Siri on multiple within-earshot devices

[redcarian]

Picture the scene. I’m at my desk, working away on my Mac.

To my left, my iPad and my iPhone. To my right (well, technically; it’s actually in another room), a Homepod mini. On my wrist, a Watch. All these devices can hear me.

I want to ask Siri something. So I do. I use my facehole to emit the warbling sound, “Siri, what’s $dumb_imperial_measurement in metric?”, or something else suitably un-taxing. Perhaps I’ll set a timer. It’s good at that.

What answers?

Well, I’ll tell you this much. It’s not the Mac I’m actually typing on, that’s for sure!

The Homepod is very quick to answer. The iPad also. My iPhone and Watch are a bit slower. After all, they’re only the newest devices I own by a couple of years.

But the Mac? The device I’m working on, right now, with a podcast playing, and me typing on it? Nah, that thing ain’t listening.

Whatever magic Apple does to ensure your AirPods receive audio from the device you’re using, they should do on Siri to ensure the device you’re using is the one that answers the call of the disco ball.

 

[cynics]

"HomePod responds to most Siri requests, even when other devices are nearby. To use Siri on a specific device, raise to wake that device or press the button to use Siri, then make your request."

How Siri works with multiple devices - Apple Support

Learn how Siri responds when there are multiple devices.

support.apple.com

Its supposed to be the primary home assistant so unless you have an unlocked iPhone/iPad in your hand it will yell from the other room if it hears you. I find it frustrating when something else responds and I'm setting a kitchen timer on my MacBook in the office or something. Thankfully that's rare...

 

[redcarian]

Its supposed to be the primary home assistant so unless you have an unlocked iPhone/iPad in your hand it will yell from the other room if it hears you. I find it frustrating when something else responds and I'm setting a kitchen timer on my MacBook in the office or something. Thankfully that's rare...

In my house, it’s a lot less “unless” and a lot more “even if”.

 

[erihp]

One way of gaming this is to set your HomePods and iPhone to listen for ‘Siri’ or ‘hey Siri’ but not both. Then you can force which device responds by how you invoke Siri.