Disable Siri in Settings

The fastest way to turn off Siri is through your iPad's Settings app. Open Settings, tap Siri & Search, then toggle off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'". This stops Siri from responding when you say the wake phrase. If you also want to disable the button press that activates Siri, toggle off "Press Side Button for Siri" (or "Press Home for Siri" on older iPads with a home button).

After you disable both toggles, Siri will not respond to voice commands or button presses. The Siri icon will no longer appear in your Control Center or lock screen. Your iPad will still have Siri installed — you are just turning off the features that let it listen and respond.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, go to Siri & Search, and toggle off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" to stop voice set up.
  • Toggle off "Press Side Button for Siri" (or "Press Home for Siri" on older models) to disable button set up.
  • Disabling Siri does not remove it from your iPad — it only turns off the features that make it active.
  • You can turn Siri back on at any time by returning to the same Settings menu and toggling the options back on.

What Happens When You Disable Siri

When Siri is off, your iPad stops listening for the "Hey Siri" phrase, and pressing the side button (or home button) will no longer open Siri. Siri will not appear in search results, and voice commands will not work. However, Siri remains installed on your device — you are not deleting the app or removing it from your system.

Some iPad features that rely on Siri may behave differently. For example, voice dictation in text fields will still work, but it will not use Siri's processing. Shortcuts that were set to run with voice commands will not respond to voice anymore, though you can still run them manually by tapping them in the Shortcuts app.

Disable Siri Suggestions in Search and Lock Screen

Even with Siri turned off, your iPad may still show Siri suggestions in the search results and on your lock screen. To remove these, go to Settings, tap Siri & Search, and scroll down to find individual apps. For each app, toggle off "Show in Search" and "Show on Lock Screen" if you do not want Siri suggestions from that app.

You can also disable Siri suggestions globally by going to Settings, tapping Siri & Search, and toggling off "Suggestions in Search" and "Suggestions on Lock Screen". This removes Siri-powered recommendations from appearing anywhere on your iPad, even though Siri itself remains installed.

Turn Off Siri on Your Lock Screen

If you want to keep Siri active but prevent it from being used on your lock screen, go to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode on older models), and scroll down. Toggle off "Siri" under the "Allow Access When Locked" section. This means someone cannot set up Siri on your lock screen without unlocking your iPad first.

This option is useful if you want to keep Siri available for everyday use but prevent someone from accessing your device through voice commands when it is locked. You can still use Siri normally once you unlock your iPad.

Prevent Siri From Accessing Your Data

Siri can access information from your contacts, calendar, reminders, and other apps. If you want to limit what Siri can see, go to Settings, tap Privacy, and select each category (Contacts, Calendar, Reminders, Health, and so on). Find Siri in the list and toggle it off for any data you do not want Siri to access.

This approach keeps Siri active but prevents it from reading your personal information. For example, you could turn off Siri's access to your contacts so it cannot look up phone numbers, while still letting it set reminders or control smart home devices.

Reactivate Siri When You Need It

If you disable Siri and later want to turn it back on, the process is straightforward. Open Settings, go to Siri & Search, and toggle "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" back on. You can also toggle "Press Side Button for Siri" back on if you want button set up. Your previous Siri settings and preferences will remain in place.

Siri will start listening for the wake phrase and button presses when ready after you enable it. If you had disabled Siri suggestions, you can re-enable those separately in the same Settings menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off Siri delete it from my iPad?

No. Disabling Siri only turns off the features that make it active — the voice listening, button set up, and suggestions. Siri remains installed on your iPad and can be turned back on at any time.

Can I turn off Siri but keep voice dictation?

Yes. Voice dictation in text fields works independently of Siri. You can disable Siri completely and still use the microphone button on your keyboard to dictate text. The dictation will process locally on your iPad rather than through Siri.

What if I only want to disable the "Hey Siri" voice set up?

Go to Settings, tap Siri & Search, and toggle off only "Listen for 'Hey Siri'". Leave "Press Side Button for Siri" on if you want. This lets you set up Siri by pressing the button but prevents it from listening for the wake phrase.

Will disabling Siri affect other apps on my iPad?

Most apps will work normally. Apps that use Siri for voice commands or shortcuts will no longer respond to voice, but you can still use them manually. Some apps may show fewer suggestions if they relied on Siri integration, but core functionality remains unchanged.

Can I disable Siri only on my lock screen?

Yes. Go to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode), scroll down, and toggle off "Siri" under "Allow Access When Locked". Siri will remain active on your unlocked iPad but will not respond on the lock screen.