If buying a wand from Ollivanders seems like a flight of fancy, here’s a surprise: you can now bring the enchanting and awe-striking magic of “Harry Potter” into your everyday life, thanks to Siri on your iPhone.
Mastering the Sorcery: The tech giant, Apple, has woven a spell into Siri that lets users cast Harry Potter spells to control their iPhones with the wave of a virtual wand (or a spoken command, in this case).
To embark on your mystical journey, you need to know three enchantments tucked into Siri’s arsenal: Lumos, Nox, and Accio. While the selection may seem modest, these incantations offer a delightful glimpse into the wizarding universe and bestow you with the power to manipulate specific features of your device.
If you’re keen to delve deeper into the magical realm, you can utilize the Shortcuts app to create your own whimsical commands, taking your sorcery a step further.
Enabling Siri’s Assistance:
Firstly, ensure that the “Hey Siri” feature is activated on your iPhone. Navigate to Settings, then head to Siri & Search, and flip the switch for Listen for “Hey Siri.” You can also enable Allow Siri When Locked for certain commands to function even when your iPhone is locked.
Users have the liberty to customize the long-press shortcut by going to Settings, then Accessibility, and tapping on Siri. For those who prefer a more discreet approach, you can change the long-press shortcut to Type to Siri.
Now, let’s shine a light on each spell and how to cast it:
Lumos: Say “Hey Siri, Lumos” to illuminate your surroundings with your iPhone’s torch at your beck and call.
By the same token, you can douse the torch by casting the Nox spell. Simply say “Hey Siri, Nox” to extinguish the light and plunge back into darkness.
Accio: This spell lets you open an app of your choice with a simple command. Say, “Hey Siri, Accio Instagram” to see Siri promptly launch the app, inviting you to pore over your favorite reels.
It’s important to note that while Siri may not wield authentic magic, these spells can surely trick your mind into believing you are a bona fide witch or wizard in the enchanting world of Harry Potter.
