How to switch Siri to a different voice right now
You can change Siri's voice on your iPhone in the Settings app without restarting your phone or losing any data. Open Settings, tap Siri & Search, then Siri Voice, and pick a new voice from the list. The change takes effect immediately — the next time you use Siri, you'll hear the new voice.
Apple offers multiple voices for English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, and other languages. Each voice has a different accent and tone. You can test any voice before you commit to it by tapping the play button next to its name.
Key Takeaways
- Siri voice changes happen in Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice, and you can switch back anytime.
- You can preview any voice before selecting it by tapping the play icon next to the voice name.
- Different voices are available depending on which language you have set for Siri — English offers the most options.
- Changing Siri's voice does not affect voice commands, dictation, or any other iPhone settings.
Step-by-step: changing Siri's voice
Step 1: Open Settings. Tap the gray gear icon on your home screen or in your app library. This opens your iPhone's main settings menu.
Step 2: Go to Siri & Search. Scroll down and tap Siri & Search. You'll see options for how Siri behaves and responds.
Step 3: Tap Siri Voice. This is the third option in the Siri & Search menu. You'll see a list of available voices with a play button next to each one.
Step 4: Listen to a voice (optional). Tap the play button next to any voice to hear a sample. Siri will say a short phrase so you can hear the accent and tone.
Step 5: Select your new voice. Tap the voice you want. A checkmark appears next to your selection. You're done — Siri now uses that voice.
What voices are available on your iPhone
The voices you see depend on which language Siri is set to use. If Siri is set to English, you'll see options like American, British, Australian, Indian, Irish, and South African accents. Each accent has both a male and female voice option in most cases.
If you want to use a voice in a different language, you'll need to change Siri's language first. Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Language and pick a new language. Then return to Siri Voice to see the voices available for that language. Keep in mind that changing Siri's language also changes the language Siri uses to respond to your commands.
Some voices on newer iPhones (iPhone XS and later) use a technology called Neural Voices, which sound more natural and expressive than older voices. If you have an older iPhone, you may see fewer voice options.
Why you might want to change Siri's voice
Some people find a different accent easier to understand, especially if English is not their first language. Others simply prefer the tone or personality of a different voice. A few users switch voices because they find the default voice distracting or annoying after hearing it many times a day.
Changing Siri's voice is purely a preference — it doesn't change how Siri understands your commands or how fast it responds. You can switch back to the original voice anytime by following the same steps.
Troubleshooting: Siri voice won't change
If you select a new voice but Siri still uses the old one, restart your iPhone. Hold down the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to turn off. Wait a few seconds, then hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears. This usually fixes the issue.
If restarting doesn't work, check that you have enough storage space on your iPhone. Some voices require a download, and if your iPhone is nearly full, the download may fail silently. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to see how much space you have left. If you're below 1 GB free, delete some apps or photos and try again.
If Siri Voice is grayed out and you can't tap it, make sure Siri is turned on. Go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle Listen for "Hey Siri" on. If it's already on, toggle it off and back on again.
Using Siri with your new voice
Once you've changed Siri's voice, you don't need to do anything else. Siri will use the new voice for all responses — whether you activate Siri by saying "Hey Siri," pressing and holding the home button, or tapping the microphone icon in an app.
The voice change also applies to Siri on your other Apple devices if you use the same iCloud account. If you have an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch signed in with the same Apple ID, they'll all switch to the new voice automatically within a few minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use different Siri voices on different devices?
Yes. Each device has its own Siri settings. Change the voice on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac independently by going to that device's Settings and following the same steps. They won't affect each other unless you want them to.
Will changing Siri's voice affect voice dictation or voice memos?
No. Siri's voice is separate from dictation and voice memos. Changing Siri's voice only changes how Siri speaks to you when responding to commands. Dictation still types what you say, and voice memos still record your voice as-is.
What if I want Siri to speak in a language I don't have set as my iPhone's main language?
Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Language and change Siri's language to the one you want. Siri will then respond to commands in that language and use voices available for that language. Your iPhone's main language stays the same.
Do all iPhone models have the same Siri voices?
Newer iPhones (XS and later) have more voice options, including Neural Voices that sound more natural. Older iPhones have fewer choices. If you have an older model, you may see fewer accents or voice options available.
Can I make Siri silent instead of changing the voice?
You can lower Siri's volume by using your iPhone's volume buttons when Siri is speaking, but you can't turn off Siri's voice entirely through settings. If you want Siri to be silent, you can enable Type to Siri in Settings > Accessibility > Siri, which lets you type commands instead of speaking them.