Where to find the reading notification setting

AirPods Pro and AirPods Max can read incoming messages and notifications aloud through Siri Announcements, a feature that activates by default on some devices. To turn this off, open Settings on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, then navigate to the app where notifications are coming from — usually Messages, Mail, or Notifications — and look for an option labeled "Announce Messages" or "Announce Notifications."

The exact location depends on your device and what you want to stop hearing. On iPhone, the fastest route is Settings > Notifications > select the app > toggle off Announce Notifications. On Mac, go to System Settings > Notifications > select the app > uncheck Announce Notifications.

Key Takeaways

  • Siri Announcements reads messages and notifications aloud through your AirPods, and you control it separately for each app in your device's Notifications settings.
  • On iPhone, turn off announcements by going to Settings > Notifications, selecting the app, and toggling off Announce Notifications.
  • On Mac, the same setting lives in System Settings > Notifications, but you uncheck rather than toggle.
  • You can turn announcements on for some apps (like Messages) and off for others (like Mail) — the setting is per-app, not device-wide.
  • Turning off announcements does not delete notifications or stop them from appearing on your screen; it only stops Siri from reading them aloud.

Turning off announcements in Messages

Messages is the most common source of AirPod reading notifications. On iPhone, open Settings > Notifications > Messages, then scroll down and toggle off Announce Messages. This stops Siri from reading text messages and iMessages aloud when they arrive.

If you want to keep message notifications but just silence the reading part, this toggle is what you need. The notification will still appear on your lock screen and in Notification Center — Siri just won't speak it through your AirPods. You can change this setting back on at any time by following the same steps and toggling it back to the on position.

Controlling announcements for Mail and other apps

Mail, Calendar, Reminders, and other apps can also announce notifications if you have turned that on. The process is the same: Settings > Notifications > select the app > toggle off Announce Notifications. You do not have to turn off all announcements at once — you can silence Mail but keep Messages reading aloud, or vice versa.

Some apps do not have an announce option at all. If you do not see Announce Notifications in an app's settings, that app is not set up to read notifications aloud, and the reading you are hearing is coming from a different source. Check the other apps you use frequently to find which ones have the feature enabled.

Disabling Siri Announcements entirely on Mac

On a Mac, you can turn off announcements for all apps at once. Go to System Settings > Notifications, then scroll to the bottom and uncheck Announce notifications. This stops Siri from reading any notifications aloud, regardless of which app they come from.

If you want finer control on Mac, you can also go into individual apps' notification settings and uncheck the announce option there, just like on iPhone. This lets you keep announcements for Messages but turn them off for Mail, for example. The per-app approach gives you more flexibility if you want to hear some notifications read aloud but not others.

What happens when you turn off announcements

Turning off Siri Announcements does not delete your notifications or stop them from appearing on your screen. You will still see them in Notification Center, on your lock screen, and in the app itself. The only change is that Siri will no longer read them aloud through your AirPods.

If you later want to turn announcements back on, follow the same steps and toggle the setting back to on. You can change this setting as many times as you want — there is no limit to how often you can switch it. This makes it straightforward to experiment and find the right balance for your needs.

Why announcements might be on by default

Apple enables Siri Announcements automatically on some AirPods and some devices, especially if you have set up Siri to respond to voice commands. This is meant to be helpful — reading messages while you drive or have your hands full — but many people find it intrusive or embarrassing in public.

If you just set up new AirPods or updated your device, check your notification settings to see what is turned on. You may find announcements enabled for apps you do not want to hear from. Taking a few minutes to review these settings when you first get your AirPods can save you from unexpected notifications being read aloud in front of others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off announcements for just one contact?

No. The announce setting is all-or-nothing per app — you cannot choose to hear messages from one person but not another. If you want to silence notifications from a specific contact, you can mute that conversation in Messages instead, which stops all notifications from that person.

Will turning off announcements affect my AirPods' other features?

No. Siri Announcements is separate from everything else your AirPods do. You can still use them to play music, take calls, and control Siri with voice commands. Turning off announcements only stops the reading-aloud feature.

Why do my AirPods read notifications but my friend's don't?

Your friend probably has announcements turned off in their notification settings. Check your Settings > Notifications for each app and compare with theirs. The setting is straightforward to miss because it is buried in the notification menu for each individual app.

Can I set a schedule for when announcements are on or off?

Not directly through the announce setting. However, you can use Focus modes (on iPhone and Mac) to silence notifications entirely during certain times, which also stops announcements. Go to Settings > Focus and create a custom schedule for when you want notifications muted.