Turn off notification announcements in Settings

Siri reads notifications out loud when you have announcement turned on in your device settings. To stop this, open Settings, tap Notifications, then scroll down and tap Siri Announcements. Toggle the switch to off. This stops Siri from reading any notifications aloud — text messages, emails, reminders, calendar alerts, and app notifications will all stay silent unless you ask Siri to read them.

The setting works the same way on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. On your watch, go to Settings > Notifications > Siri Announcements and turn it off there too. If you have multiple Apple devices, each one has its own setting, so you may need to turn off announcements on each device separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Siri announcements are controlled in Settings > Notifications > Siri Announcements, and toggling this off stops all notification reading.
  • You can keep announcements on but choose which apps trigger them by using the per-app notification settings.
  • Announcements only work when your device is unlocked or when you are wearing your Apple Watch, so locking your phone will silence them.
  • Turning off announcements does not affect Siri's ability to read notifications when you ask it to — you can still say "read my messages" and Siri will comply.

Control which apps can announce notifications

If you want Siri to announce some notifications but not others, you do not have to turn off the feature entirely. Instead, go to Settings > Notifications and find the app you want to silence. Tap that app, then look for Announce Notifications or a similar toggle. Turn it off for that specific app only.

This approach works well if you want text messages announced but not email, or reminders but not social media alerts. Each app has its own setting, so you can mix and match. Apps that do not have this option straightforward will not announce, even if Siri announcements are turned on globally.

Why Siri reads notifications in the first place

Apple added announcement as a convenience feature so you could hear important messages without looking at your screen — while driving, cooking, or exercising. The feature is meant to catch your attention when your hands are full or your eyes are elsewhere.

Announcements only work when your device is unlocked or when you are actively wearing your Apple Watch. If your iPhone is locked, Siri will not read notifications aloud, even if announcements are turned on. This is a privacy safeguard: Siri will not broadcast your messages to anyone nearby if your phone is in your pocket or on a table.

What happens if you turn announcements off

Turning off Siri announcements means notifications will arrive silently. You will still see them in your notification center, on your lock screen, and in the app itself — they just will not be read aloud. Your phone will still vibrate or play a sound if you have those notification sounds enabled.

You can still ask Siri to read your notifications manually. Say "read my messages" or "read my notifications" and Siri will read them aloud on demand. Turning off announcements only stops the automatic reading; it does not prevent Siri from reading when you ask.

Announcements on Apple Watch work differently

Apple Watch announcements have a separate setting from your iPhone. If you turn off announcements on your phone but wear a watch, your watch may still announce notifications if you have that setting enabled on the watch itself. Go to Settings > Notifications > Siri Announcements on your watch to control it independently.

Watch announcements are useful if you want to hear messages on your wrist but not have your phone reading them aloud in a room full of people. You can turn announcements on for your watch and off for your phone, or vice versa, depending on your situation.

Troubleshooting: Siri still announces even after turning it off

If Siri keeps announcing notifications after you have turned off the setting, restart your device. Go to Settings > General > Shut Down, then turn your phone back on. Sometimes the setting does not take effect until the device restarts.

If restarting does not work, check that you turned off the right setting. Go back to Settings > Notifications > Siri Announcements and confirm the toggle is off. Also check the per-app settings for any apps that might have announcements turned on individually. If a specific app still announces, that app's own notification setting may override the global one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off announcements for just one app?

Yes. Go to Settings > Notifications, find the app, tap it, and toggle off Announce Notifications. This stops that app from announcing while leaving announcements on for other apps.

Will turning off announcements stop my phone from making notification sounds?

No. Announcement and notification sounds are separate. Turning off Siri announcements stops the voice reading, but your phone will still vibrate or play a sound if you have those enabled in the app's notification settings.

Can I still ask Siri to read my messages if I turn off announcements?

Yes. Turning off announcements only stops automatic reading. You can still say "read my messages" or "read my notifications" and Siri will read them aloud on demand.

Why does my Apple Watch announce notifications when my phone does not?

Your watch and phone have separate announcement settings. Check Settings > Notifications > Siri Announcements on your watch and turn it off there if you do not want announcements on your wrist.

Does turning off announcements affect privacy?

Turning off announcements actually has no privacy impact either way. Siri only announces when your device is unlocked or when you are wearing your watch, so your locked phone will never broadcast messages aloud regardless of the setting.