Siri and iOS 16 - all you need to know

When will iOS 16 be announced?

iOS 16 was revealed at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on 6th June 2022.

Based on previous years launch dates, a free public beta will probably arrive in July, allowing users to test out new features and Apple to squash bugs before the updates is released to the general public.

To try out a beta version of iOS, sign up for Apple's Beta Software Program. We don't recommended testing out a beta version on your primary device, though. Early versions of iOS can contain bugs that have the potential to disrupt usage of a device, and even corrupt your data.

When will iOS 16 be released?

iOS 16 will most likely launch in September 2022 It will be available to download in its various versions for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.

New Siri features

iOS 16 hasn't seen many major changes to Siri, but there have been a few useful updates.

Hang up

If you're on a hands-free call, you can now ask ‌Siri‌ to hang up for you. Just say:

Hey ‌Siri‌, hang up

Be aware that the person at the end of the line will be able to hear you, so take care if you want to avoid awkward social situations! This feature is supported when both making phone-calls and usingFaceTime.

Insert emoji‌

Siri‌ can insert emoji into texts when you're using ‌Siri‌ to send a message, and ‌Siri‌ is also now able to automatically send messages so you don't need to verbally confirm.

Shortcuts

In iOS 16 Siri‌ is now able to run shortcuts as soon as an app is downloaded, with no setup required.

Ask Siri for help

If you want to know more about what ‌Siri‌ can do on your device and in installed apps, just say:

Hey ‌Siri‌, what can I do here?

You can also ask about a specific app, such as

Hey ‌Siri‌, what can I do with Maps?

Additional offline support

Siri‌ can do more without needing to be connected to the internet to contact Apple's servers. ‌It's now possible to use HomeKit, intercom, and voicemail requests offline in ‌iOS 16‌.