macformat.com @macformat JUNE 2019 | MACFORMAT | 53Siri Suggestions APPLE SKILLS
HOW TO Tailor Siri and Search to you
1
Siri is clever!
Siri’s on-device intelligence learns
from what you do with the apps on your
iOS device. It uses that info to suggest
things you might want to do based on
observations of past regular behaviours,
such as at a particular location or time.2
Rein things in
In Settings > Siri & Search, under Siri
Suggestions are three switches you can
turn off to prevent suggestions appearing
on: the Lock screen; in search results (at
the Home screen or Today view); and
when you select text and tap Look Up.3
App-specific choices
Lower down, tap an app to refine its
Siri integration. The first item enables
info from the app to appear in Search’s
results, Look Up, on the Lock screen, and
in keyboard’s suggestions. Turn it off if
you never want suggestions for this app.4
Consider your privacy
You might keep it turned on to
benefit from Siri’s suggestions, but turn
off the second (Allow on Lock Screen) for
privacy. That will prevent hints that you
use the app – and actions you take in it –
being seen by onlookers.5
Include an app at all?
If you do turn off the first switch,
the second becomes irrelevant anyway
and is replaced by Show App. Turn that
off if you want the app never to appear in
Search/Today view’s suggestions widget
and among search results when you type.6
Pre-empt Siri
You can set a Siri voice command
to carry out an action you perform often,
using a phrase of your choice. At the top
of Siri’s settings page, under Suggested
Shortcuts, are three actions Siri thinks
you might want to do this for.7
Explore commands
Tap one there, or tap All Shortcuts
to browse/search a longer list of actions
and tap one of those. On the next page,
tap the red record button – or tap Type
Phrase, if Type to Siri is turned on in
Settings > General > Accessibility > Siri.8
Say your phrase
Say the phrase you want to trigger
your action, then tap the red stop button.
Tap Done if Siri heard correctly, else try
again. You‘ll be taken to Settings > Siri &
Search > My Shortcuts. Use this list to
review/remove custom voice commands.9
Tr y it out
Call for Siri’s help however you
prefer – holding the side/Home button
or perhaps by saying “Hey Siri”, then
say the phrase you just assigned. Siri
will then coordinate with the relevant
app and get it to do what you asked.