siri, the wave line moves a lot as if it was receiving a lot of noise and then goes off as if didn't recognize anything"


If I speak, Siri responds. I initially thought that it was no longer working since Siri used to beep when I pushed the home button.


Howard

Nov 1, 2015 1:19 AM in response to dumax8

I have the same problem since IOS 9.1 Beta, I made a long research on this problem, there is no doubt now, it is a hardware problem in the front mic near to front camera, this mic is made to be used exclusively for Siri and dictation. (voice memo and calls, ..... etc, using the main mic in the bottom)


There are two solutions:

1- To change your iPhone:

a- To buy a new one.

b- replace your current one form apple store.]

2- Change the front camera and mic by your self (although it is risky, you might end up with more issues)


Hope this is helpful.


Hozayfa

Dec 27, 2015 8:10 AM in response to RedDecember

Okay...my Siri is working now.


There are multiple Siri issues being discussed in this thread and many of you would do well to read details.


RedDecember incorrectly asserts that they have same issue as Alex91s. I had the same issue as Alex91s. Siri hears and transcribes everything I say correctly, then says she will do what I say, then tells me she can't, a few moments later. You hear me interweb?! My mic works!! (Was really hard searching this problem out, everyone assumes Siri can't hear me...she can!!).


However, RedDecember mentioned seeing the "My Info" slot didn't have his info saved and after he reselected his info for "My Info" and then Siri worked for him. Darn if I didn't try the same thing out of desperation and it worked! Not sure why...


My situation- restored someone else's old 5s and then set up from my most recent back up. Both my back up and the 5s were 9.2 (latest as of this post). I tried hard resets, complete restore from new without a back up, toggled Siri on and off in about every conceivable combo....nothing worked until I reselected "My Info" in Siri's settings.


LIke I said, I don't get it, but I tried every f'ing thing and I'm no slouch with fixing iPhone software or hardware issues (shout out to the OG unlocking community!)


Just wanted to let y'all know what worked for me. 12-27-16

Jan 31, 2016 12:42 PM in response to sok777

I believed that there was a defect in the hardware with the front facing microphone, since voice memo and google's voice recognition worked while keyboard dictation,siri, and front facing videos did not work. (iPhone6 with iOS 9.2, update to 9.2.1 did not fix). However, when I reset all settings, they began working again (all 3 front microphone applications). I saved a device console log to submit to the developer Bug reporter, but apple can't even get that to work with Safari, so...


Anyway, aside from shaking what little faith I have left in apple, I would urge folks to try resetall settings before planning to take apart their phone.


M@

Feb 1, 2016 11:03 PM in response to one-hoop

Siri is definitely not working... All Mic Tests done, all mics work great.

I have 9.2.1 on my iPhone 6 and also on my iPad4 (no cell).

I didn't have Siri activated on the iPad but, after I noticed the Siri problems on the phone, I gave it a try...

I activated Siri and... it worked! Just untill the screen locked... after that Siri can't hear me on the iPad.

The language doesn't matter (US-english, UK-english, Italian, German,...) the line on the screen is simply flat....

Niether reset nor any other suggestion in the all threads helped... I guess we need to wait for an update...

Mar 22, 2016 5:04 AM in response to dumax8

I tried every fix I found online to no avail.


My dictation worked fine until a few weeks ago, had been working for more than a year on my iPhone 6. No idea what triggered the change.


My Dictation icon was not greyed out.

My front microphone definitely worked, I tested that with voice memo.

My Dictation was enabled under the Keyboard options.

Using a headset made no difference, didn't make it work.

I tried power off with dictation off then turning it back on. Resetting everything, etc. etc. Nothing worked. The only thing I hadn't done was restore from back up which seemed absurd.


Finally somewhere in one of these threads I read about simply turning Siri on. I checked under Siri in settings, it was off, so I turned it on. And now Dictation works fine.


Why this worked so long and stopped, I have no idea. I don't remember turning Siri off, I just don't use it. I had no clue that Siri was required for Dictation to work. But it finally works again.


I hope this helps someone because I was ready to stomp bunnies I was so frustrated trying to get this to work.

Mar 22, 2016 5:52 AM in response to dumax8

OK. Here's my experience. I had a difficulty getting dictation to work on my phone. I found when I added an emoji keyboard and Disney gif keyboard, then removed it, it had a negative effect on my dictation, and dictation just wouldn't work anymore. So what I did was, I added the Disney Gif keyboard back to my phone. Once I did that, dictation worked again. So whenever you're using keyboards and adding them to your phone, I guess you have to be careful because there's software issues with dictation.

Apr 5, 2016 4:10 PM in response to dumax8

READ THIS


I hope this works for you because I tried all of the above and somehow I magically found a way to fix it.


1. Plug in apple headphones (that have a mic)


2. Go to Settings -> General -> Siri -> and turn on Allow "Hey Siri"


3. With your headphones plugged in, go through the steps that your iPhone asks you to go through in order to set up "Hey Siri"


4. When you're done unplug your headphones


5. Plug your iPhone into a power adapter and say "Hey Siri"


6. It should recognize your voice WITHOUT the headphones. After unplugging it your phone will work when holding the home button to use Siri normally.


Hope this helps some people!!

May 6, 2016 5:33 AM in response to cyberbiker

I finally solve this problem, on my iPad Pro and my friends I devices – I do not have this problem on my iPhone 6S Plus nor my iPad Air to and it has nothing to do with hardware... Well in some cases I suppose is defective hardware

there is a setting in an operating system file that tells iOS what gain to set the microphon (Windows has the setting to where you can change it in your control panel and sound settings from -20 dB to 20 dB... Windows has this in case you're using a microphone that Poor gain) you cannot change this file all the reseTS in the world will not fix this and downloading any new operating system will not fix it..why? Apple does not resend this file as part of the operating system upgrade even when going from a major upgrade from like iOS 8 to 9.... Supposed to be a fixed file that never has the value changed period the only reason why I could see the value changed would be if the device failed to past quality assurance, someone would login to the device with admin access – at the factory and turn up the gain on the microphone so worked properly...i'm guessing your devices that slipped through this quality assurance process


is an easy way to tell if you have the software bug – simply raise your voice, yell or scream what you want to say at your device and it should understand you perfectly you ... If it does you have 3 options


1: if your advice is under warranty your AppleCare warranty, Apple will replace the device because they assume it's a hardware defective microphone

2: use are hardwired or Bluetooth microphone that has it on gain settings and that you can turn up and that will solve your problem once and for all , BUT you must use those specific microphones FOREVER.

3: fix the file yourself. I cannot post instructions how to do this as that would violate the forum rules... if you can figure out how to do it on your own without violating your warranty – which I highly advocate not doing, then by all means go for it – especially if the device is no longer under warranty and can no longer be extended under warranty. But I'm still not going to post instructions how to do it – you are all have to figure that out on your own... remember what I said... Once the setting in this file has been optimised for your device to work properly, it will survive of factory resets and new operating system installations. If apple actually decides to acknowledge this problem, then they would release a hot fix and send the file down to every idevice, that'd fix it... Don't want the gain to high or your voice will be distorted and you'll have the same problem



To be honest I highly recommend number two ... Get a Bluetooth or a hardwired microphone that can adjust the gain on itS mic...then dictation and Siri work perfectly when you drive, Etc. Everyday use... You don't have to keep it connected to your device at all times – only when you want to use dictation or if you can't sit with you Siri which I don't – personally I don't find Siri very useful – unless I'm driving in the car, but while at home Siri is completely useless for my purposes



There is one other fix for this problem and it's not again is you it's the device that's not understanding you period I change was made to dictation mode with iOS 9 – you Still need an Internet or cell data connection for dictation to work, but it does not send everything you're saying back to the Apple servers and back to you, your device handles all of your voice recognition and speech to text, and when it doesn't understand something, then it sends it to the Apple servers to try and get a better match… If you look at the way dictation is changed it actually writes the words as you speak it… You can't have it talking to the server and repeating your words in real time ... And this is where another fix comes in the house to do with the keyboard


I have a friend who had the same problem I did but putting a special microphone did not work for them, but this is what didn't work for them.. they had some sort of our inflections to their speech and voice patterns... And the standard United States keyboard would not recognise what they were saying and this is very important that most people understand is that the keyboard you choose and the keyboard that is actually active and in use is the keyboard that deals with Siri and dictation – so if you have a United Kingdom keyboard active it's going to to speak with various accents that the people of the UK have..once I enable my friends UK keyboard, and he made it the default kb Siri and dictation works flawlessly for him.. So if you are an English speaking person try United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, and any other country that offers English keyboards ...keep in mind Siri and the dictation system will be expecting you to stpeaklike those people speak


As far as the Siri settings go when you said the language and the voice and all that kind of stuff that simply for voice feedback how you'd like to hear Siri sound and has nothing to do with Siri and dictation understanding you period you can have an Australian female Siri and an American United States keyboard, and the system will expect that you have the various United States accents.


Also by resetting the keyboard dictionary, are you also research what Siri and dictation has learned about your vocal patterns, but that does not erase what has been saved on the Apple servers – but that's the least of your concerns – as long as the client can understand you would does not need to check with the server ...The days when I checked with the server you would speak a bunch of stuff and then get is spinning little wheel and then the server would spit back what it interpreted that you said, but now with more powerful devices it is handled on the client side – and that's causing a little problems for Apple

May 24, 2016 1:35 AM in response to sok777

Hello guys. I was indeed searching for a solution to the very poor dictation (and from time to time Siri) result on my brand-new iPhone SE and found this topic, and this guy's post in particular very very helpful.

I was rather surprise to find the solution was very easy: I had the habit of holding the lower-side (where the main microphone used for voice-calls and back-facing video recording perhaps is) closer to my mouth while speaking when I was using my old iPhone 4s. However, thanks to this particular post that I knew Siri and dictation used the front microphone equipped on newer iPhone gens. When I tried hold the front part of the phone closer to my mouth to dominate my voice, every problem is gone to no where.

Thank you very much guys!

Jul 29, 2016 5:01 AM in response to judysings

I had the same problem. Suddenly all dictation (Siri, text messages, email, WhatsApp, etc.) stopped working. I tried other solutions I found online such as resetting the whole device, messing with the microphone settings, etc. and none of them helped. Then a tech support at Apple gave me a simple test to do. First, I backed up the phone. Then I erased the whole phone and set it up as a new phone but DID NOT restore from my backup. I tried using dictation on Siri and using the microphone on the phone dictation did not work. I then plugged in my headset and dictation worked perfect which indicated that the microphone had gone bad and this wasn't a software issue. Apple replaced the phone for me. So rather than do a whole bunch of software tests try this first to see if it is a hardware problem. Hope this helps.

Jul 29, 2016 5:20 AM in response to illuminor

I had the same symptoms, along with many owners and some techs said it was probably a faulty production lot of front mics. However, it wasn't a large enough order to cause adequate masses to scream loud enough to tarnish the iPhone reputation. That would have caused a recall sand repair. I, stupidly, discovered the problem in the 11th month of my Apple warranty and piddled around with settings for two months as the warranty expired.


MacRumors hears a drumbeat of the iPhone 7 release date of 16 September so it isn't worth spending the time for the hardware test you suggest until afterward.


I think I'll still load the 7 from scratch just for grins. Over the course of a week or so, I'll get where the backup would have put me.

iPhone 6 Siri won't work, neither dictation!!

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