When you install Apple’s iOS 15.4 update, after it becomes widely available, you may be surprised to see that your iPhone will ask you to allow Siri and Dictation to record your voice—even if you previously had the setting turned off.
That’s because of a bug in iOS 15 that may have changed your Siri and Dictation settings without your knowledge. But there’s an easy way to fix this, so continue reading to find out how.
An iOS 15 Bug Enabled Siri Recording for All Users
Participants in Apple’s iOS beta program tests have confirmed that the upcoming iOS 15.4 update asks them to consent to let Siri and Dictation record their voices.
While Apple protects your privacy in some ways, iOS 15 has unfortunately compromised the privacy of some users by unknowingly changing their Siri and Dictation settings to allow Apple to make recordings, even though these users had previously switched the feature off. This is all thanks to a bug in iOS 15.
And now Apple is finally fixing this bug in its next iOS update, in which your iPhone will again ask you whether you want to opt in to let Siri and Dictation record your voice.
Related: Why You Need to Install iOS 15.3 Right Now
Why Is Siri Asking to Record My Voice Again?
Even though iOS users have the option to opt out of Siri and Dictation’s ability to record their voices, this bug meant that Apple had been recording the voices of users regardless of whether they opted out or not. This rightfully raises concerns about users’ privacy.
Of course, you may be wondering how and why this could ever happen. Apple shed a little light on the situation when offering an update in a statement to ZDNet:
With iOS 15.2, we turned off the Improve Siri & Dictation setting for many Siri users while we fixed a bug introduced with iOS 15. This bug inadvertently enabled the setting for a small portion of devices. Since identifying the bug, we stopped reviewing and are deleting audio received from all affected devices.
In the statement, Apple acknowledges the presence of the bug on iPhones that erroneously enables the Improve Siri and Dictation setting for users who had opted out. The company assures users that it is working to erase all the errant recordings it generated as a result.
Apple’s solution to fixing this error is by making your iPhone ask you again if you want to opt in or out of the Improve Siri and Dictation feature in its upcoming iOS 15.4 update, to give you a new opportunity to turn this setting off should you not want your voice to be recorded.
Related: How to Automatically or Manually Update the Apps on Your iPhone
Think of it as a reset of this feature, in which Apple is rectifying the bug that may have changed your settings without your consent.
When it comes to data sharing your iPhone, there are a few cases in which iOS can share your data with Apple. In these instances, Apple collects and stores your metadata (data about the data) from those apps. However, your iPhone recording you without your consent and sharing that data with Apple is a serious privacy issue, which is why Apple is fixing the bug with its next iOS update.
You can learn about what data Apple collects from your data by submitting a request form on Apple’s Data & Privacy page.
How to Fix the Siri and Dictation Bug on Your iPhone
If you are concerned about your voice being recorded due to the bug in iOS 15, make sure that you manually disable the setting on your iPhone. To do so, go to Settings > Privacy > Analytics & Improvements and disable the Share iPhone Analytics option, or just the Improve Siri & Dictation option.
You will also need to update to iOS 15.4 as soon as it made available, and opt out of Siri and Dictation so that your voice will not be recorded in the future.
