If you’ve updated your Apple TV to the tvOS 17.2 beta, you may have issues with your voice search not working in text fields. Instead, holding the Mic button will trigger Siri, leaving you stuck manually entering search text. Fortunately, there’s a fix for this issue that takes no effort.
How to fix voice search not working on Apple TV 17.2 beta
It might seem like voice search is broken in the Apple TV tvOS 17.2 beta. When the prompt to hold down the Mic button appears in search fields, it just brings Siri up, which is not the intended effect. So, what’s the deal?
The problem is Apple changed the way you activate dictation in text fields in tvOS 17.2. Unfortunately, the text prompt didn’t get fixed in the beta release. So, while it still tells you to hold the mic button to access voice search, those instructions are incorrect.
As of tvOS 17.2, you now press the mic button to activate voice search instead of holding it. So, when the text field is selected in any app, and it prompts you to hold the button, just tap it instead. At that point, it should work as expected.
While this change is frustrating now, it improves the user experience by streamlining voice search functionality. You’ll use voice search more often than Siri, so activating it with just a tap is a more intuitive method of operation. Also, keep in mind that beta versions are for testing and feedback, so encountering such issues is not uncommon. So, if you want to avoid running into similar problems in the future, make sure to unenroll from Apple’s beta program.
If you experience other problems or have suggestions, be sure to provide feedback to Apple. This way, you can contribute to refining the final release of tvOS 17.2, ensuring a smoother and more user-friendly experience for everyone.
