iOS 18.1 Beta 3 for iPhone 16 and 16 Pro: Siri issues affecting some users

Top 3 Key Points:

1. iOS 18.1 Beta 3 supports iPhone 16 and 16 Pro but is currently only available to developers.
2. Siri is malfunctioning for some users on the iOS 18.1 beta due to incomplete Apple Intelligence downloads.
3. A public fix for the Siri issue is uncertain, pending either a server update or a new beta release.

Apple is preparing to release the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, with preorders opening tomorrow, and the devices will hit stores on September 20th. To complement these new devices, Apple is also rolling out iOS 18.1 beta 3, a software update designed to enhance the performance and features of the iPhone 16 series.

This beta version, which carries the build number 22B5034o, has been in development since late August. Initially, it will be available only to registered developers, with a public release expected in October. The highlight of this update is the introduction of Apple Intelligence—an advanced AI feature set that Apple is pushing as a major selling point for their new iPhones. However, these AI capabilities will not be available right away but will be part of the iOS 18.1 public release later on.

Apple will release iOS 18.0 to the general public next week, while iOS 18.1 remains in beta testing. Although the focus is on its AI capabilities, some users have reported issues with Siri on the latest beta.

Siri Malfunction in iOS 18.1 Beta

Many beta users have taken to social media, sharing that Siri is not working on iPhones and iPads running iOS 18.1 beta 3. When users try to access Siri, they see messages like “Siri is not available” or “Connect to Wi-Fi to complete Siri download.” The Siri settings suggest the system is trying to download updated models for Apple Intelligence, but this download never completes, leaving Siri unusable.

While not all users are affected, those who encounter the issue report that rebooting their devices does not fix the problem. Macs running macOS 15.1 beta seem unaffected, which indicates the issue may be specific to iOS devices.

The issue likely stems from a faulty update to Apple’s language models in this beta version. Whether Apple will resolve this problem with a server-side update or by releasing a new beta is still unknown. Beta testers should remember that such bugs are common during testing, and features may not always work as expected.