Several iPhone users have stated that Siri has stopped working on their phones after installing iOS 18 update. This is an important problem because you will not be able to use the new Siri features on your iPhone until you fix this. If Siri has stopped working on your iPhone after iOS 18 update, try these fixes to get Siri going again.
Before we start, please note that some iOS 18 Siri intelligence features requires iPhone 15 Pro or newer to work.
How to fix Siri problems in iOS 18
Make sure Siri is enabled on iPhone
The iOS 18 update might have disabled Siri on your iPhone. So, check to ensure that Siri is enabled on your iPhone. Here is how you can check:
On your iPhone: Go to Settings > Siri. And make sure that the following settings are toggled on:
- “Siri” or “Hey Siri”
- Press Home for Siri or Press Side Button for Siri.
- And also, if you want Siri to work when your device is locked, also turn on Allow Siri When Locked.
Disconnect your Bluetooth headphones or speakers
A lot of people often have their iOS devices set to automatically connect to one or more Bluetooth audio devices when one of them switches on. If a device has a microphone — like headphones, certain speakers, or even your car — Siri may start listening to it for input, which is obviously a problem when you’re trying to talk directly to your phone.
To make sure this is not the course of your problem, make sure any mic-equipped Bluetooth devices are turned off or disconnected if you’re not using them.
To forcibly disconnect Bluetooth devices from your iPhone:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Bluetooth.
- Tap the “i” (info) button next to a device you want to disconnect.
- Choose Disconnect for a temporary release, or Forget This Device if you want to prevent it from reconnecting. You’ll have to re-pair if you choose to forget.
Restart
This is a simple one. Restart your iPhone. This may fix your iOS 18 Siri problem. To restart your iPhone, follow the steps below:
- Swipe down from the top right of the screen to see the Control Center.
- Locate the power button in the upper-right corner. Tap that button to bring up the Power Off screen.
- Move the icon on the slider to the right, and your phone will shut down.
- To power your iPhone back on, press the side button until you see the Apple logo.
After restarting your iPhone, check if Siri is working.
Update your iPhone
Make sure that your iPhone has the latest version of iOS 18. You can check for updates by following these steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap General.
- Select Software Update..
- If there is an update available, tap Update Now.
Make sure the Internet is working
Make sure that your iPhone is connected to the Internet by using an available Wi-Fi or cellular network. If you have no connection at all, Siri may say “I am having trouble with the connection. Please try again in a moment.” Or “Siri not available. You are not connected to the Internet”. If your connection is poor, Siri may say something like ”One moment” etc and take a long time to respond. To fix this.
- If you’re using cellular data
- Ensure that mobile data is enabled on your iPhone (Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data).
- Ensure you’re in an area with cellular coverage.
- If you are using a Wi-Fi connection:
- Turn off Wi-Fi and on by tapping the Wi-Fi icon in the Control Center.
- Make sure that you are close to your router.
- Try a different connection if possible.
- Restart your Wi-Fi router. Unplug the power supply, wait 1 minute and plug the power supply back in.
- Turn on Airplane Mode on your iPhone and then wait 1 minute and turn it off by going to Settings > Airplane Mode.
- You may want to reset network settings on your iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. Enter your passcode, and follow the onscreen instructions.
Is the microphone working?
Siri might struggle to hear and understand you if there’s a problem with your phone’s microphones. Test your microphone to make sure it’s working properly and isn’t the cause of your Siri problem. Simply record a video, and then watch your video. If you can detect your voice clearly, then Siri can hear you too. If not, it is possible that your microphone may not be working properly:
- If you have a protective case, try removing it then test again.
- Clean your microphone because your microphone holes may be blocked with debris and dust. You may use a soft toothbrush. You may also use a can of compressed air to clean.
Check Apple’s System Status
It is possible that Siri is down. Apple may be experiencing issues with Siri. You can check this by going to the Apple System status site. If Siri is green, everything is working. If not, just wait, Apple will fix it.