How to Enable Type to Siri in iOS - MacRumors
Skip to Content

How to Enable Type to Siri in iOS

by

One of the common complaints about Siri is the vocal component -- speaking to ‌Siri‌ must be done verbally, which can be embarrassing and inconvenient in social situations. Apple hasn't provided a clear cut solution like an integrated ‌Siri‌ and Spotlight search feature, but iOS has had a Type to ‌Siri‌ feature since iOS 11.

Type to ‌Siri‌ is a function designed for those who are unable to speak, but it can be enabled by anyone who would like to try typing to ‌Siri‌ instead of speaking to ‌Siri‌.

Enabling Type to Siri

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Choose "General."
  3. Select the "Accessibility" section.
  4. Scroll down and "‌Siri‌."typetosiri1
  5. Toggle on "Type to ‌Siri‌."

With Type to ‌Siri‌ enabled, when the Home button (or Side button if your device doesn't have a Home button) is pressed to activate ‌Siri‌, it brings up the keyboard and an option to type a command to ‌Siri‌. Typed ‌Siri‌ commands work just like spoken ‌Siri‌ commands - ‌Siri‌ will respond to questions like "What's the weather?" or "What movies are playing nearby?"

typetosiri2
When you have Type to ‌Siri‌ turned on, it's an all or nothing setting. All commands must be typed if you access ‌Siri‌ through the Home button or Side button. If you say "Hey ‌Siri‌," though, ‌Siri‌ will respond to spoken questions as normal, so you can use spoken commands alongside typed commands in this way. ‌Siri‌ will also respond to voice commands when the AirPods are connected and the personal assistant is activated, either via a tap on the AirPods or by saying "Hey ‌Siri‌" handsfree on AirPods 2.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Top Rated Comments

bob122989 Avatar
113 months ago
“Siri, turn WiFi off, for real.”
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jclo Avatar
113 months ago
That’s perfect and very handy for deaf user like me.

Say if I have iPhone X, how will that work since there’s no home button? Was curious.
You'll bring up Siri from the side button.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cariacou Avatar
113 months ago
The all or nothing is the big killer here.
I'd love type to siri 60% of the time, but they Hey Siri is not reliable enough for the rest. Bummer...

It seems that it would be really easy to bring both up at the same time: Keyboard + Vocal Siri
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
supertomtom Avatar
113 months ago
Even though it’s an all or nothing setting, you can still use “Hey Siri” to activate Siri the normal way.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Gemini Siri Feature

Google Confirms Gemini-Powered Siri Coming Later This Year

Wednesday April 22, 2026 11:08 am PDT by
Google today commented on its partnership with Apple, confirming that Gemini will power a new, more personalized version of Siri that's set to be released later in 2026. Google Cloud chief Thomas Kurian mentioned the Apple partnership during Google Cloud Next 2026, a conference that's taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada today. Earlier this year, we announced a monumental partnership with one...
iOS 27 Mock Quick

iOS 27 Camera App to Get 'Siri' Mode With Nutrition Label Scanning

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:54 am PDT by
Apple is planning to integrate Apple Intelligence and Siri into more of its apps in iOS 27, including the Camera app, reports Bloomberg. The iOS 27 Camera app will have a dedicated Siri mode that will be available alongside the existing Photo, Video, Portrait, and Panorama modes. When in Siri mode, the existing Camera app shutter button will feature the Apple Intelligence logo, letting users know ...
Apple More Personal Siri Ad

Apple to Pay $250 Million to Settle Class Action Over Delayed Siri Features

Tuesday May 5, 2026 2:01 pm PDT by
Apple will pay $250 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing it of false advertising and unfair competition after the personalized Siri features it promoted when launching the iPhone 16 were delayed. A smarter, Apple Intelligence version of Siri was shown off at WWDC 2024, and then promoted in ads and videos when the iPhone 16 launched in September 2024. After Apple delayed the Siri ...