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How to Fix Siri Not Working on iPhone (Step by Step)

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Writer, Apple

Over the last decade, Farhad has gained hands-on experience with smartphones, laptops, accessories, wearables, printers, etc. If he's not writing, you can bet he's trying to keep up with the latest technology. He oversees coverage of iPhone, iOS, and Apple Watch for Gotechtor.

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Apple’s Siri is one of the best voice assistants. So it’s frustrating when Siri is not working on your iPhone as you cannot use it to check the weather, send messages, make calls, or open apps.

There are a few reasons why this may happen though. Fortunately, this can be an easy problem to fix, as long as you know what to look for.

So, we’ve amassed a helpful guide on how to fix Siri when it’s not working on your iPhone. Without further ado, let’s dive into it.

1. Make Sure Hey Siri Is Switched On

Before starting any complicated methods, make sure that Hey Siri is enabled because it won’t work if it isn’t. To do so, follow the steps below:

1. Go to Settings.

Open settings app
Launch iPhone Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. Then tap on Siri & Search.

Go to Siri and Search
Scroll down to Siri & Search. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Now make sure that Listen for Hey Siri is toggled on.

Switch on Listen to Hey Siri
Toggle On Listen for Hey Siri. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. If Siri was already enabled on your IOS device, disable the Listen for Hey Siri switch and wait for about 15 seconds.

Disable Listen to Hey Siri
Disable Hey Siri. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

5. After that, turn it back on and see whether Hey Siri is working.

Continue to the next solution if the problem persists.

2. Restart Your iPhone

Another simple yet effective method to fix issues in most electronics is to restart it, and iPhones are no exceptions.

1. To restart your iPhone, simultaneously press the power button, volume up, and volume down the button.

2. Then slide the restart button from left to right.

3. Reset Network Settings

In some cases, a lack of internet connection can cause Siri features to malfunction. We recommend resetting the network settings to check that they are not the source of the problem.

1. Go to Settings.

Open settings app
Go to iPhone Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. Then tap on General.

Tap on General. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Select the Transfer or Reset option at the bottom of the screen.

Select Transfer or Reset iPhone. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Tap Reset in the following menu.

Select Reset. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

5. After that, select Reset Network Settings from the pop-up menu.

Reset Network Settings to fix Siri not working on iPhone
Select Reset Network Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Turn Off the “Type to Siri” Feature

Although the Type to Siri feature is helpful in many situations, it can occasionally cause problems. So, to be sure this is the case, we recommend turning it off using the instructions below:

1. Open Settings.

Open settings app
Launch iPhone Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. Then scroll down to Accessibility.

Open Accessibility in Settings app
Go to Accessibility. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Go to Siri.

Open Siri menu in Accessibility
Siri in Accessibility. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Next toggle off Type to Siri.

Disable Type to Siri to fix Siri not working on iPhone
Disable Type to Siri. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

Check to see if the problem is still there. If Siri isn’t working on your iPhone, try the next option.

5. Set Up Your Voice on Siri

If Siri does not reply to you when you say Hey Siri, try resetting Hey Siri to help it recognize your voice.

1. First, go to Settings.

Open settings app
Open Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. Tap on Siri & Search.

Go to Siri and Search
Scroll down to Siri & Search. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Turn off Listen for “Hey Siri,” then turn it back on.

Switch Off Hey Siri. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Tap Turn Off Siri.

Disable Listen to Hey Siri
Confirm Hey Siri Disable. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

5. Next toggle on Listen for “Hey Siri.”

Switch on Listen to Hey Siri
Enable Hey Siri. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

6. Set up, Hey Siri, and check to see if the issue has been resolved.

6. Update iOS to the Latest Version

Updating the iOS may help fix some known and unknown issues, including, Hey Siri not working. Follow the steps below to update the firmware on your iPhone:

1. Open Settings.

Open settings app
Tap on Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. Then tap on General.

Go to General. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Select Software Update.

Tap on Software Update. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

4. Your phone will now check for new updates.

5. Tap on Download and Install if the new version is available.

After the update is complete, restart your phone to test if Siri is working.

7. Turn Off Low Power Mode

Although Low Power Mode is an essential feature on today’s phones, it can cause a slew of problems while it’s switched on.

To save battery power, the Low Power Mode disables the fanciest features. As a result, this battery feature could cause Siri to malfunction. Follow the steps below to turn off Low Power Mode:

1. Go to Settings.

Open settings app
Launch iPhone Settings. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

2. Scroll down to find the Battery, then tap on it.

Go to Battery in Settings app
Go to Battery App. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

3. Switch off the Low Power Mode if it is activated.

Disable Low Power Mode
Toggle off Low Power Mode. Screenshot: Farhad Pashaei/Gotechtor

8. Clean Your Device Microphone

Another reason Siri isn’t working is that it cannot hear you properly because your iPhone microphone is blocked or not working. To fix this issue, gently clean any dirt from the microphone grills.

It’s important to note that you shouldn’t use tools like needles because they can cause major damage. Instead, use cotton swabs or a super-soft toothbrush to remove the dirt.

Wrapping It Up

In most cases, Siri not working on iPhone can be resolved by updating your phone to the latest version of iOS or simply restarting your iPhone.

But if it doesn’t, try all of the solutions listed above. Assuming you’re still having problems with Siri, we recommend you make a Genius Bar appointment for help as a last resort.

Writer, Apple

Over the last decade, Farhad has gained hands-on experience with smartphones, laptops, accessories, wearables, printers, etc. If he's not writing, you can bet he's trying to keep up with the latest technology. He oversees coverage of iPhone, iOS, and Apple Watch for Gotechtor.

Farhad Pashaei

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