Skip to Content

How to Use 'Hey Siri' Hands-Free on a Mac

by

The latest version of Apple's "Hey Siri" feature works hands-free without being plugged into power, and it can be found in several recently announced Apple mobile products, including the fifth-generation iPad mini, third-generation iPad Air, and second-generation AirPods.

macbook pro hey siri
What's perhaps less well-known is that many of Apple's new Macs also support "Hey ‌Siri‌" hands-free, meaning that users no longer have to click the menu bar icon or press a keyboard shortcut before they can start talking to the digital assistant.

What follows is a list of Macs that support "Hey ‌Siri‌" hands-free, and below that you can find instructions on how to enable it on your machine. Note that future Mac models that include Apple's T2 security chip are likely to support the feature, too.

  • MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2018)
  • ‌MacBook Pro‌ (13-inch, 2018, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)
  • MacBook Air (Retina, 13-inch, 2018)
  • iMac Pro

How to Enable "Hey Siri" hands-free on a Mac

  1. Click the Apple () symbol in the top left corner of your Mac's screen and select System Preferences....
  2. Click the Siri icon in the preference pane.

  3. Tick the checkbox next to Listen for "Hey Siri". macheysiri
  4. Click Continue to follow the ‌Siri‌ setup process, repeating verbally the commands shown on the screen.
  5. Click Done and then close the preference pane.

Now that you've enabled the feature, simply say "Hey ‌Siri‌" to invoke the digital assistant and ask a question or give a command. If you're familiar with the ‌Siri‌ function on iPhone or iPad, you should find most of the same general commands work on Mac, too. For more information on how the feature can be useful on the desktop, check out our dedicated guide to using Siri commands in macOS.

Top Rated Comments

4jasontv Avatar
90 months ago
Oh please no. I don’t need Cortana waking up, activating Siri and than having a conversation until I throw one at the other.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NBAasDOGG Avatar
90 months ago
I usually use the Command + Space to activate Siri, but since our courageous keyboards doesn’t work anymore, Apple decided to release hands-free Siri on the Mac!
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Icaras Avatar
90 months ago
Still can’t believe the new iMac doesn’t have the T2 chip :mad:
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
90 months ago
What about the Mac mini?
Doesn't show on my Mac mini with a microphone attached which is annoying as it has the T2 chip.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aquamite Avatar
90 months ago
What about the Mac mini?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
90 months ago
Still can’t believe the new iMac doesn’t have the T2 chip :mad:
That can lead to some potentially unintended consequences...

Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

macbook air blue

What's Coming in the M5 MacBook Air

Thursday February 26, 2026 3:57 pm PST by
Along with the low-cost MacBook, Apple could introduce a refreshed version of the MacBook Air next week. Most of the focus will be on the new machine, but the MacBook Air is expected to get some useful internal updates. M5 Chip The next-generation MacBook Air will adopt the M5 chip, which Apple already introduced in the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models that came out last year. Apple's M5...
Apple Announces Special Event in New York Feature 1

Apple Teases 'A Big Week Ahead' With Announcements Starting Monday

Thursday February 26, 2026 6:06 am PST by
Apple CEO Tim Cook today teased "a big week ahead," with announcements starting Monday. His post included an #AppleLaunch hashtag with a colorful Apple logo, along with a short video that ultimately shows an Apple logo on the lid of a Mac. Apple is reportedly planning a three-day stretch of product announcements from Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 4, with up to five new products...
ipad mini 7 1

Could Apple's OLED iPad Mini Finally Be a Kindle Killer?

Friday February 27, 2026 12:08 pm PST by
With a similar screen size and easy, one-handed grip, the iPad mini has always been the Apple device that overlaps most with dedicated e-readers. Now, amid rumors pointing to an OLED display for the next generation, could the iPad mini finally replace devices such as the Kindle and Kobo? The shift from LCD to OLED could make the iPad mini far more appealing as a reading device. OLED panels...