Voice Control is on by default, and you can turn it off in Settings
Voice Control lets you speak commands to your iPhone — things like "call Mom" or "open Messages" — without touching the screen. Apple turns it on automatically, which means anyone who picks up your phone can use it. If you do not want that, you can disable it in a few taps.
The setting lives in Accessibility, which is where Apple groups features that change how you interact with your device. Turning off Voice Control does not affect Siri (Apple's voice assistant) — those are separate features with separate on-off switches.
Key Takeaways
- Voice Control is enabled by default on iPhones and lets anyone speak commands to your phone without unlocking it.
- You turn it off by going to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and toggling the switch to off.
- Disabling Voice Control does not turn off Siri, which is a different feature with its own toggle.
- If you want voice commands but only when your phone is unlocked, you can keep Voice Control off and use Siri instead.
Where to find the Voice Control setting
Open Settings on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Accessibility — it is usually near the bottom of the list, below Display & Brightness and before Privacy.
Inside Accessibility, look for Voice Control. It appears near the top, above Spoken Content and below Zoom. Tap it once to open the Voice Control menu.
How to turn Voice Control off
Once you are in the Voice Control menu, you will see a toggle switch at the top of the screen. If the switch is green, Voice Control is currently on. Tap the switch once to turn it off — it will turn gray.
That is all you need to do. Your phone will ask you to confirm, but once you tap the confirmation, Voice Control is disabled. Anyone who picks up your phone can no longer set up it by saying "Hey Siri" or by holding the home button and speaking a command.
The difference between Voice Control and Siri
Voice Control and Siri are often confused because both respond to voice, but they work differently and have different privacy implications. Voice Control activates without unlocking your phone — anyone can use it. Siri also works on a locked phone, but it is designed to be more limited about what it can do without a passcode.
If you want to keep voice commands but make them harder for someone else to use, turning off Voice Control and keeping Siri on is a reasonable middle ground. Siri will still respond to "Hey Siri" on your lock screen, but it cannot access your messages, photos, or payment information without your passcode.
Why you might want Voice Control off
Voice Control is useful if you have limited mobility or prefer hands-free operation. But if you share your phone with others, or if you leave it unattended, Voice Control creates a way for someone to control your device without your knowledge or permission. They could open apps, make calls, or send messages.
Turning it off removes that risk. If you live alone and never hand your phone to anyone else, the security benefit is smaller — but it still closes a door that does not need to be open.
What happens after you turn it off
Once Voice Control is off, your phone will no longer respond to voice commands through that feature. If you try to use voice commands later, nothing will happen. Siri will still work if you have it enabled, so you can still say "Hey Siri" to get voice information — just with more restrictions on what it can do without your passcode.
If you change your mind and want Voice Control back on, you can return to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and toggle it back on. There is no penalty for turning it off and on — it is just a switch.
Other voice features to check while you are in Accessibility
While you are in the Accessibility menu, you might notice other voice-related settings. Spoken Content lets your phone read text aloud. Voice Memos is a separate app for recording audio. Neither of these is the same as Voice Control, and you can leave them on or off based on what you actually use.
If you want to disable Siri as well (separate from Voice Control), go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle off Listen for "Hey Siri". You can also turn off Allow Siri When Locked if you want Siri to require your passcode before it does anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off Voice Control affect Siri?
No. Voice Control and Siri are separate features with separate toggles. You can turn off Voice Control and keep Siri on, or turn off both, or keep both on. Changing one does not change the other.
Can someone use Voice Control on my phone if it is locked?
Yes, if Voice Control is on. Voice Control works on a locked screen — that is one reason you might want to turn it off. Siri also works on a locked screen, but it has more restrictions about what it can do without your passcode.
What if I turned off Voice Control by accident?
Go back to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and toggle it back on. There is no waiting period or confirmation needed — it turns back on when ready.
Does turning off Voice Control slow down my phone?
No. Voice Control uses very little processing power, so turning it off will not make your phone faster or save battery. The main reason to turn it off is privacy and security, not performance.