Siri is Apple’s virtual assistant available on various devices like iPhone, iPad, and Mac. While it offers features like sending messages and controlling smart home devices, some users prefer to disable it for privacy reasons. To turn off Siri on iPhones and iPads running iOS 17 or later, go to Settings > Siri and disable options like “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” and “Talk to Siri.”
With the iOS 18.1 update, users must adjust multiple settings to fully disable Siri, as the previous method through the restrictions menu has changed. Disabling Siri helps protect user privacy by preventing Apple from storing voice interactions, while other Apple Intelligence features remain unaffected.
Turning Siri On or Off: The Complete Guide for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and More
How to Turn Siri On (or Off) on iPhone and iPad
To Turn Siri On:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Siri & Search.
- Toggle on the following options:
- Listen for “Hey Siri” – This allows hands-free activation.
- Press Side Button for Siri (or Home Button on older models).
- Allow Siri When Locked – Optional, but useful.
You’ll be prompted to set up voice recognition by saying a few sample phrases so Siri can learn your voice.
To Turn Siri Off:
- Go to Settings > Siri & Search.
- Toggle off all of the following:
- Listen for “Hey Siri”
- Press Side Button for Siri
- Allow Siri When Locked
- A confirmation pop-up will appear. Tap Turn Off Siri to disable it completely.
Disabling Siri also removes your voice data from Apple’s servers after a short time, which is good for those concerned about privacy.
How to Manage Siri on Mac
Siri works similarly on macOS, offering hands-free help and quick answers.
To Turn Siri On:
- Click the Apple menu and open System Settings (or System Preferences).
- Click Siri & Spotlight (on macOS Ventura and later) or just Siri (on older versions).
- Enable Ask Siri.
- Optional: Enable “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’” if your Mac supports it.
- You can also enable or disable the Siri icon in the menu bar from here.
To Turn Siri Off:
- Go to the same Siri & Spotlight menu.
- Toggle off Ask Siri.
- If enabled, turn off “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’”.
Once off, Siri won’t activate with voice or keyboard shortcut anymore.
How to Control Siri on Apple Watch
To Turn Siri On or Off:
- On your Apple Watch, open Settings.
- Scroll down to Siri.
- You can toggle:
- Listen for “Hey Siri”
- Raise to Speak
- Press Digital Crown
Disable any combination based on how you want Siri to behave—or turn them all off to fully disable Siri on your watch.
Alternatively, you can use the Watch app on your iPhone:
Watch app > My Watch > Siri
Turning Siri On or Off on AirPods and HomePod
AirPods:
For supported AirPods (like AirPods Pro or AirPods 3rd Gen):
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone while your AirPods are connected.
- Tap the AirPods name at the top.
- Scroll to Press and Hold AirPods or Double-Tap on AirPods depending on the model.
- Choose Siri or None to enable/disable the feature.
For hands-free Siri, make sure “Hey Siri” is enabled in the iPhone’s Siri settings.
HomePod/HomePod Mini:
- Open the Home app.
- Tap and hold your HomePod.
- Scroll down and tap the Settings icon.
- Under Siri, toggle:
- Listen for “Hey Siri”
- Touch and Hold for Siri
- Or turn off Siri completely for the device.
What Happens When You Turn Siri Off?
- Siri Shortcuts: Automations and voice commands relying on Siri may stop working.
- Keyboard Dictation: Still available on iPhone and iPad, even without Siri.
- Apple Watch & AirPods: Siri won’t activate through these devices if turned off on the paired iPhone.
- Privacy: Turning off Siri removes voice recordings after a while and halts any future data collection.
Should You Disable Siri?
Siri is deeply integrated into Apple’s system, and while it’s convenient, some people prefer to keep their devices as quiet, private, and battery-efficient as possible. If you’re in that camp, disabling it might make sense. For others who rely on voice commands, reminders, and smart device control, it’s better to keep Siri on and simply customize how and when it listens.
Either way, Apple makes it easy to tweak Siri exactly to your liking across every device.
Key Takeaways
- Disable Siri completely by turning off all Siri options in Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri) on iOS devices.
- Recent iOS updates have changed how users can manage and disable Siri functionality.
- Users can maintain privacy by turning off Siri while still using other features on their Apple devices.
Disabling Siri on iOS and iPadOS Devices
Turning off Siri on Apple devices is straightforward and can be done through the Settings app. Users can choose to completely disable Siri or just turn off specific features to limit its functionality.
Accessing Siri Settings on iPhone and iPad
To begin disabling Siri, users need to open the Settings app on their iPhone or iPad. The Siri settings are located in a dedicated section labeled “Siri & Search.” This section contains all options related to Siri’s functionality.
For the latest iOS versions, including iOS 18, the process remains consistent. Once in Settings, users can scroll down until they find the “Siri & Search” option and tap on it. This will open a menu with various Siri-related settings and preferences.
On newer devices like the iPhone 16, the menu layout might look slightly different, but the core options remain the same. The settings page displays toggle switches for different Siri functions.
Turn Off ‘Listen for Hey Siri’ and ‘Press Side Button for Siri’
The most common way to disable Siri is by turning off its activation methods. Two main options exist: voice activation and button activation.
To disable voice activation, toggle off the “Listen for ‘Hey Siri‘” option. This prevents Siri from responding when someone says the wake phrase.
For button activation, turn off “Press Side Button for Siri” (on newer devices) or “Press Home Button for Siri” (on older devices with a home button). This stops Siri from launching when buttons are pressed.
Users can disable both options for complete deactivation. After turning off these features, the device will ask to confirm the choice to disable Siri.
Modifying Siri Response with Screen Time and Notifications
For more control over Siri, users can use Screen Time restrictions. This is helpful for parents setting up devices for children or for limiting certain Siri functions.
To restrict Siri through Screen Time, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps. From here, users can toggle off “Siri & Dictation” to completely restrict access to these features.
Users can also manage how Siri appears in notifications. In Settings, tap on “Notifications” and then “Siri Suggestions” to control when and how Siri makes recommendations.
For privacy-conscious users, limiting Siri’s data collection is possible through Settings > Privacy > Analytics & Improvements, where they can turn off “Improve Siri & Dictation” to stop sending voice recordings to Apple.
Managing Siri Features on Mac
Controlling Siri on your Mac is straightforward once you know where to find the right settings. Apple offers several options to customize or completely turn off Siri based on your preferences and privacy needs.
Disabling Siri on Mac through System Preferences
To turn off Siri on your Mac, start by clicking on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen. Select “System Settings” (or “System Preferences” on older macOS versions).
From there, look for “Siri & Spotlight” or simply “Siri” in the sidebar menu. On newer macOS versions, you might find it under “Apple Intelligence & Siri” instead.
Once in the Siri settings panel, you can:
- Toggle off the main Siri switch to completely disable the assistant
- Disable the “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” option if you only want to prevent voice activation
- Adjust keyboard shortcuts or remove them entirely
These changes take effect immediately, and no restart is required.
Handling Privacy and Apple Intelligence Features
Apple Intelligence represents the newer AI features that work alongside Siri on Mac systems. These features can be managed separately from core Siri functionality.
To manage privacy settings related to Siri and Apple Intelligence, visit System Settings and look for “Privacy & Security.” Here you can control:
- Voice recordings that Siri might collect
- Data sharing preferences for improving Siri
- Which apps have permission to access Siri
For organizations managing multiple Mac devices, IT administrators can deploy configuration profiles with the “allowAssistant” key set to false to disable Siri across all managed devices.
Remember that turning off Siri doesn’t affect other search features like Spotlight, which will continue to function independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Turning off Siri can be done in different ways depending on your Apple device and iOS version. Here are answers to common questions about disabling Siri on various iPhone models and other Apple devices.
What are the steps to disable Siri on the iPhone 16?
On the iPhone 16, users can disable Siri by opening the Settings app and scrolling down to find “Siri & Search.” In this menu, they should toggle off “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” to prevent voice activation.
To completely disable Siri, users should also turn off “Press Side Button for Siri” and “Allow Siri When Locked.” This ensures Siri won’t activate by accident through any method.
How can one turn off Siri on an iPad with the latest iOS update?
For iPads running the latest iOS update, the process is similar to iPhones. Users need to open Settings and tap on “Siri & Search.”
They can then disable the “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” option, along with “Press Home Button for Siri” or “Press Top Button for Siri” depending on the iPad model. Turning off “Allow Siri When Locked” provides an additional layer of privacy.
Is there a way to deactivate Siri on an iPhone 13?
Yes, iPhone 13 users can deactivate Siri through the Settings app. They should navigate to “Siri & Search” and toggle off the “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” option.
For complete deactivation, users should also disable “Press Side Button for Siri” and “Allow Siri When Locked.” This prevents any accidental activation of the assistant.
Can Siri be turned off on an iPhone 15, and if so, how?
Siri can definitely be turned off on an iPhone 15. Users need to go to Settings, scroll down to “Siri & Search,” and disable “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” to prevent voice activation.
To fully disable Siri, they should also turn off “Press Side Button for Siri” and “Allow Siri When Locked.” This ensures the virtual assistant won’t activate through any means.
What could be preventing Siri from being turned off on my iPhone?
If Siri doesn’t seem to turn off completely, it might be due to Screen Time restrictions or device management profiles. These settings can override user preferences in some cases.
Another possibility is that only one activation method was disabled. For example, if “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” is turned off but “Press Side Button for Siri” remains active, Siri will still work when the side button is pressed.
How does one turn off Siri on iOS 18?
In iOS 18, users can disable Siri by opening Settings and tapping on “Siri & Search.” They can then toggle off “Listen for ‘Hey Siri'” to disable voice activation.
For complete deactivation, users should also turn off “Press Side Button for Siri” and “Allow Siri When Locked.” iOS 18 maintains similar Siri controls to previous versions for user consistency.
