In iOS 13.2, Apple has integrated some new features in the area of Siri and data protection - we'll show you how to delete the Siri and dictation history on iPhone, iPad and HomePod and manage the Siri data protection settings on all three devices.
At the beginning of the year, the British Guardian revealed Apple's approach to improving Siri. The company commissioned companies to evaluate anonymized Siri recordings in order to improve the virtual voice assistant. However, this was not officially communicated, which is why Apple came under pressure and had to act. In response, Cupertino integrated new options in iOS 13.2. Users can now decide for themselves whether or not the audio recordings can be shared with Apple for analysis purposes. They can also delete the entire Siri and dictation history from their devices - at any time of the day or night. We'll show you how it all works below.
How to enable / disable sharing of audio recordings with Apple on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
As described above, Apple leaves it up to the user to decide whether or not to share audio recordings with Apple. The "Improve Siri & Dictation" option can be found in the iOS settings under "Privacy" in the "Analytics & Improvements" section. The option states:
Help improve Siri and Dictation by allowing Apple to store and analyze audio recordings of your interactions with Siri and Dictation from this device.
Apple explains the procedure in a further link. The data is analyzed anonymously by Apple itself and is not passed on to third parties. The decision as to whether you want to participate in the improvement is therefore entirely up to you.
How to delete Siri and dictation history on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
In addition to the opportunity to help, Apple offers every user the option to manage previously recorded data. This data is stored on Apple's servers for each individual device. If you want to delete these recordings from Apple's servers, you must open the "Siri & Search" section of the iOS settings and then tap the "Siri & Dictation History" menu item. All data can be deleted there. Important: This command must also be confirmed.
How to enable / disable sharing of audio recordings with Apple on your HomePod
The privacy settings relating to audio recordings on the HomePod can of course also be managed. To access the HomePod settings, you have to open the Home app and press and hold the respective Siri speaker. A new window should now open. You will find a small gear in the bottom right - please tap it.
Next, navigate further down to the "Analytics & Improvements" section. Now you can enable or disable the "Improve Siri & Dictation" option. Please note: If you're using two HomePods as a stereo pair, you'll need to open the "Speakers" menu item and press and hold the single HomePod. You can now control the "Improve Siri & Dictation" function via "Analytics & Improvements." Please keep in mind that you'll need to perform these steps for each HomePod separately.
How to clear Siri history on your HomePod
To delete your entire Siri history, open the Home app and hold down the respective Siri speaker until a new window with the gear icon appears in the bottom right. You'll then find the "Siri History" menu item further down. You can now delete all recordings from Apple's servers. Note: If you're using two HomePods as a stereo pair, you'll first need to ungroup them before deleting the recordings. Whether you want to contribute to the future development of Siri is, of course, up to you. Apple's promise to handle sensitive data with care should be taken seriously. Please keep in mind that to perform the above steps, you need iOS 13.2 or later on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and HomePod. (Photo by leungchopan / Bigstockphot)
