Siri is activated by saying "Hey Siri" out loud, and it works on iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers
Hey Siri is Apple's voice assistant — a feature that listens for your voice and responds to commands without you touching your device. When you say "Hey Siri" followed by a request, the device wakes up and performs tasks like sending messages, setting reminders, playing music, or answering questions. It works on iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and Mac computers, though the setup steps differ slightly depending on which device you own.
The feature is turned off by default on most Apple devices, so you need to enable it in your settings before you can use it. Once it's on, your device listens for the "Hey Siri" phrase whenever the screen is on or when it's plugged in and charging. You don't need to press anything — just speak naturally.
Key Takeaways
- Hey Siri is disabled by default and must be turned on in Settings before it will respond to your voice.
- On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle on "Listen for 'Hey Siri'".
- On a Mac, open System Settings > Siri & Spotlight and check the box next to "Enable Ask Siri".
- After you enable it, Apple asks you to say "Hey Siri" a few times so the device learns your voice pattern.
- Hey Siri only listens when your device is unlocked, plugged in, or on a connected Apple Watch.
Enable Hey Siri on iPhone or iPad
Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Scroll down and tap Siri & Search. You will see a toggle switch next to "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" — tap it to turn it on. The switch will turn green when it is active.
After you enable it, your device will ask you to say "Hey Siri" several times. Speak naturally and clearly each time the screen prompts you. This teaches your device to recognize your voice. Once you finish, Hey Siri is ready to use. You can now say "Hey Siri" followed by any command, such as "Hey Siri, set a timer for 10 minutes" or "Hey Siri, what's the weather?"
If you want to change when Siri listens, stay in the Siri & Search settings. You can toggle "Press Side Button for Siri" on or off, which lets you set up Siri by holding the side button instead of speaking. You can also toggle "Allow Siri When Locked" to decide whether Siri responds when your screen is locked.
Enable Hey Siri on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings. Click Siri & Spotlight in the sidebar. Check the box next to "Enable Ask Siri" to turn it on.
Your Mac will then ask you to say "Hey Siri" several times so it learns your voice. Speak clearly each time. Once you finish the setup, you can say "Hey Siri" to set up Siri on your Mac. You can also click the Siri icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen, or press Command + Space to open Siri without speaking.
What Hey Siri Can Do
Once enabled, Hey Siri responds to hundreds of commands. You can ask it to send a text message, make a phone call, set a reminder, create a calendar event, play a song, check the weather, get directions, or search the web. You can also ask Siri to control smart home devices like lights or thermostats if you have them set up in the Home app.
Siri learns from your patterns over time. If you regularly ask it to call a specific person or play a certain playlist, it may suggest those actions when you set up it. You can also create custom voice commands called Shortcuts in the Shortcuts app, which lets Siri perform more complex tasks with a single phrase.
When Hey Siri Will and Won't Listen
On an iPhone or iPad, Hey Siri listens when your screen is on, when your device is plugged in and charging, or when you are wearing a connected Apple Watch. If your screen is locked and "Allow Siri When Locked" is turned off, Siri will not respond to "Hey Siri" — you will need to unlock your device or press the side button instead.
On a Mac, Hey Siri listens whenever your computer is awake. If your Mac is in sleep mode, it will not hear "Hey Siri" unless you wake it first by moving the mouse or pressing a key.
Troubleshooting Hey Siri If It Is Not Working
If your device does not respond to "Hey Siri," first check that the feature is actually turned on in Settings. Go back to Siri & Search (iPhone/iPad) or Siri & Spotlight (Mac) and confirm the toggle or checkbox is enabled. If it is on but Siri still does not respond, try saying "Hey Siri" more clearly and slowly.
If Siri still does not listen, restart your device. Turn it off completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. On an iPhone or iPad, you can also try re-training Siri by going back to Settings > Siri & Search, turning off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'," waiting a moment, and turning it back on. This forces your device to ask you to say "Hey Siri" again, which can fix recognition problems.
Make sure your device's microphone is not blocked or damaged. If you are in a very noisy environment, Siri may have trouble hearing you. Try using Siri in a quieter space to test whether the problem is background noise or a device issue.
Privacy and What Siri Hears
When you say "Hey Siri," your device records your voice and sends it to Apple's servers to process your request. Apple states that it does not store your audio recordings or use them to build a profile of you. However, if you are concerned about privacy, you can turn off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" and instead press the side button or Command + Space to set up Siri manually — this way, Siri only listens when you deliberately trigger it.
You can also disable Siri entirely if you prefer not to use voice commands. In Settings or System Settings, turn off all Siri options. Your device will no longer respond to "Hey Siri" or the side button, and Siri suggestions will not appear in search results or on your lock screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Hey Siri on an older iPhone or iPad?
Hey Siri is available on iPhone 6s and newer, and iPad Air 2 and newer. If your device is older than that, you can still use Siri by pressing the home button or side button, but the "Hey Siri" voice set up feature is not supported. Check your device model in Settings > General > About to see which version you have.
Why does Siri sometimes respond to other people saying "Hey Siri"?
Siri is trained on your voice, but it is not perfect at distinguishing your voice from others in the same room. If someone else says "Hey Siri" clearly, your device may respond to them instead of you. If this happens frequently, you can disable "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" and use the side button to set up Siri instead, which prevents accidental set up.
Does Hey Siri work without an internet connection?
Some basic Siri commands work offline, such as setting a timer, creating a reminder, or controlling HomeKit devices on your local network. However, most commands that require information from the internet — like weather, news, or web searches — need a connection to work. If you are offline, Siri will tell you it cannot complete the request.
Can I change the wake word from "Hey Siri" to something else?
No, Apple does not allow you to change the wake phrase. "Hey Siri" is the only voice command that activates Siri on Apple devices. If you want a different set up method, you can press the side button or use Command + Space on Mac instead of speaking.
Will Hey Siri drain my battery?
Hey Siri uses a small amount of battery because your device is always listening for the phrase, but the impact is minimal on modern iPhones, iPads, and Macs. If you notice your battery draining faster than usual, the problem is likely something else. You can turn off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" to save a tiny amount of power, but the difference will be small.