Siri can be disabled in Settings, but the method depends on which button you use to activate it
You can turn off Siri on your iPhone by going to Settings, then Siri & Search, and toggling off the activation methods you don't want. The most common way people trigger Siri is by holding the side button (or home button on older iPhones), and you can disable that while leaving voice activation on, or turn off voice activation entirely. You can also disable Siri from appearing in search results and on your lock screen without fully disabling the feature.
The exact steps differ slightly depending on your iPhone model and iOS version, but the Settings app is where all Siri controls live. If you want Siri completely gone from your phone, you'll disable it in multiple places — not just one toggle.
Key Takeaways
- Open Settings, tap Siri & Search, and toggle off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" to stop voice activation.
- You can disable the side button (or home button) from launching Siri separately, even if you keep voice activation on.
- Siri can still appear in search results and on your lock screen even when disabled for voice and button activation — turn those off in the same menu if you want it completely hidden.
- Disabling Siri does not affect Shortcuts, voice control, or other accessibility features that use similar technology.
Disable voice activation ("Hey Siri")
The "Hey Siri" voice command is the most common way people accidentally trigger Siri. To turn it off, open Settings and tap Siri & Search. Look for the toggle next to "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" and switch it off. Your phone will no longer respond to the voice command.
If you have multiple Apple devices (iPad, Mac, Apple Watch), disabling "Hey Siri" on your iPhone does not affect those devices — each one has its own setting. You may also want to disable Siri on your lock screen at the same time, since that's where most accidental activations happen.
Disable the side button or home button from launching Siri
On newer iPhones (iPhone X and later), holding the side button launches Siri. On older models (iPhone 8 and earlier), it's the home button. To stop this, go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle off "Press Side Button for Siri" (or "Press Home for Siri" on older phones).
This is useful if you want to keep voice activation on but don't want to accidentally trigger Siri by holding the button too long. The side button will still work for other functions like powering off your phone or calling emergency services — disabling Siri just removes that specific action.
Hide Siri from your lock screen
Even with voice and button activation turned off, Siri can still appear when you swipe up on your lock screen. To remove it, go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle off "Show on Lock Screen." This prevents the Siri interface from appearing when you're on your lock screen, though Siri itself is not fully disabled.
This is a good middle-ground option if you want Siri available in some places but not cluttering your lock screen. You can still access Siri from the home screen or app switcher if you need it later.
Remove Siri from search results
Siri suggestions appear at the top of your search results when you swipe down from the home screen. If you don't want to see these, go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle off "Show Siri Suggestions." This removes Siri's predictive suggestions but does not disable the feature itself.
You can also scroll down in the same menu and toggle off "Show Siri Suggestions in App" if you want to remove suggestions from within individual apps. These settings are separate from voice and button activation, so you can customize exactly where Siri appears.
What happens when you disable Siri
Disabling Siri does not affect Shortcuts, voice control, or accessibility features. If you use Voice Control (a different feature from Siri) to operate your phone hands-free, that will continue to work. Siri also won't interfere with other voice assistants like Google Assistant if you use Android apps.
If you change your mind later, you can turn Siri back on by reversing these steps in Settings > Siri & Search. There's no penalty for disabling it, and you can re-enable any part of it at any time.
Troubleshooting: Siri still activates after disabling
If Siri still responds to "Hey Siri" after you've toggled it off, restart your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Shut Down, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then press the side button to turn it back on. Sometimes the setting doesn't take effect until the phone restarts.
If the side button still launches Siri after disabling it, check that you toggled off the correct button setting for your model. iPhone X through 14 use "Press Side Button for Siri," while iPhone 15 and later may have different wording. If you're still having trouble, go back to Settings > Siri & Search and verify the toggle is actually in the off position — sometimes it appears off but isn't fully switched.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I disable Siri on just my lock screen but keep it everywhere else?
Yes. Go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle off only "Show on Lock Screen." This removes Siri from your lock screen while keeping voice activation and button activation on everywhere else. You can customize each activation method separately.
Will disabling Siri affect my Apple Watch or iPad?
No. Each Apple device has its own Siri settings. Disabling Siri on your iPhone does not turn it off on your other devices. You would need to disable it separately on each device if you want it off everywhere.
What's the difference between disabling Siri and turning off "Listen for Hey Siri"?
Turning off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" only disables voice activation. The side button can still launch Siri, and Siri can still appear in search results. To fully disable Siri, you need to turn off voice activation, button activation, and remove it from your lock screen and search results.
If I disable Siri, can I still use voice commands for other things?
Yes. Voice Control (a separate accessibility feature) and other voice-activated features will still work. Disabling Siri only removes that specific assistant — it doesn't turn off all voice functionality on your phone.
Why does Siri keep turning back on after I disable it?
This usually happens if you didn't fully restart your phone after changing the setting. Power off your iPhone completely, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on. If it happens again, make sure you're toggling off the correct setting for your iPhone model in Settings > Siri & Search.