Siri

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

 

• Use Siri
• Change how Siri sounds
• Ask Siri questions
• Let Siri know who you are
• Use built in app shortcuts
• Create shortcuts
• Read incoming messages

 

Siri lets you use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more. Siri is the intelligent personal assistant that helps you get things done just by asking. It allows you to use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls, and more. But Siri isn't like traditional voice-recognition software that requires you to remember keywords and speak specific commands. Siri understands your natural speech, and it asks you questions if it needs more information to complete a task. Siri can intelligently pair your daily routines with third-party apps to suggest convenient shortcuts right when you need them. Learn more from the Apple support article About Siri.

 

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Use Siri

1. To ask Siri something, hold down the Sleep/Wake button until you hear two quick beeps and see the Siri icon on the screen.

Note: You will need to turn on Siri first by selecting the  Settings app > Siri & Search > select the  Press Top Button for Siri switch. Select Enable Siri to confirm. Select the  Allow Siri When Locked switch to enable or disable Siri on the lock screen.



2. If you're using iPadOS 17 or later, you can ask Siri a question by saying "Siri" without having to hold down the Sleep/Wake button.

Note: You'll need to change the Siri settings first. From the Siri & Search screen, select the Listen for then select "Siri" or "Hey Siri". If it is your first time activating "Siri" and "Hey Siri", select Continue and follow the prompts to complete setup.

 

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Change how Siri sounds

From the home screen, select the  Settings app > Siri > Voice. The voice genders that are available vary by country and region. To change the language, from the Siri & Search screen, select Language.

Note: Your iPadOS device initially uses a compact voice for Siri. Your device will automatically download and install a more natural-sounding voice when you first connect to power and a Wi-Fi network.

 

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Ask Siri questions

1. You can ask Siri to make a call, find a business and get directions, schedule reminders and meetings, search the web, identify songs with Shazam, and more. You can even ask Siri "What can you do for me?" Select Learn more about Siri to see examples of things Siri can do, along with ways you can ask for things.

Note: For information on additional things you can ask Siri, visit Apple's support article: Do more with Siri.



2. The Siri icon expands to let you know when Siri is listening and processing your request. After you've started a dialogue with Siri, select the Siri icon to talk to it again.

 

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Let Siri know who you are

1. If Siri knows who you are, it can use your information to better help you. To make sure Siri knows who you are, from the Siri & Search screen select My Information.



2. Navigate to and select your Contact. Your information is used for questions like "How do I get home?" or "What good restaurants are near work?"

 

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Use built in app shortcuts

Siri will make shortcut suggestions on the lock screen and within apps based on how you use each app. For example, if you use the same app every morning when you wake up, Siri will collect this information and start suggesting that app on the lock screen every morning for easy access. To enable or disable Siri Suggestions on the Lock Screen or in-app suggestions, from the Siri screen, scroll to and select Apps > select the desired app > select the desired  switch to turn features on or off as desired.

Note: To turn all Siri suggestions on or off, from the Siri & Search screen, select the desired  switch listed under BEFORE SEARCHING. 

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Create shortcuts

1. Siri Shortcuts deliver a quick way to get things done with your apps with just a tap or by asking Siri. The Shortcuts app enables you to create personal shortcuts with multiple steps from your favorite apps. From the home screen, navigate to and select the  Shortcuts app.

2. Select the  Add icon.

Note: To create more advanced shortcuts that have your device react to changes in conditions, select the Sidebar icon > Automation > New Automation then follow the prompts to complete setup.

 

3. Select the desired app or suggestion, then follow the prompts to complete shortcut setup. 

Note: For more information about creating simple or complex shortcuts, visit the Shortcuts User Guide.

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Read incoming messages

When you can't reach your phone, you can have Siri read your messages to you through your AirPods or Powerbeats Pro. To enable automatic message announcements through Siri when your AirPods are connected, from the Settings app, select  Notifications > Announce Messages with Siri >  Announce Messages with Siri switch to place it in the ON position. 

Note: This feature is not supported on original AirPods. You must have AirPods 2 or Powerbeats Pro connected to your iPhone to use this feature and to access these settings. You can reply to messages by talking to Siri. To allow Siri to send messages without reading them back to you before sending, select the  Send Replies Without Confirmation switch.