Siri not working with HomeKit when phone is locked.

Hello MacCool49,

Thanks for that info.

Check if you can change your settings to allow Siri on the Lock Screen: Control Access to Information on the iPhone Lock Screen

If that doesn't help, and this is the only accessory with an issue, it's possible the developer has set this so others can't use your phone and accidentally/ or nefariously. open your garage.

Check with the Developer if there is a setting to change: Contact a third-party vendor - Apple Support

Thanks.

Hi MacCool49,

Thanks for posting in Apple Support Communities.

We understand your iPhone needs to be unlocked before you can use HomeKit to open your garage. To address this behavior, go to Settings > Face ID& Passcode. Scroll down to Allow Access When Locked and turn on the buttons for Siri and Home Control.

Also, make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest version in Settings. This will ensure performance enhancements are installed.

Regards.

This seems to be a security issue on the part of Apple. A geofence automation or Siri will not unlock a door or open a garage door without first unlocking the iPhone. Presumably the concern is if someone has your iPhone without your permission they could unlock you door without your knowledge by entering the geofence area or asking Siri (if it’s configured to allow that from the Lock Screen).

If that’s not a concern you can do what I did (got the idea from a Reddit thread). I set aside a power outlet plugged into a rarely used socket and made an automation for when “An accessory is controlled” to lock the door when the outlet is powered on and unlock the door when the outlet is powered off. I labeled the outlet “DoorLock”

For Siri to unlock the door I say “Turn DoorLock Off” and vice versa to lock. The geofence automation turns the outlet on and off as needed, activating the door lock.

In addition to those automations you need to keep the outlet in sync for when the door lock/garage door are operated manually. I created two more automations for when “accessory is controlled”. When the door is unlocked manually it sets DoorLock to off, regardless of its state.. Manually locking the door turns DoorLock on.

The same thing happens to me. I am also using Meross with HomeKit.

It close the garage door fine but always ask to unlock the phone when try to open Garage with siri by voice.

Same issue here. Works well with the watch, but not if I speak to Siri in the phone via Airpods. Pretty sure it worked before, but it changed recently.

Just found this: this will hopefully solve it. Didn’t try yet.

https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeKit/comments/werc6v/is_there_a_deviceconfiguration_that_would_allow/