Siri has been a core part of the Apple ecosystem since 2011, but not everyone wants a voice assistant listening in the background, popping up accidentally, or reading messages out loud. Whether you’re concerned about privacy, annoyed by accidental activations, or simply prefer a quieter experience, completely turning off Siri is straightforward once you know where to look. This step-by-step guide covers every major Apple device in 2026 iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, and even Apple Vision Pro with the latest settings for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and beyond.
Why People Choose to Disable Siri in 2025
Before diving into the “how,” here’s why millions of users search for ways to turn Siri off:
- Privacy: Even when not actively used, Siri processes “Hey Siri” wake words on-device and can send data to Apple servers for improvement.
- Accidental activations: Side-button presses, raised wrists, or AirPods touch gestures trigger Siri far too easily for some.
- Battery life: While Apple says on-device processing is efficient, disabling “Hey Siri” and Siri Suggestions can reduce background activity.
- Focus and minimalism: Many power users prefer manual search and typing over voice interaction.
Whatever your reason, disabling Siri is 100% reversible and takes less than two minutes per device.
How to Disable Siri on iPhone (iOS 18 and Later)
This works on iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and the latest iPhone 16 series.
- Open Settings → Siri & Search
- Toggle off the following (all four are recommended for complete disable):
- Listen for “Hey Siri” or “Siri”
- Press Side Button for Siri (or Home Button on older models)
- Allow Siri When Locked
- Show Siri Suggestions (optional but recommended)
- You’ll see a pop-up: “Turn Off Siri?” → Tap Turn Off Siri
Extra step for maximum privacy: Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → Turn off “Improve Siri & Dictation”
Result: Siri is completely disabled. The side button will now trigger Power Off / Medical ID instead.
How to Turn Off Siri on iPhone 16 (Action Button Models)
On iPhone 15 Pro, 16, and 16 Pro:
- Settings → Action Button
- Swipe to the far right and choose “None” (or assign something else instead of Siri)
How to Disable Siri on iPad (iPadOS 18)
The steps are nearly identical to iPhone:
Settings → Siri & Search → Turn off all four toggles → Confirm “Turn Off Siri”
If your iPad has a Home button, also disable “Press Home for Siri”.
How to Disable Siri on Mac (macOS Sequoia 15 and Later)
- Click Apple menu → System Settings
- Select Siri & Spotlight
- Toggle off:
- Ask Siri (main switch)
- Listen for “Hey Siri”
- Press and hold Globe key / Function key (customizable)
- Click “Turn Off” when prompted
Bonus: Remove the Siri icon from the menu bar and Dock via System Settings → Control Center → uncheck “Show in Menu Bar”.
How to Disable Siri on Apple Watch (watchOS 11+)
- On the Watch: Settings → Siri
- Toggle off:
- Hey Siri
- Raise to Speak
- Press Digital Crown
- Tap Turn Off Siri
Alternatively, open Watch app on iPhone → My Watch → Siri → turn everything off.
How to Disable Siri on AirPods
AirPods Pro 1 & 2, AirPods 4 (ANC model), and AirPods Max:
- On iPhone: Settings → Bluetooth → tap the ⓘ next to your AirPods
- Set Press and Hold (or Squeeze on Pro 2 / AirPods 4) to anything except Siri (e.g., Noise Control or Off)
- Turn off “Announce Notifications” to stop Siri reading messages
To completely disable “Hey Siri” detection: Settings → Siri & Search → turn off Listen for “Siri” or “Hey Siri” (this applies globally)
How to Disable Siri on HomePod and HomePod mini
- Open Home app on iPhone/iPad
- Long-press your HomePod tile
- Tap the gear icon → Siri
- Toggle off:
- Listen for “Hey Siri”
- Touch and Hold for Siri
- Sound when recognized (optional)
- Tap Turn Off Siri
How to Disable Siri Suggestions Everywhere
Even with Siri disabled, Apple still shows proactive suggestions. To stop them:
- iPhone/iPad: Settings → Siri & Search → turn off all suggestions under “Suggestions from Apple”
- Mac: System Settings → Siri & Spotlight → disable all under “Siri Suggestions”
Comparison Table: Where Siri Settings Live in 2025
| Device | Main Setting Path | “Hey Siri” Toggle | Long-Press Trigger | Extra Steps Needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Settings → Siri & Search | Yes | Side Button / Action Button | Turn off Suggestions |
| iPad | Settings → Siri & Search | Yes | Top Button / Home Button | Same as iPhone |
| Mac | System Settings → Siri & Spotlight | Yes | Globe / Fn key | Remove menu bar icon |
| Apple Watch | Settings → Siri (on Watch) | Yes | Raise to Speak / Digital Crown | None |
| AirPods Pro/Max | Settings → Bluetooth → [AirPods] | Global (iPhone) | Squeeze / Touch & Hold | Disable Announce Notifications |
| HomePod | Home app → [HomePod] → Settings → Siri | Yes | Touch top | Light when recognized |
| Apple Vision Pro | Settings → Eyes & Hands → Siri | Yes | Pinch & hold (optional gesture) | None |
Will Disabling Siri Save Battery Life?
Yes, but the difference is usually small (1–3% per day) on modern devices because wake-word detection is processed on-device with low-power chips. The biggest battery gains come from turning off “Always Listening” on older iPhones and Apple Watches.
How to Completely Disable Siri and Stop It from Listening
The most thorough method in 2025:
- Turn off Siri in Settings on every device (as above)
- Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Analytics & Improvements → disable “Improve Siri & Dictation”
- Settings → [Your Name] → Find My → turn off “Find My network” if paranoid (this prevents off-device pinging)
- Optional: Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Siri & Dictation → “Don’t Allow”
After these steps, Apple receives zero voice data from your devices.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I stop Siri from listening all the time?
A: Turn off “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’ or ‘Siri’” in Settings → Siri & Search on iPhone/iPad, or equivalent on other devices. This stops always-on listening completely.
Q: How do I turn off Siri on mobile entirely?
A: Follow the iPhone steps above and confirm “Turn Off Siri” in the pop-up. Do the same on iPad and Apple Watch.
Q: Can I disable Siri on iPhone 13, 14, 15, or 16 differently?
A: No, the menu is identical across all models running iOS 17 or 18. Only the physical button (Side vs Action Button) differs slightly.
Q: Does disabling Siri also stop it from reading messages?
A: Yes. Once Siri is fully turned off, “Announce Notifications” and message reading are automatically disabled.
Q: Will Apple bring back a way to delete Siri completely?
A: As of 2025, no. You can only disable it. Apple continues to integrate Apple Intelligence features that rely on the same backend.
Q: Is there a way to disable Siri with a shortcut or terminal command?
A: Not officially. On Mac you can use defaults write com.apple.assistant.support ‘Assistant Enabled’ -bool false in Terminal, but the GUI method is safer and achieves the same result.
Q: If I disable Siri now, will Apple Intelligence still work later?
A: Apple Intelligence (Writing Tools, Image Playground, advanced ChatGPT integration) works independently of classic Siri in iOS 18.2+ and does not require “Hey Siri” to be active.
Final Thoughts
Turning off Siri is one of the quickest ways to reclaim privacy, reduce accidental interruptions, and slightly extend battery life across your Apple devices. The process is consistent and reversible – if you ever change your mind, just flip the toggles back on and retrain “Hey Siri” if desired.
