Why is Siri unable to play music from my Apple Music library?

Just wanted to reply so it is on the record. Siri won’t playback locally stored music when I request playlists or genres. I use Siri in Spanish so it’s definitely a backend/code issue. I also sent feedback through the macOS tool. Hopefully this is restored down the line. It was a great party trick…

I too thought iOS 17.6 had fixed it initially as all playlists now work with Siri. Unfortunately the location that I actually need the Siri voice control is in the car on Apple Carplay as it is illegal to choose and change music unless by voice control. Now I find myself in the frustrating position that I can voice control any of my playlists again in situations where I can just as easily do it manually but in the car where I need it, all playlist still report back as "It looks like Apple Music can't do that right now".

How long to wait now until that ongoing issue is still to be fixed?

This is a work around for those with Apple Watch or iTunes Match Subscription.

From my observation Siri on CarPlay will only search the Apple Music Subscription for the playlist.

1. Apple Watch: For those with Apple Watch, this method bypass the Siri interface via CarPlay, simply raise the watch to your lips and say: “Hey Siri, play playlist x” and Siri will play flawlessly. Just have to make sure the “‘’Listen for “Siri” or “Hey Siri”’’ is activated on your watch. Search the web, if you don’t know how to do this;

2. iTunes Match Subscription: This is a more complicated work around and make sure you do this on WiFi; or else, the iPhone will gobble up your mobile data.:

• On your Mac or PC, on your iTunes app, Goto the “Settings” select “Sync Library”, then, “OK”. Following that - Click “File” - “Library” - “update Cloud Library”. This takes a while to complete.;
• Delete your music library from your iPhone :- Goto “Settings” - “General” - “iPhone Storage” - “Music”; then, scroll down to the middle of the page for ”Edit“, next to “All Songs” click on the red circle with “-“. Wait for a few minutes for the iPhone to delete all songs from the device.
• Goto “Settings” - “Music” - “Sync Library” toggle that option on.
• Open the Music app, from here you’ll find all your music library and playlist. At this point, the music library is stored online. Select the playlist that you use most often, you will find “+” on top of the screen, next to the name of your playlist. Click on the “+” sign to download the songs onto your device.

So, bear in mind, other then the playlist you have downloaded, the rest of the songs reside online, should you play all music while using CarPlay, you are using Mobile Data. Download as many playlist as you want and only ask Siri to play playlist.

From now on, until Apple Developers fix the Siri on CarPlay playlist search parameter, do not connect your device to your Mac or PC. Any music from iTunes to the devices will render playlist unworkable again.

Good Luck!!

The same thing, but I thought it was 17.5.1 because they came out a week apart. The latest update obviously didn’t fix it.

Going to take another update to fix it.

I just upgraded my iPhone 14 Pro to iOS 17.6, and it is still not working for me.

Correction/Edit

It’s still broken when using CarPlay. If I’m not using CarPlay it works fine as of 17.6.

With 17.6 on my iPhone 14 Pro:

-- Some playlists now work some do not, on my phone. Seems random.

-- None of the playlists work with CarPlay.

-- No updates or improvements on MacOS.

17.6 did not fix the problem for me. iPhone 15 Pro Max 1 TB running 17.6.1 and I still have this issue.

Add me to the list of people still unable to get Siri to play my playlists in the car after 17.6.1. Kinda defeats the purpose of a voice activated assistant somewhat, no? Hope Apple fixes this soon!

My guess is that they’re hoping that 18.1 which launches next month and reportedly has the updated AI will solve this. Here’s hoping! 🫤

You guessed it; “UNABLE TO LOAD SHORTCUTS”

The Siri “Play A Playlist” works for older created playlists, but not for any recently created. It’s very odd how Siri seems to override your own commands with alternative execution.

With the recent iOS 17.6 update installed, the Siri playlist failure issue was resolved for me.

HOWEVER… I renamed each of my playlist names to a single unique name that was not at all similar to an Artist, Album or song within my library.

Siri now acknowledges all of my playlists by verbal request and plays their song content in the correct order.

I am having the same problem. I thought I had read that you needed to append your request with "on my iPhone", but that wasn't working. I just tried it with "from my library" as you suggested and it worked.

I can't wait for Apple to fix this. It's seriously annoying.

Only fixed when hand held as all playlists now work. When in the car, carplay gives the same message as before, "looks like Apple Music cannot play that right now". This is useless as it is only in the car that I actually need this feature.

Still need fixing for Carplay.