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Siri, Apple Intelligence, and search

Siri activation

Most people call this how you start talking to Siri.

Siri can be summoned by voice, by holding the side button, or by typing, and each method can be turned on separately.

Available

This setting is present on your iPhone.

  • We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.

Where to find it - iOS 18 and later

  1. Settings
  2. Apple Intelligence & Siri

What it does

Voice activation listens for a wake phrase using a low power detector that does not record until it triggers. Press Side Button for Siri is the button method. Type to Siri replaces speech with a keyboard.

What changes

When it is on

Siri responds to your chosen activation methods.

When it is off

Siri cannot be summoned that way.

Should you turn it on?

Good reasons to turn it on

  • Hands free control while driving or cooking.
  • Type to Siri is useful in quiet places and for anyone who cannot speak clearly.

Good reasons to turn it off

  • False triggers from television and conversation.
  • A microphone that is always listening is not to everyone's taste.
  • Siri can read information aloud from a locked phone unless that is also turned off.

Battery

Depends how you use it

Privacy

Depends how you use it

Performance

No real change

Cellular data

No real change

Storage

No real change

Out of the box: Voice and side button activation offered during setup.

Where this setting used to live

Apple moves settings between releases. This is every location we have on file.

  1. iOS 18 and later

    Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri

  2. iOS 13 to iOS 17

    Settings > Siri & Search

Questions people actually ask

How do I stop Siri activating by accident?
Turn off voice activation and keep the side button method, under Settings, then Siri.
Can I type to Siri instead of speaking?
Yes. Turn on Type to Siri under Siri settings or under Accessibility.

If it is not working

  • Allow Siri When Locked is a separate switch and matters for privacy.
  • Improve Siri and Dictation under Privacy controls whether audio recordings are kept.
  • Type to Siri makes Siri usable without speaking at all.

Related settings