How to Change the Apps Siri Uses to Play Audio on IOS
It’s rare to see Apple add options to iOS that allow you to customize the app you really want to use to do something, instead of forcing you to use the official Apple app. And while I doubt you’ll ever be able to use anything other than the App Store to install new software on your iPhone (no jailbreak), at least soon you’ll have a little more control over which Siri apps. uses to accommodate your inquiries related to sound.
This much-talked-about feature is expected to be part of iOS 14.5, but there was a bit of a tricky patch in its development: the option appeared in beta, left in a subsequent update, and is now back again. However, that’s okay – and now that she’s back, I’m sure she’ll show up in the final build of iOS 14.5 when she arrives.
If you want to test this setting right now, you’ll have to go through the normal iOS 14.5 developer beta installation process (version 3 at the time of this writing). It’s not hard to do , but as always, let me remind you that installing a beta OS comes with the risk of slowing down your phone, fussing some apps, or having any number of other unusual issues that won’t happen. fixed until later in beta (or final).
There is no setting you can click to choose the default music player in iOS, which is a curious omission, I hope Apple adds to the operating system someday. Instead, you’ll have to ask Siri to play music, like requesting a song from your favorite band. When you do – and if you have multiple music apps installed on your device – you will be prompted to choose one as your player.
At the moment, you only have one chance. Whatever you choose will become the default for your future Hey Siri commands, and it takes a little work to get prompted to download again if you change your mind. (Again, it would be much easier to have this as an option somewhere in Settings> Music , but what do I know?)
However, if you still want to play music from different services or apps installed on your device, all you have to do is add the name of that service to your request and Siri will obey. So, for example, you can say “Play Nine Inch Nails” to listen through the default service you previously selected. Or you can say “Play Nine Inch Nails on Spotify” to play music on this app instead.
This is admittedly an awkward way to set the default music player on iOS, but it is (for now). We will update this article if or when the steps change in the next beta.
Update 3/4/21: Apple has since made it clear that this little prompt doesn’t change your “ standard ” music player, but simply the one Siri uses for your requests. And from time to time, you might be prompted again or suggested if you’re trying to get Siri to play a different type of sound (like music or a podcast). So, alas, there will still be no “default” option to use the music player in iOS, but I guess that’s the best option?