Why is Siri unable to play Playlists on iOS 17.5?

Same behavior here with 17.6. Siri can once again play playlists on the iPhone directly. However, Siri fails (“Looks like Apple Music can’t play that.”) when trying to play the same playlist when using Siri and CarPlay.

I am having the same problem, what will it take for Apple to finally fix this issue? The latest update IOS 17.7 did not fix it and from other posts iOS 18 still does not fix it either. I have no intention to signing up for Apple Music since I prefer purchase my music.

I am also having this problem after updating to iOS 18.2. I asked Siri to play two different playlists containing music I purchased from Apple. Instead, each time it played the same song, which does not appear in either playlist. I deleted the song from my library and made the request again. This time, Siri played a video. Wondering if Apple is ever going to fix this bug.

I have the same problem. I'm running iOS 18.2 on my iPhone 15 pro max and when I ask Siri to play my playlist on CarPlay, a random song from my library is played. It only happens when I'm connected to CarPlay on my 2024 Honda CR-V. When I'm not connected to CarPlay Siri plays the requested playlist perfectly. Dealer says this is an Apple iOS problem. Is there no fix for this issue?

I updated my iPhone 12 from 17.6 to 17.7, and the issue persists if you ask the following:

1. When connected to Apple CarPlay in a 2019 Chevrolet Camaro, Command "play playlist", Siri "What playlist do you want to play?", Command "(List Name)", Siri "Sorry it looks like Apple Music Can't Play That" or "I don't Understand."
2. Command "play playlist (List NAME)", Siri "Sorry it looks like Apple Music Can't Play That" or "I don't Understand."
3. Command "play playlist (List NAME) shuffled", Siri "Sorry it looks like Apple Music Can't Play That" or "I don't Understand."

It doesn't appear that "shuffle" is part of the bug, since the issue occurs with or without the shuffle command. Once out of approximately 30 times, a playlist did play, but I couldn't replicate it "working" again.

The commands above work normally when the Iphone is not in Carplay mode.

I have a Toyota and I'm experiencing the same thing with this bug. Just tried it today with CarPlay after updating to iOS 17.6 and it's not fixed. Very frustrating.

Yeah, and Apple moved all their engineers from the Apple Car project to iPhone software development. Unbelievable that they can't fix this 4 month old software bug.

The same error persists after upgrading from 17.7 to 18.0 on iPhone 12.

Same issue here. Siri and personal libraries are so unreliable and untested and buggy — have had many similar issues in the past, now struggling with this.

Not holding my breath for resolution, it can takes 6 months or a year to get a fix even after doing advanced logging and escalation with customer support.

I am specifically getting this issue with CarPlay, but I can get music to play from my Apple Watch when connected to CarPlay.

Just received a so-called “update” from Apple (June 28). Another email, closely parroting what was written one month ago. Compare Apple’s latest response (below) to what I received on May 27 (elsewhere in this discussion):

“Thanks for contacting us.  I received your email. So far I there hasn’t been been any further updates about your case. Per the advice of our escalations team. This case has been filed as a bug report for further review. This process could take days, weeks or even months before another response is received.”

The advice from our escalations team is for you to ensure that you keep your iPhone 15 Pro software up to date. As the response from engineering can come as additional troubleshooting steps to complete, a software update or a new article with instructions on how to proceed to resolve the Siri unexpected behavior.”

Meanwhile, we have compromised iPhones that can’t perform hands-free functions that are important to us while driving and in other scenarios.

Still waiting …

At the very least, if Apple is not going to fix this bug, they should give us a way to opt out of not being able to select playlists on our car's screen while driving. I don't need Apple to be my nanny. Using the touchscreen while driving doesn't seem safe, but it seems more safe than having to pick up our phones and select a playlist there.

Well, the playlist problem was finally fixed for me and then I made the mistake of buying a new iPhone and iOS 18 and the playlist problem is back again. Siri says looks like Apple Music can’t play that.

On top of that all the other little commands I used to give Siri and she understood what I was asking no longer work, such as if I just say, Siri flashlight, she knew to toggle the flashlight state, or Siri airplane mode she knew to toggle airplane mode. No more.

There is no way I am ever doing this. I have zero confidence in Apple Music being able to correctly match the exact various versions of songs in my carefully curated library with whatever is in their Match database. There's no going back once you've done this. Nope.

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

From my observations 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!!

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!!