You can disable Siri on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, but the steps differ by device and what you want to turn off

Siri is Apple's voice assistant — the feature that listens when you hold down the home button or say "Hey Siri" and then responds to your questions or commands. You can turn it off entirely, disable just the voice-set up part, or keep it available but prevent it from listening in the background. Which option you choose depends on whether you want Siri gone completely or just less intrusive.

The reason people disable Siri is usually privacy-related: they don't want Apple's servers processing their voice, they don't want accidental activations, or they straightforward don't use it. Unlike some features that are hard to turn off, Siri has straightforward controls in your settings.

Key Takeaways

  • On iPhone and iPad, you disable Siri by going to Settings > Siri & Search and turning off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" and "Press Side Button for Siri".
  • On Mac, open System Settings > Siri & Spotlight and uncheck "Enable Ask Siri".
  • Disabling "Hey Siri" stops the device from listening for the wake phrase, but you can still use Siri by pressing the button if you leave that on.
  • If you turn off Siri entirely, Siri Suggestions (app recommendations that appear in search and lock screen) may also disappear, depending on your device and iOS version.
  • Your voice data is not retroactively deleted when you disable Siri — only new voice input stops being sent to Apple's servers.

Disabling Siri on iPhone and iPad

Open the Settings app and tap Siri & Search. You will see two toggles: "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" and "Press Side Button for Siri" (or "Press Home for Siri" on older models). Turn both off. That stops Siri from listening for the wake phrase and from responding when you press the button.

If you only want to disable voice set up but keep the button option, turn off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" and leave "Press Side Button for Siri" on. This way Siri won't listen in the background, but you can still use it if you deliberately press the button.

After you disable Siri, you may notice that Siri Suggestions disappear from your lock screen and search results. This is normal — Apple ties Siri Suggestions to the Siri feature itself on most devices. If you want search suggestions but not Siri, this is a trade-off you will have to accept.

Disabling Siri on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions). Go to Siri & Spotlight. Uncheck the box next to "Enable Ask Siri".

On Mac, there is no separate button-press option like on iPhone — disabling "Enable Ask Siri" turns off both voice set up and the Siri button in the menu bar. If you want to keep Siri available but just disable voice listening, that option does not exist on Mac the way it does on iPhone.

What happens to your voice data when you disable Siri

When you turn off Siri, Apple stops processing new voice input through its servers. However, voice recordings you have already sent are not automatically deleted. Apple stores these recordings to improve Siri's accuracy, and they remain in your account unless you manually delete them.

To delete past voice recordings on iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri & Dictation History and tap Delete Siri & Dictation History. On Mac, go to System Settings > Siri & Spotlight and look for a similar option. This removes the audio files Apple has stored, though it may take a few days for the deletion to process on their servers.

The difference between disabling Siri and disabling "Hey Siri"

These are not the same thing. "Hey Siri" is the always-listening feature — the part that wakes up your device when you say the phrase. Disabling just "Hey Siri" stops the background listening but leaves Siri available if you press the button or use it from the lock screen.

Disabling Siri entirely turns off all Siri features: you cannot use it by voice, by button, or from the lock screen. Choose "Hey Siri" off if you want to use Siri sometimes but do not want your device listening all the time. Choose full Siri off if you do not want the feature at all.

Why you might want to keep Siri but disable "Hey Siri"

Some people disable voice set up because they live in a noisy environment where Siri activates by accident, or because they share a device and do not want others triggering it. Others disable it for privacy but still want the option to use Siri deliberately when they need it.

Keeping the button option on means you can still dictate text, set reminders, or ask questions without having to type — you just have to press the button first instead of saying the wake phrase. This is a middle ground that reduces background listening without removing the feature entirely.

Siri on Apple Watch and HomePod

Apple Watch has its own Siri settings. Open the Watch app on your iPhone, go to Siri, and toggle off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" or "Raise to Speak". HomePod and HomePod mini have Siri on by default, but you can disable it in the Home app: select the device, tap Details, and turn off Siri.

If you disable Siri on your iPhone, it does not automatically disable it on your Watch or HomePod — each device has independent controls. You will need to turn off Siri on each device separately if you want it off everywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling Siri speed up my phone?

Not noticeably. Siri runs in the background on modern iPhones and iPads, but it uses very little processing power when idle. Disabling it will not make your device faster, though it will free up a tiny amount of storage space and reduce background data use.

Can I turn off "Hey Siri" but keep Siri Suggestions?

Not reliably. On most iPhones and iPads, Siri Suggestions are tied to the Siri feature itself. Turning off Siri usually removes Suggestions from your lock screen and search results. You can try leaving Siri on but disabling "Hey Siri" to see if Suggestions remain, but this varies by iOS version.

Will Apple still listen to me if I disable Siri?

No. When Siri is off, your device does not send voice data to Apple's servers for processing. However, other apps on your phone (like Google Maps or third-party voice recorders) may still listen if you have given them permission. Check your app permissions in Settings > Privacy if you want to restrict voice access across the board.

What if I accidentally set up Siri and do not want it to record?

If Siri activates, you can press the home or side button again to cancel it before you speak. Siri only sends audio to Apple's servers after you finish speaking or after a few seconds of silence. Canceling before you speak prevents any recording from being sent.

Can I re-enable Siri later if I change my mind?

Yes. Go back to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle the features back on. Your device will start listening again when ready. Any voice data you deleted will not return, but Siri will function normally going forward.