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Since you only need to say “Alexa” to activate that particular service, and as a result, it feels more immediate, discovering how to drop “Hey” from “Hey Siri” on iPhone puts Apple’s voice assistant on par with Amazon’s alternative. After all, you only need to say “Alexa” to activate that particular service. Apple is going to change the trigger phrase for Siri from “Hey Siri” to simply “Siri.” Following a report from Bloomberg in November that Apple was working on moving Siri to a single wake word, this change, which will be included in iOS 17, will make it easier to summon the virtual assistant on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other devices.
The change comes as a result of the report. You are able to skip saying “Hey” as soon as you do so as long as iOS 17 is installed on your iPhone. Try saying, “Siri, what’s the weather” to test whether the “Hey” can be dropped, and if that doesn’t work, delve into the settings to make sure the change is active. If it does work, try saying, “Hey, Siri, what’s the weather.” The instructions for doing so can be found below.
It is also important to keep in mind that you are not required to always say “Siri” before issuing a command to the digital assistant. After having asked Siri one question, you are immediately able to put in additional requests by merely uttering the required commands in the appropriate sequence. Apple is doing all of this as part of their plan to make using Siri feel simpler and more integrated. We mentioned below are the steps how to drop “Hey” from “Hey Siri” on iPhone.
How to drop “Hey” from “Hey Siri” on iPhone
- Go to Settings > Siri & Search.
- Under Ask Siri, tap on Listen For.
- Toggle the switch next to “Hey Siri” to the off position.
- Now, when you want to activate Siri, you will need to press and hold the Side button or the Home button on your iPhone.
Benefits of dropping “Hey” from “Hey Siri”
- Efficiency: Not having to say “Hey” before the wake word shortens the command and makes it more efficient. This saves users time and shortens interactions overall.
- Natural Flow: The shorter wake word makes the flow of conversations more natural, which makes using voice assistants feel less fancy and more natural.
- Quick Activation: The wake word is more responsive when it doesn’t have the extra word, which makes activating the voice assistant faster and better for the user.
- Simplifying the wake word by getting rid of parts that aren’t needed makes it easier for people to remember and use. This makes the interface simpler and easier for people to use.
- Less Verbal Clutter: Getting rid of the introductory word makes the command clearer, which makes the interaction feel more direct and to the point.
- User Preference: Some users may want a shorter and more direct wake word. Getting rid of the “Hey” lets these users get what they want.
Compatibility and prerequisites
| Compatibility | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| iOS devices with Siri | Siri-enabled device |
| macOS devices with Siri | Siri-enabled device |
| HomePod | Siri-enabled device connected to HomePod |
| AirPods with Siri support | Siri-enabled device connected to AirPods |
| CarPlay | Siri-enabled device connected to CarPlay |
| Apple Watch with Siri | Siri-enabled device connected to Apple Watch |
| HomeKit-enabled devices | Siri-enabled device with HomeKit compatibility |
Privacy and security implications of disabling “Hey Siri”
| Aspect | Implications |
|---|---|
| Privacy | Disabling “Hey Siri” enhances privacy by preventing the device from constantly listening for the trigger phrase. |
| Voice Data Collection | Stops or reduces the collection of voice data, which can be considered a positive for privacy. |
| Accidental Activations | Reduces the chance of accidental activations and unintended recordings, contributing to privacy. |
| User Control | Provides users with more control over when Siri is activated, aligning with privacy preferences. |
| Siri Effectiveness | Disabling “Hey Siri” may impact the overall convenience and effectiveness of Siri functionality. |
| Security | May improve security by minimizing the exposure of voice-activated functionality to potential exploits or eavesdropping. |
| Voice Recognition Accuracy | Disabling “Hey Siri” may impact voice recognition accuracy, as it relies on continuous listening for the trigger phrase. |
| Data Transmission Risks | Reduces the risk of unintentional transmission of sensitive information due to false activations. |
Questions and Answers
Siri is always listening in the sense that it is looking for its trigger phrase, but it’s important to know that it doesn’t start recording until it hears “Hey Siri.” In other words, Siri isn’t always listening or remembering what you say.
You can turn off Siri completely on your iPhone, but this will also turn on Voice Control, which could cause the same issues you were having before. Go to “General” and then “Siri.” This will show the Siri menu. At the top of the menu, turn Siri off.
Check how Siri is set up: You can also change the volume of Siri by going to the Siri settings on your device. You can do this by going to Settings and selecting “Siri & Search.” Here, you can change how loud Siri is to the level you want.
Speech Interpretation and Recognition Interface is what Siri stands for, but it also means something else. While in Norse Siri means “beautiful woman who leads you to victory,” in Swahili it means “secret.”