To set up Siri on an iPhone, open Settings > Siri. On iOS 27, tap Requests, then choose how Siri listens for your voice and turn on Press Side Button for Siri. After that, say “Siri” or “Hey Siri,” or press and hold the side button, and ask your question.
On iPhones that support Apple Intelligence, the menu may be called Apple Intelligence & Siri instead. An iPhone 11 doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, so it uses the standard Siri and its menu is simply Siri. It runs both iOS 26 and iOS 27, and the steps below cover it and newer models.
How to turn on Siri
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri). On iOS 17 and earlier, it’s Siri & Search.
- On iOS 27, tap Requests. On earlier versions, the controls are on this screen or under Talk & Type to Siri.
- Tap Talk to Siri or Listen for, depending on your version, and choose the wake phrase you want: “Siri” or “Hey Siri,” or just “Hey Siri.”
- Follow the setup screens. Your iPhone asks you to say a few phrases so it learns your voice. Tap Done when it finishes.
- Go back and turn on Press Side Button for Siri if you also want a button shortcut.
You can use either method or both. Voice is handy while cooking or driving; the button works better in a loud room and doesn’t need Siri to recognize your voice. If you turn both off, Siri is effectively off.
How to use Siri on iPhone
Start Siri
- With your voice: say “Siri” or “Hey Siri,” then say what you need right away. You don’t have to wait for a sound.
- With the side button: press and hold the side button on the right edge, then speak. On an iPhone with a Home button, such as the iPhone SE, press and hold the Home button.
- With AirPods or in the car: say “Siri” or “Hey Siri” with supported AirPods, or press and hold the voice button on the steering wheel in CarPlay.
- By typing: turn on Settings > Accessibility > Siri > Type to Siri, then start Siri and type your request instead of speaking.
Things worth asking Siri
Siri is most useful for quick jobs that would otherwise take several taps.
| Task | Try saying |
|---|---|
| Timers and alarms | “Set a timer for 12 minutes” or “Wake me up at 6:30” |
| Calls and texts | “Call Mom on speaker” or “Text Alex I’m running late” |
| Reminders | “Remind me to take out the bins when I get home” |
| Directions | “Get directions to the nearest gas station” |
| Settings | “Turn on Low Power Mode” or “Turn on the flashlight” |
| Quick answers | “What’s 18% of 64?” or “Will it rain tomorrow?” |
| Apps | “Open Camera” or “Play my running playlist” |
Some requests, such as sending a message or placing a call, need you to unlock the phone first if Siri can’t confirm it’s you. Location-based reminders and directions need Location Services turned on. If you’d rather set reminders by hand, here’s how to set a reminder in the Reminders app.
What’s different with Siri AI on iOS 27
iOS 27 adds Siri AI, a conversational version of Siri with its own app that keeps your past conversations. Apple says it’s rolling out in English, runs on Apple Intelligence, and won’t initially be available in the EU. It’s labeled as a beta, and you turn it on in Settings.
Siri AI needs an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence: the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 or later. On an iPhone 11 through iPhone 15, Siri works as described above, and you’ll still get iOS 27’s other features.
Control what Siri can do while your iPhone is locked
By default, Siri answers when the phone is locked, which lets anyone nearby ask it to call or text from your phone. To require Face ID or your passcode first, turn off Allow Siri When Locked in the Siri settings. Siri still works as soon as the iPhone is unlocked.
You can also manage this from Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode) under Allow Access When Locked.
Change Siri’s voice, language and replies
The voice, the language Siri understands, and how much it talks back are separate settings in the same Siri menu:
- Language: sets what Siri listens for. Changing it turns off voice activation until you set up “Siri” or “Hey Siri” again in the new language.
- Voice: picks the accent and voice Siri speaks with. Our guide to changing Siri’s voice lists the options.
- Siri Responses: chooses whether Siri speaks its answers out loud or only shows them, and whether captions appear on screen.
Siri isn’t responding? Try these fixes
- Check both activation settings. Make sure the wake phrase and Press Side Button for Siri are on in the Siri settings.
- Uncover the iPhone. “Hey Siri” doesn’t respond when the iPhone is face down or covered, for example in a pocket or a closed folio case.
- Check Low Power Mode. On some iOS versions, voice activation stops listening while Low Power Mode is on. Use the side button instead or turn it off.
- Test the microphones. Record a short Voice Memo and play it back. If it sounds muffled, clean the openings and remove any case or screen protector covering them.
- Check your connection. Many Siri requests need Wi-Fi or cellular data. If you see “I’m having trouble connecting,” try again once you’re back online.
- Set up voice activation again. Turn the wake phrase off, then on, and repeat the voice setup in a quiet room.
- Restart and update. Restart the iPhone and install any update in Settings > General > Software Update.
Apple keeps a current overview of every way to start Siri, across iPhone, AirPods, CarPlay and Apple Watch, in Use Siri on all your Apple devices.
Common questions
Can the iPhone 11 use Siri AI or Apple Intelligence?
No. Apple Intelligence and Siri AI need an iPhone 15 Pro or newer. The iPhone 11 runs iOS 27 with the standard Siri.
How do I stop Siri from activating by accident?
If Siri pops up from a pocket, turn off Press Side Button for Siri. If it wakes when people nearby say something similar, switch the wake phrase from “Siri” to the longer “Hey Siri,” or turn voice activation off.
Can I delete what I’ve said to Siri?
Yes. In the Siri settings, tap Siri & Dictation History, then Delete Siri & Dictation History. This removes recent requests stored on Apple’s servers that are linked to that device.
Matthew Roberts is the founder and editor of ARS Digitech. He started the site to answer the iPhone questions his friends and family kept asking him, and it has grown into a library of iPhone and iOS how-to guides. Matthew writes and maintains every tutorial on the site, checking steps and menu names against Apple’s official support documentation and updating guides when an iOS release moves a setting.