How do I use Siri on my iPhone or iPad?
Siri is Apple's voice assistant — it is built into every iPhone and iPad. You can talk to Siri to make calls, send messages, set reminders, get directions, check the weather, and answer questions, all without typing anything. To use Siri, simply say "Hey Siri" followed by what you want, or press and hold the side button on your iPhone. Siri understands plain, conversational language — you do not need to use special commands. Try saying "Hey Siri, call my daughter," "Hey Siri, remind me to take my medication at 8 in the morning," or "Hey Siri, what is the weather tomorrow?" Siri sends your voice to Apple's servers to process your request. Apple does not sell this data, but if privacy is a concern, you can turn Siri off in Settings → Siri & Search. Siri does make mistakes occasionally — if the result is wrong, just try asking again in different words.
How to set up Siri on your iPhone or iPad
- Go to Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap "Siri & Search".
- Turn on "Listen for "Hey Siri"" — then follow the setup to teach Siri your voice.
- Turn on "Press Side Button for Siri" for a second way to activate it.
- Say "Hey Siri, what can you do?" to see a list of things Siri can help with.
The 3-Second Rule
If Siri ever reads out something that seems private or personal — check that your phone was not accidentally activated in your pocket. Check Settings → Siri → Siri History.
Learn More
.'>Go deeper with our full lesson: Module 9: Understanding AI.