How to enable Hey Siri on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Hey Siri is Apple's voice assistant, and you turn it on in your device settings. On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, then Siri & Search, and toggle on "Listen for 'Hey Siri'". On a Mac, open System Settings, click Siri & Spotlight, and check the box next to "Enable Ask Siri". Once enabled, you can say "Hey Siri" followed by a command — like "Hey Siri, what's the weather?" — and Siri will respond.
The exact steps depend on which device you're using and which version of its operating system you have. The process is straightforward on all of them, but the menu names and locations shift slightly between iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone and iPad, open Settings, go to Siri & Search, and turn on "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" to activate voice commands.
- On Mac, open System Settings, click Siri & Spotlight, and check "Enable Ask Siri" to use the feature.
- Your device learns to recognize your voice over time, so Siri works best when you speak naturally and clearly.
- You can customize which apps Siri can control and what information it can access in the same settings menu.
Step-by-step setup for iPhone and iPad
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap Siri & Search. You'll see several options here: the first one is "Listen for 'Hey Siri'". Tap the toggle switch next to it to turn it on. A prompt will appear asking you to set up voice recognition — follow the on-screen instructions to say "Hey Siri" a few times so your device learns your voice.
After you complete the voice setup, you're done. Your device is now listening for "Hey Siri" whenever the screen is on or when it's plugged in and charging. If you want Siri to work only when your phone is unlocked, or only when it's plugged in, you can adjust that in the same menu under "Allow Siri When Locked".
Step-by-step setup for Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. In the sidebar, click Siri & Spotlight. You'll see a checkbox next to "Enable Ask Siri" — click it to turn the feature on. Your Mac will then ask you to say "Hey Siri" a few times to learn your voice pattern.
Once setup is complete, you can summon Siri by saying "Hey Siri" or by clicking the Siri icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Unlike on iPhone, your Mac doesn't need to be plugged in or in any particular state — it listens for the wake phrase whenever it's awake.
What Hey Siri can and cannot do
Hey Siri can handle a wide range of tasks: setting timers and reminders, checking weather and news, sending messages, making calls, controlling smart home devices, playing music, opening apps, and answering general questions. You can also use it to search the web, get directions, and check your calendar.
Siri cannot do things that require you to see the screen and make a choice — like selecting which contact to call if multiple people have the same name, or choosing which email account to send from. In those cases, Siri will ask you to clarify on your device. Siri also cannot perform actions that require your device to be unlocked if you've set it to work only when locked.
Customizing Siri's permissions and behavior
In the Siri & Search settings menu, you can control which apps Siri can access. Scroll through the list of apps and toggle each one on or off depending on whether you want Siri to interact with it. For example, you might turn off Siri access to your banking app for security reasons, or turn off access to your calendar if you share a device with others.
You can also change the language Siri uses, the voice it speaks in (male, female, or non-binary options depending on your language), and whether it gives spoken responses or just shows text on screen. On iPhone and iPad, look for "Siri Voice" in the same menu. On Mac, these options are in System Settings under Siri & Spotlight as well.
Troubleshooting when Hey Siri isn't responding
If Hey Siri isn't waking up when you say the phrase, first check that "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" is actually turned on in your settings — it's easy to accidentally disable it. Next, make sure your device's microphone is working by testing it in another app, like Voice Memos or a video call. If the microphone works elsewhere but not with Siri, try turning the setting off and back on again.
If Siri still doesn't respond, restart your device. On iPhone and iPad, hold down the power button and slide to power off, then turn it back on. On Mac, click the Apple menu and select Restart. If you've recently updated your operating system, give your device a full restart even if it seemed to restart during the update — sometimes Siri needs that extra cycle to work properly.
If your device is very old or running an older version of its operating system, Hey Siri may not be available. iPhone 6s and newer support Hey Siri, as do iPad Pro (all models), iPad (5th generation and newer), iPad mini 4 and newer, and iPad Air 2 and newer. On Mac, you need macOS Sierra or later.
Privacy and what Siri records
When you say "Hey Siri", your device wakes up and begins recording audio. That audio is sent to Apple's servers to process your request. Apple says it does not store your audio recordings or use them to build a profile of you, but the audio does travel over the internet to be processed. If privacy is a concern, you can disable Hey Siri and use Siri only by pressing and holding a button instead — this way you control exactly when Siri is listening.
To use Siri without the "Hey Siri" wake phrase, go back to Siri & Search settings and turn off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'". You'll still be able to activate Siri by pressing the home button (on older iPhones), the side button (on newer iPhones), or by clicking the Siri icon on your Mac. This method means Siri only listens when you deliberately trigger it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Hey Siri if my device is locked?
Yes, but only if you allow it in settings. On iPhone and iPad, go to Siri & Search and toggle on "Allow Siri When Locked". This means you can say "Hey Siri" even if your phone is in your pocket or on a table. You can turn this off if you prefer Siri to work only when your device is unlocked.
Does Hey Siri work if my device is in silent mode?
Yes. Silent mode only mutes sounds and vibrations — it doesn't affect Siri's ability to listen or respond. Siri will still hear "Hey Siri" and will still give you spoken responses unless you've turned off spoken feedback in the settings.
Can multiple people use Hey Siri on the same device?
Hey Siri learns to recognize your voice, so it works best when one person uses it regularly. If multiple people share a device, each person can say "Hey Siri", but the device may respond more reliably to the person whose voice it learned during setup. You can re-train it by going back to Siri & Search and selecting "Delete Voice Data", then setting it up again.
What should I do if Siri keeps mishearing me?
Speak clearly and at a normal pace — Siri works better with natural speech than with slow or exaggerated pronunciation. If you're in a noisy environment, move to a quieter spot. You can also retrain Siri's voice recognition by going to Siri & Search, tapping "Delete Voice Data", and running the setup process again.
Can I turn off Hey Siri but keep using Siri another way?
Yes. Turn off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" in your settings, and you'll still be able to use Siri by pressing a button — the home button on older iPhones, the side button on newer ones, or the Siri icon on Mac. This gives you full control over when Siri is listening.