Voice Control is a built-in feature that listens for your voice commands, and you can turn it off in Settings
Voice Control on iPhone activates when you hold the side button (or home button on older models) and speak a command like "call Mom" or "open Maps". If you don't use this feature or find it triggering by accident, you can disable it completely. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way on all recent iPhone models.
The quickest way is to go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and toggle it off. Once you do, holding the side button will no longer set up voice commands — it will only bring up Siri (if you have Siri enabled) or the power-off menu, depending on your settings.
Key Takeaways
- Voice Control is disabled through Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control, and the toggle appears at the top of that screen.
- Turning off Voice Control does not affect Siri, which is a separate feature that responds to "Hey Siri" or the side button press.
- If you want to keep Voice Control but prevent accidental set up, you can require a confirmation before commands run.
- On iPhone models with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), Voice Control activates by holding the home button instead of the side button.
The step-by-step process to disable Voice Control
Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Accessibility — it appears below "Privacy" in most cases. Once you're in Accessibility, look for Voice Control in the list and tap it.
At the top of the Voice Control screen, you'll see a toggle switch next to "Voice Control". Tap it once to turn it off. The switch will turn gray, and Voice Control is now disabled. You can close Settings and return to your home screen.
If you want to test that it worked, try holding the side button for a few seconds. Instead of listening for voice commands, your iPhone will either show Siri (if enabled) or display the power-off menu. This confirms Voice Control is off.
The difference between Voice Control and Siri
Voice Control and Siri are two separate features, and disabling one does not affect the other. Siri is Apple's general voice assistant that responds to "Hey Siri" or a button press, and it can do things like send messages, set reminders, or answer questions. Voice Control is specifically for controlling your phone's basic functions — opening apps, making calls, or adjusting volume — and it was designed for people with mobility needs.
If you turn off Voice Control but keep Siri on, holding the side button will still set up Siri. If you want to disable both, you would go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" and "Press Side Button for Siri". This gives you full control over which voice features are active.
Why Voice Control activates by accident
Voice Control can trigger when you hold the side button too long while trying to do something else — like adjusting the volume or taking a screenshot. Some people hold the button while thinking and accidentally set up it. Others have it on without realizing it exists, which is why it seems to start listening randomly.
If you use your iPhone in a noisy environment or around other people, Voice Control might pick up background sounds and attempt to execute commands. Disabling it entirely is the simplest solution if you don't use voice commands regularly. If you do use Voice Control occasionally, you can instead require a confirmation before it runs any command, which prevents accidental set up.
How to require confirmation before Voice Control runs commands
If you want to keep Voice Control but make it harder to trigger by accident, you can add a confirmation step. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control, and make sure the toggle is on. Then scroll down and look for Confirmation.
Tap Confirmation and choose Required. Now when you hold the side button and speak a command, Voice Control will repeat back what it heard and ask you to confirm before executing it. This gives you a chance to cancel if it misheard you or if you triggered it by accident. You can still turn off Voice Control entirely if you prefer not to use it at all.
Voice Control on older iPhone models with a home button
If you have an iPhone 8, iPhone 7, or an earlier model, Voice Control activates by holding the home button (the physical button at the bottom of the screen) instead of the side button. The process to disable it is identical: Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control > toggle off.
On these older models, holding the home button normally brings up Siri. If you have both Siri and Voice Control enabled, holding the home button will set up Voice Control instead. Disabling Voice Control returns the home button to its normal Siri function.
What happens after you disable Voice Control
Once Voice Control is off, your iPhone will no longer listen for voice commands when you hold the side button (or home button on older models). The button will work normally for its other functions — on newer iPhones, holding the side button brings up Siri or the power-off menu, depending on your settings.
You can re-enable Voice Control at any time by going back to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and toggling it back on. Your Voice Control settings will be saved, so if you had customized anything (like confirmation requirements), those choices will still be there when you turn it back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off Voice Control affect Siri?
No. Voice Control and Siri are separate features. You can disable Voice Control without touching Siri, or disable both independently. If you want to turn off Siri as well, go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle off the options there.
Can I use Voice Control with a confirmation step instead of disabling it?
Yes. In Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control, scroll to Confirmation and select Required. Voice Control will then ask you to confirm each command before running it, which prevents accidental set up while keeping the feature available.
What if I disabled Voice Control but it's still activating?
Check that you toggled off the correct setting. Go back to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and confirm the toggle is gray (off). If it is off and Voice Control is still running, restart your iPhone by holding the side button and swiping to power off, then turning it back on.
Does Voice Control work without internet?
Voice Control works on your phone without internet for basic commands like opening apps or making calls. However, some commands that require looking up information (like weather or directions) need an internet connection. Disabling Voice Control stops all voice command features regardless of connection.