It rarely happens that Apple adds options to iOS that allow you to set the app you actually want to use by default, rather than forcing you to use the official Apple app. And while I doubt you’ll ever be able to use anything other than the App Store to get new software on your iPhone (without jailbreaking it), you can at least soon choose which app you want to use to play it. music by default.
This much-discussed feature is expected to be part of iOS 14.5, but there was a bit of a rocky development in the development: the option appeared in the beta, left in a next update, and is now back again. However, this is normal – and now that it’s back, I’m confident it will appear in the final version of iOS 14.5, whenever it arrives.
If you want to explore this setting now, you need to go through the usual process of installing the iOS 14.5 developer beta (version 3, as of this writing). It is not hard to do, but as always, I’ll remind you that installing a beta operating system carries the risk of slowing down your phone, making some apps tired, or causing some other bizarre issues that only occur later in the beta (or with the final version).
There is no setting you can tap to change your default music player, which is a strange omission. I hope Apple adds the shipping version of iOS 14.5. Instead, ask Siri to play music, such as requesting a song from your favorite band. If you do – and if you have several music apps installed on your device, you will be prompted to select one as your default.
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Though now you only get one chance at this. Whatever you choose word the standard for your future ‘Hey Siri’ commands, and it takes some twis around the fast to load again if you change of plan. (Again it would be much easier to has it as an option somewhere in Settings> Music, but what do I know?)
That said, if you still want to play music from different services or apps installed on your device, just add the name of the service to your request, and Siri will obey. For example, you could say, “Play Nine Inch Nails“On listen via the default service you have previously selected. Or you can says “Play Nine Inch Nails on Spotify” to start the music on the app instead.
It is a true awkward way to a standard music player on iOS but this is how things go (for now). We will update this article if, or when, the steps change in a next beta.