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Siri stands out as a key feature on Apple TV. On Apple TV devices or the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, the voice-activated virtual assistant swiftly plays videos, adjusts live TV channels, and delivers search results for specific searches and genres.
Unfortunately, Apple doesn't offer a hands-free mode for Siri on Apple TV like Alexa on Amazon's Fire TV or Google Assistant on Chromecast, Android TV, and Google devices. To control Apple TV, users must utilize the remote control device.
In iOS 12.2, Apple allows users to utilize Siri hands-free commands on iPhone and iPad. Once configured, users can employ the Hey Siri commands to play videos or adjust live TV channels on Apple TV.
Explore further in Mytour's article below to grasp how to employ Siri hands-free mode on your Apple TV remote.
1. Use Siri Hands-Free Mode on Apple TV Remote
Follow the steps below to set up and use Siri hands-free mode on the Apple TV remote:
Step 1: Activate Hey Siri on iOS Device
By activating hands-free Siri on your iPhone, iPad, you can command everything on Apple TV through voice, even when the device is locked.
To enable this feature, firstly, go to the Settings app on your iOS device, then locate and select Siri & Search, and toggle the Listen for Hey Siri slider to ON.
The next step is to read a few sample phrases to 'train' the Siri voice assistant. After completing this, don't forget to activate the Allow Siri When Locked option.
Perform the same steps on other iOS devices you want to use with Apple TV.
Step 2: Sign in to iCloud on iOS device and Apple TV
On iOS devices (iPhone or iPad), go to the Settings app and find the Sign in option at the top corner of the screen, then sign in to your iCloud account. If you see your name and no Sign in option, it means you are already signed in.
On Apple TV, go to Settings => Accounts => iCloud, choose Sign in, and sign in to your iCloud account.
Step 3: Activate AirPlay 2 on Apple TV
To receive commands from iOS devices, you need to activate AirPlay 2 on Apple TV. On Apple TV, go to Settings => AirPlay and ensure the option is set to ON. Next, scroll down on the main menu, find and select Room.
Now, the screen will display a notification saying that AirPlay 2 on TV has started.
Follow the instructions, unlock your iOS device, turn on Bluetooth, and place the device near Apple TV. Then, press Connect on your iOS device when prompted to complete the pairing process. If the notification doesn't appear, try locking and unlocking your iOS device again to initiate the pairing process. Finally, select the room that Apple TV is currently in.
Step 4: Set up compatible apps
At the time of writing, there are over 80 Apple TV apps that support universal search with Siri. Most of these apps can directly play videos in response to voice commands from the virtual assistant. Just make sure the app you want to use is in the list of Apple TV-supported search apps, and you're signed in to the app.
If you have a subscription to PlayStation Vue, FuboTV, or DirecTV, you can use voice commands to watch any available live TV channel in those services.
If you've installed compatible video apps on your iPhone and iPad but not on Apple TV, you can play that video through Apple's AirPlay protocol. However, make sure your iOS device is unlocked and prevent other apps from requesting video or audio. Alternatively, you can install alternative TV apps.
Step 5: Activate HDMI-CEC
To activate HDMI-CEC on Apple TV, navigate to Settings => Remotes and Devices and ensure the Control TVs and Receivers option is set to ON.
Next, in the TV settings, find and enable the CEC option. Note that on different TVs, this option might have different names, such as Link or Sync.
Option: Invite other users to use voice commands
If other family members have their own iCloud accounts, you can invite them to control Apple TV on their iOS devices (iPhone, iPad). Open the Home app on your iOS device, then tap the home icon in the top-left corner, select Invite... under People. Finally, enter the email address associated with the iCloud account of the user you want to invite.
Invited users will receive an invitation message on their iOS devices. Once accepted, they can control Apple TV right on their iPhone or iPad.
Step 6: Check Some Voice Commands
Finally, after activating Siri hands-free mode on the Apple TV remote, you can try some voice commands to check, such as:
Hey Siri, play life hacks on Apple TV.
Hey Siri, fast forward 5 minutes on Apple TV.
....
2. Some Limitations and Solutions
Undoubtedly, Siri hands-free mode on the Apple TV remote is an incredibly useful feature. However, in some cases, this feature may not work flawlessly as intended.
Here are some issues you may encounter:
Netflix doesn't allow users to play videos directly via voice commands. To do this, you'll need to use the physical remote or open the virtual Apple TV remote in the Control Center on iOS, press Select to start playback.
Additionally, Apple TV might redirect you to the wrong program or app. For instance, after subscribing to HBO through Apple TV, the device may prompt you to install HBO Go instead of directly playing the shows. If this happens, select the remote and scroll down the program's info page until you find the How to Watch section. Choose a preferred source, and Apple TV will remember it for the future.
After applying and following the instructions above, you may still encounter issues with voice commands, including Siri errors. In this case, ensure that the devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. If the issue persists, try turning off iCloud and AirPlay 2 support, then rerun the setup. In the worst case, the solution is to restore the factory settings on Apple TV (go to Settings => System => Reset) to get everything back to normal.
Essentially, Siri responds better when using the command 'play' rather than 'watch' for a specific program.
If requesting to play a specific program or channel, Siri will automatically select the appropriate streaming service, such as Hulu or PlayStation Vue. Otherwise, you can add the service name in your voice command.
This Mytour article has just guided you on how to use Siri hands-free mode on the Apple TV remote. If you have any doubts or questions, readers can leave their comments below the article. Also, check out how to fix iPhone not finding Apple TV when activating AirPlay here.
