‘Hey Siri’ Not Working on Your iPhone? Here’s How to Fix it

We show you how to fix Hey Siri problem on your iPhone step-by-step

By Tom Griffin - Executive Editor
3 Min Read

I set up Hey Siri on my iPhone yesterday. Setting up Hey Siri was very simple. However, I found that Hey Siri was not working properly. I was saying ‘Hey Siri’ or "Hey Siri" to activate Siri, but Siri was not responding. There can be several things that can cause the Hey Siri feature to stop working on an iPhone. This article explains how to troubleshoot problems with ‘Hey Siri’ on iPhone.

Important notes:

  • Hey Siri works without a power source on iPhone 6s and later models. Older iPhone models require the device to be plugged in to use Hey Siri.
  • Your iPhone may not listen for “Siri” or “Hey Siri” when the device is facing down or covered. You’ll need to turn on Always Listen for “Siri” for Hey Siri to function when your device is faced down or covered.

How to fix Hey Siri not working on iPhone issue

Can Siri Hear You?

If Hey Siri is no longer working on your iPhone, first make sure that Siri can hear you. If Siri can’t hear you, she will not help you. You may be having microphone issues. Make sure that your microphone is not covered. For instance, your protective phone case may cause problems preventing Siri from detecting voice feedback. You may want to test your microphone. You can test your microphones simply by recording a video using the built-in Camera app. If your video recording sounds weak, Siri may not be able to hear you. Try removing your case. Try also clearing any debris from the microphone openings.

Is Siri enabled?

Go to Settings, tap Apple Intelligence & Siri (or just Siri, depending on your iPhone model). Check that Siri is enabled. If Siri is turned on, turn it off, wait a few seconds and turn it back on.

Is Hey Siri enabled?

As stated above, Hey Siri is turned off by default, make sure that Hey Siri is enabled on your iPhone. Go to Settings, tap Apple Intelligence & Siri (or Siri), then tap Talk & Type to Siri (or Talk to Siri). Select "Siri" or "Hey Siri", or “Hey Siri”

If you need to retrain Siri to recognize your voice, turn off Listen for "Siri" or "Hey Siri," then turn it back on. When the Siri setup screen appears, tap Continue and say each command that you see on your screen, then tap Done. After resetting Hey Siri, test your problem again.

Is Siri Allowed When Locked?

If your iPhone does not respond to “Hey Siri” command when your screen is locked, make sure Allow Siri When Locked setting is turned on.

Go to Settings, tap Apple Intelligence & Siri (or just Siri), then ensure Allow Siri When Locked is turned on.

Is Hey Siri configured to work when iPhone is face down?

By default, Hey Siri doesn’t respond when your iPhone is face down or covered. If you want your iPhone to always listen for “Hey Siri” command regardless of it’s position:

Go to Settings, tap Accessibility, scroll down to Siri, then turn on Always Listen for "Siri". This ensures that your iPhone listens for “Siri” or “Hey Siri” when the device is facing down or covered.

iOS update

Ensure that your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS. Apple continuously releases iOS updates to improve your device’s performance. You may check if you have the latest version of iOS by going to Settings, tap General, then tap Software Update.

Does your iOS device have an Internet connection?

Siri requires an Internet connection to function. Make sure that your iPhone has an active Internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular connection).

Restart your iPhone

Simply restarting your iPhone may fix your Hey Siri issues. To restart your iPhone:

Go to Settings, tap General, then tap Shut Down. Slide to power off, wait a few moments, then press and hold the Side button to turn your iPhone back on.

Force restart your iPhone

For iPhone 8 and later models:

Quickly press and release the Volume Up button, quickly press and release the Volume Down button, then press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.

After your iPhone restarts, say “Siri” or “Hey Siri.” Does Siri respond?

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Tom Griffin is the editor-in-chief at GeeksChalk where he oversees all of site’s evergreen content to ensure it’s up to date with the latest information. Hailing from London in the UK, he has over seven years of experience in the tech journalism space and holds a degree in English Literature. In his spare time, Tom can found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, and petting every dog he comes across in the outside world.
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