How to Fix “Hey Siri” Not Responding

If “Hey Siri” does not respond, first press the Side, Home, or top button to see whether Siri works at all. If button-activated Siri works and Voice Memos records clearly, turn on and retrain the listening feature, then check the Siri language, lock-screen access, network, restart, and updates. If Siri fails from every entry point or recordings are silent or distorted, stop changing settings and investigate the network or arrange microphone service.

Before you start

This guide applies to iPhone and iPad models that support Siri and the available “Hey Siri” or “Siri” listening feature. Settings names vary by iOS or iPadOS version, region, and device model; older devices, some regional software versions, and some languages do not support every listening feature.

You do not need Administrator or sudo privileges. You need access to the device’s Settings app and, for some changes, the expected Apple Account. A normal restart does not erase data. Do not erase the device or sign out of the Apple Account as an early troubleshooting step.

Before changing settings, disconnect headphones, leave CarPlay, remove a case or screen protector that could cover a microphone, and make a short Voice Memos recording. Check whether the device is muted, whether a Focus mode is active, and whether it has Wi-Fi or cellular data. If the device is managed by work or school, do not remove its profile without authorization.

First, check whether Siri works from the button

Press and hold the Side button on an iPhone with Face ID, the Home button on an iPhone or iPad with one, or the top button on supported iPad models. Ask Siri a simple question such as “What time is it?”

“Hey Siri” produces no response, but pressing the Side, Home, or top button may still open Siri.

If Siri opens and answers from the button, Siri is available. The problem is probably limited to the “Hey Siri” listening feature, voice training, lock-screen access, or the microphone used to hear the wake phrase. If Siri opens but cannot answer, check internet access before changing more settings.

Next, open Voice Memos and record a short sentence while speaking toward the bottom edge of the iPhone or the microphone openings on the iPad. Play it back. You can also record a video with the front and rear cameras and check the sound.

A clear recording points toward a Siri setting, wake-phrase, connectivity, or software issue. A recording that is silent, muffled, or heavily distorted points toward a blocked or damaged microphone. Remove any case or screen protector that covers a microphone opening, and gently clear visible debris with a clean, dry, soft brush. Do not push anything into a microphone opening or use liquid or compressed air.

Make sure your iPhone is actually listening for “Hey Siri”

On current software, Siri controls are under Siri or Apple Intelligence & Siri. The wording can vary by iOS or iPadOS version, region, and device model.

Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri) > Talk to Siri

Confirm that Listen for “Hey Siri” or the equivalent listening option is turned on. If the device offers a choice between “Hey Siri” and “Siri,” select the phrase you intend to use.

To allow the wake phrase while the device is locked, check this setting:

Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri) > Allow Siri When Locked

Turn it on if you expect the wake phrase to work while the screen is locked. If it is off, unlock the device and test again. This setting explains many apparent failures on a locked iPhone or iPad.

Check the Siri language:

Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri) > Language

Choose the language and, where offered, the regional variant that matches the words and pronunciation you use. Siri does not support every language on every device or in every region. If the selected language is unsupported for your device, choose a supported option shown in the list.

Make sure you are signed in to the expected Apple Account under Settings. Siri-related personalization and some features can depend on the account, region, and device restrictions. Do not sign out of the Apple Account as an early troubleshooting step. Check Screen Time restrictions, work or school management profiles, and policies that disable Siri or dictation.

If the listening option is missing entirely, the device may be too old, the current language may not support that feature, or a restriction may be active. Install available operating-system updates before assuming the microphone has failed.

Reset the wake phrase, then restart and update the device

Turning listening off and back on makes Siri discard the existing wake-phrase training and record your voice again. Repeating the phrase without changing the setting does not retrain it.

Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri) > Talk to Siri > Listen for “Hey Siri”

1. Turn off Listen for “Hey Siri”.
2. If the device asks whether to turn off Siri, confirm the change.
3. Turn Listen for “Hey Siri” back on.
4. Follow each on-screen prompt. Speak naturally and use the same language selected in Siri settings.
5. Test the phrase from the lock screen and then with the device unlocked.

The expected result is a fresh voice-training sequence followed by a working wake phrase. If no training prompts appear, return to the same setting, check that Siri is enabled, and verify that Screen Time or management software is not restricting it.

Before testing, turn off a connected headset temporarily, move away from a CarPlay microphone, and remove a case that covers the device microphone. Check Control Center for an active Focus mode, especially Driving or a custom mode, and temporarily disable it for the test. Mute mode normally does not prevent Siri from hearing the wake phrase, but it can affect spoken replies. Raise the volume so a spoken response is not mistaken for silence.

Restart the iPhone or iPad normally. After it starts, connect to reliable Wi-Fi or cellular data and try Siri again. Siri needs internet access for many requests. Captive portals, VPNs, firewalls, content filters, and workplace or school networks can block its servers. Test on another network if possible, and temporarily disconnect a VPN only if your organization’s rules allow it.

Install available software updates:

Settings > General > Software Update

Install the offered iOS or iPadOS update and restart if prompted. Keep the device connected to power if the update requires it. Low Power Mode can change background behavior and reduce some activity, but it is not a reliable explanation for a completely unresponsive wake phrase. Turn it off temporarily during testing if the problem occurs only when the battery is low:

Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode

If the wake phrase still fails but the button opens Siri and Voice Memos is clear, focus on a restricted network, an accessory or CarPlay microphone, a language or device limitation, or a software fault. Do not erase the device or repeatedly change Apple Account settings.

How to tell whether the fix worked

Test in this order so you know which change helped. First disconnect headphones and leave CarPlay, then place the iPhone or iPad on a table with the microphone openings unobstructed.

1. Say “Hey Siri” at a normal volume with the screen unlocked.
2. Ask for a simple command, such as “Set a timer for one minute.”
3. Lock the device and repeat the test if Allow Siri When Locked is enabled.
4. Try again from a short distance without shouting or covering the microphone.
5. Press the Side, Home, or top button and ask the same command for comparison.

A successful test shows Siri’s listening animation followed by an answer or confirmation without pressing a button. If the button works but the wake phrase fails at every distance, return to the listening and language settings rather than treating it as a general Siri outage. If Siri fails from both the button and the wake phrase, focus on internet access, restrictions, software updates, and Apple service availability. If Voice Memos and camera recordings also have no usable audio, stop changing Siri settings and arrange microphone service.

When settings will not fix it

Arrange Apple Support or authorized service when the microphone remains silent or distorted in Voice Memos and camera recordings after removing the case and restarting. That pattern indicates a physical microphone obstruction or hardware problem, not a wake-phrase setting. Service is also appropriate if the microphone works intermittently after liquid exposure, a drop, or visible damage.

Contact Apple Support when Siri works from the button but “Hey Siri” still fails after retraining, restarting, updating, and testing without headphones or CarPlay. Tell Support which pattern applies: the wake phrase only, Siri everywhere, or all voice input. This helps avoid repeating unrelated settings changes.

Headphones and CarPlay can change which microphone hears you. Test with them disconnected, then reconnect one at a time. If Siri fails only through a particular headset or only in CarPlay, inspect that accessory, its cable or wireless connection, and its permissions instead of resetting the iPhone.

A VPN, DNS filter, firewall, captive Wi-Fi login, or managed network can prevent Siri from completing a request. Test cellular data or a trusted home network. If Siri works there, ask the network administrator to review the restriction; do not remove a work or school profile without authorization.

Older iPhone and iPad models, some regional software versions, and some Siri languages do not support every listening feature. If the device cannot show the listening option for a supported language after updating, Apple Support can confirm whether that model and region support “Hey Siri.”

Conclusion

Use the button, Voice Memos, and a controlled wake-phrase test to identify the failure. Retrain Siri and check its language, lock-screen access, network, accessories, restart, and updates; if recordings remain silent or distorted, arrange microphone service instead of changing settings again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Siri work when I press the button but not when I say “Hey Siri”?

The wake-phrase listener may be disabled, incorrectly trained, blocked while locked, set to the wrong language, or affected by an accessory or microphone obstruction. Go to Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri) > Talk to Siri, turn `Listen for “Hey Siri”` off and back on, complete the voice prompts, and test without headphones or CarPlay.

Does Low Power Mode disable “Hey Siri”?

Low Power Mode can reduce background activity, but it is not normally the sole cause of a completely unresponsive wake phrase. Turn it off temporarily during testing, then check Siri settings, the microphone, internet access, and software updates.

Can Siri work without Wi-Fi?

Some Siri functions can use cellular data, but many requests require an internet connection. Test on cellular data or another Wi-Fi network if Siri opens but cannot answer.

When should I get the microphone repaired?

Arrange Apple Support or authorized service when Voice Memos or camera recordings remain silent, muffled, or distorted after removing the case and restarting. That indicates a likely microphone obstruction or hardware fault rather than a Siri setting.