How to Get Siri to Respond on the Right Device

Siri is designed to activate on any device and wait for instructions.. At times, Siri will activate on the wrong device when you say “Hey Siri," which can be frustrating. Here’s how to ensure the right device responds when you say “Hey Siri.”

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How to Make Sure the Right Device Will Respond to Hey Siri

There are a couple of things to check on before you continue troubleshooting which device responds to "Hey Siri." 

  • Make sure that the device has Bluetooth turned on. If Bluetooth is turned off or the device isn’t within range, alternate devices might respond to “Hey Siri.”
  • Make sure that the device is using the latest Apple software. If some devices are using older software, multiple devices might respond to “Hey Siri.”
  • If Siri is not responding at all, consider looking at these troubleshooting tips.

What to Do If the Wrong Device Responds to “Hey Siri”

How to Check That "Hey Siri" is Enabled on Your iPhone

You can enable or disable Listen for "Hey Siri" by following these steps on your iPhone:

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  1. Open the Settings app.

    Open the Settings app
     
  2. Scroll down and tap on Siri & Search.

    Scroll down and tap on Siri & Search
     
  3. Check that Listen for “Hey Siri” is toggled on. The toggle should be green.

    Make sure the Listen for "Hey Siri" toggle is green, which means it's enabled
     
  4. Check that Allow Siri When Locked is toggled on. Siri won’t respond if the screen is locked.

    Make sure the Allow Siri When Locked toggle is green, which means it's enabled
     
  5. If you want to turn off "Listen for Hey Siri," tap the toggle and it will turn gray.

    To disable Listen for "Hey Siri," tap the toggle to turn it gray

How to Check That "Hey Siri" is Enabled on Your Mac

If you'd like to enable or disable "Hey Siri" on your Mac, here's how:

  1. Open System Preferences.

    Open System Preferences on your Mac
     
  2. Click on Siri.

    Click on Siri
     
  3. Check that Listen for “Hey Siri” is enabled. You'll see a blue check mark next to it if it's enabled.
  4. Check that Allow Siri When Locked is enabled. You'll see a blue check mark next to it if it's enabled.

    Listen for "Hey Siri" and Allow Siri When Locked are enabled when there are checkmarks in the boxes next to them
     
  5. If you want to turn off Listen for "Hey Siri," uncheck the box next to it.

    Listen for "Hey Siri" is disabled when there is no checkmark in the box next to it

Use the Home App to Turn Off Listen for “Hey Siri” on a HomePod

You can turn off Listen for "Hey Siri" on your HomePod using the Home app on your iPhone or iPad. You can also use these steps to enable the same feature.

  1. Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.

    Open the Home app
     
  2. Tap the Home tab if it isn't already selected.

    Tap on the Home tab if you're not already there
     
  3. Long-press the HomePod icon.

    Long-press the HomePod icon
     
  4. Tap the Settings gear icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen. You may have to scroll down to see it.

    Scroll down if you need to, and tap the Settings gear icon
     
  5. Scroll to the ‌Siri‌ section.
  6. Make sure Listen for “Hey Siri” is toggled off. The toggle will be gray.

    Make sure Listen for Hey Siri is toggled off. The toggle will be gray.
     
  7. To enable Listen for “Hey Siri,” tap the gray toggle and it will turn green.

    Toggle on Listen for Hey Siri. The toggle will turn green.
     
  8. Tap the X icon in the upper-right corner to finish.

    Tap the gray x icon to exit
     
  9. Once You turn "Hey Siri" off for your HomePod, you'll see a mute microphone on the HomePod icon in your Home tab.

    When "Hey Siri" is disabled, you'll see a microphone icon on your HomePod icon

We hope these steps have helped you make sure that the right Apple device responds to "Hey Siri." Once you've got Siri working, you can even customize it by changing Siri's voice and more. Now you should enjoy smoother interactions with your Apple virtual assistant!

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Author Details

Erin MacPherson's picture

Author Details

Erin MacPherson

Erin is a Web Editor for iPhone Life and has been a writer, editor, and researcher for many years. She has a degree in communication with an emphasis on psychology and communication, and has spent many of her professional years as a coach in various business and specialty fields. Erin officially joined the ranks of iPhone and Apple users everywhere around nine years ago, and has since enjoyed the unique and customized feel of Apple technology and its many gadgets. When she’s not working, Erin and her son enjoy outdoor adventures, camping, and spending time with their eclectic collection of pets.