IOS 14.5 allows you to set Spotify and others as Siri’s default music service

It looks like iOS 14.5 will be packed with features, including the ability to use your Apple Watch to unlock an iPhone with facial ID while you wear a mask and support for next-generation console controllers. But users who have already installed the beta have discovered another great feature: you’ll be able to select a standard third-party music service when you ask to play a song using Siri – including Spotify (via MacRumors)

When you ask Siri to play a song on iOS 14.5, you may be asked to select which app you want to use to play it, according to a screenshot shared on Reddit.

Image: u / matejamm1 on Reddit

I’m on iOS 14.5 beta, but interestingly, the feature worked a little differently for me. I asked Siri to play some Tame Impala, and I was not presented with a list of apps to choose from, as in the image above. Instead, a prompt was displayed requesting access to my Spotify data, which I allowed. After that, music requests went through Spotify without any request.

Other Reddit users have reported some differences in the behavior of the feature as well, so there may still be some issues for Apple to resolve before the public release of iOS 14.5. Since this feature is still in beta, there is always a chance that it will be changed or removed before the release of iOS 14.5.

The ability to set a default music app follows Apple’s welcome move to allow users to set their default email or browser clients from iOS 14. You can set default email or browser apps on settings, but I haven’t found a way to set a default music app in the settings. Perhaps Apple will add that in the future. Still, having the option to set a default music player for Siri requests in this beta is a good step forward. We hope that Apple will allow users to set more standards in future updates.