How to Set Up and Use Hey Siri Hands-Free on iPhone

Siri responds to your voice without pressing any buttons. Learn how to set up "Hey Siri" and discover the most useful things you can ask.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Turn On Hey Siri
2.Make a Phone Call by Voice
3.Send a Text Message by Voice
4.Set Timers and Reminders
5.Ask Questions and Get Information

Turn On Hey Siri

~19s

Open Settings on your iPhone. Tap "Siri & Search." Toggle on "Listen for 'Hey Siri'." Your iPhone prompts you to train Siri to recognize your voice — follow the on-screen instructions and say each phrase clearly.

Quick Tip

If you share the phrase during training in a quiet room, Siri will be more accurate when you use it.

Make a Phone Call by Voice

~20s

Say "Hey Siri, call Mom" or "Hey Siri, call John Smith." If you have multiple numbers for a contact, Siri asks which one. Say "mobile" or "home" to clarify. The call starts automatically — no touching your phone needed.

Quick Tip

You can also say "Hey Siri, call 555-1234" to dial a number you have not saved in your contacts.

Send a Text Message by Voice

~20s

Say "Hey Siri, text Sarah, I'll be there at 3." Siri creates the text message and reads it back to you. Say "Yes, send it" or "No, cancel." Your message is sent without looking at your phone.

Quick Tip

You can dictate the message content and Siri will type it out — great for people who find touchscreen typing difficult.

Set Timers and Reminders

~15s

Say "Hey Siri, set a timer for 10 minutes" — a timer starts immediately. Say "Hey Siri, remind me to take my blood pressure medicine at 8 AM" — a reminder is set. Both work entirely without looking at your phone.

Ask Questions and Get Information

~20s

Siri can answer general knowledge questions: "Hey Siri, what is the weather today?" or "Hey Siri, what time does Walmart close?" or "Hey Siri, how many ounces are in a cup?" Results appear on screen and Siri reads the answer aloud.

Warning

Siri can make mistakes, especially with names or specialized topics. Double-check important answers using a web search or official source.

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"Hey Siri" lets you talk to your iPhone without pressing any buttons. You say "Hey Siri" from across the room and your iPhone wakes up and listens for your request. This is especially useful when your hands are busy — cooking, driving, or simply when your phone is out of reach.

Siri can do a surprising number of things by voice: make phone calls, send text messages, set timers and reminders, play music, get directions, answer questions, control smart home devices, and open any app on your phone.

Setting up "Hey Siri" takes about two minutes. During setup, your iPhone learns the sound of your voice so it responds primarily to you and not to other voices in the room.

For the best experience with Siri, speak naturally and be specific. Instead of saying "Call," say "Call my daughter Sarah on her mobile." Instead of "Set a timer," say "Set a timer for 20 minutes." Siri understands complete sentences and context.

Siri works when your iPhone is connected to the internet (for complex questions and searches) and also offline for basic tasks like timers, calls, and simple calculations. On iPhone 12 and later, some Siri features work entirely on your device without an internet connection, which means your requests are more private.

"Hey Siri" is available on iPhone 6s and later. On newer iPhones (X and later), you can also activate Siri by pressing the Side button once — no need to speak the wake word.

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Siri

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voice commands

hands-free

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