Finding Your Lost Apple TV Remote and More: 5 Ways Apple Is Making Siri Better with iOS 17

Your iPhone is going to get a bunch of new features when iOS 17 rolls out this fall. There are big updates to apps like FaceTime and iMessage. There’s a Journal app for wellness and a new Standby mode that will let you turn your iPhone into a smart display. AirDrop and SharePlay are getting some new capabilities, too.

One thing you might have missed in all the hoopla surrounding Apple’s WWDC event — especially with all eyes being on the Vision Pro headset and 15-inch M2 MacBook Air — is that Siri is actually getting quite the update as well. It’s getting more advanced abilities and losing the “Hey” when requesting voice commands.

Here’s what you need to know.

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You’ll no longer have to say “Hey Siri” — it’s just “Siri”

Apple is simplifying the way to use voice commands. You’ll no longer have to say “Hey Siri” to activate Siri — you’ll simply have to say “Siri.” This updated way of interacting with Siri will switch by default on iOS 17 (as well as on the updated operating systems for iPad, Macs and other Apple devices). If don’t like this change and you want the trigger phrase to still be “Hey Siri” instead of “Siri,” you’ll be able to switch it back via the Settings app.

You’ll be able to make back-to-back requests without saying “Siri” again

For the first time, you’ll be able to ask Siri multiple questions without needing to say “Siri” for each new request. For instance, you’ll be able to say “Siri, what’s the weather?” followed by “turn on my light,” and the voice assistant will be able to process both of those commands. This ability to handle back-to-back or multiple requests with a single voice command will be new to Apple devices this fall, although it is something that both Alexa and Google Assistant have been able to do for some time.

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Siri will be able to set multiple timers at once

Yes, it’s taken way longer than it should have, but iOS 17 will deliver a highly-requested feature: the ability to set multiple timers at once. You’ll be able set timers with the Clock app or use Siri; you’ll just have to say “Siri, start a new timer” while an existing timer is running. You’ll also be able to label individual timers. And you’ll be able to see all the timers you have running on your iPhone’s Lock Screen.

Siri will be able to help locate your lost Apple TV remote

If you constantly misplace your Apple TV’s remote, there’s good news: Apple will make it easier to find it. When the new software updates roll out this fall, your Apple TV remote is going to gain Find My support so, similar to an AirTag, you’ll be able to use the Find My app to locate the remote. You’ll also be able to use Siri voice commands to find the remote, although details as to how exactly this will work are a bit unclear at the moment. It could be a Siri command will just open the Find My app or perhaps it’ll initiate a beeping sound on the remote to help you find it.

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You’ll get visual Siri results when your iPhone is in Standby mode

Standby mode is a new feature coming with iOS 17 that effectively turns your iPhone into a smart display, smart alarm clock or digital picture frame. It will require connecting to a wired or wireless charging stand and positioning your iPhone horizontally. When in Standby mode, your iPhone will display more information for apps and be more of a “full-screen” experience. There will be customizable clock faces, too, where you can choose which widgets are displayed. Regarding Siri, Standby mode promises to provide a more visual experience. When you give a “Siri” command, the results will appear on the screen and be optimized for Standby mode.

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