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iPad User Guide

Turn on and activate Siri on iPad

Siri is an intelligent assistant that’s built into your iPad to help you get things done.

Note: Siri is designed to protect your information and to let you choose what you share. To learn more, see the Siri, Dictation & Privacy website and the Improve Siri and Dictation & Privacy website.

Turn on Siri

Siri needs to be turned on before you can use it to get information. If you didn’t set up Siri when you first set up your iPad, do the following:

  1. Go to the Settings app 👁 Image
     on your iPad.

  2. Tap Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri), then tap Talk to Siri.

  3. Choose one of the following:

    • “Siri” or “Hey Siri”: iPad listens for “Siri” or “Hey Siri” at the beginning of requests.

      Note: The option to say just “Siri” is available on supported iPad models in some languages and regions. To check whether “Hey Siri” or “Siri” is available for your device and language, see the iOS and iPadOS Feature Availability website.

    • “Hey Siri”: iPad listens for “Hey Siri” at the beginning of requests.

    To activate Siri with the top button, turn on Press Top Button for Siri.

To change additional Siri settings, see Change Siri settings.

Activate Siri

After you turn on Siri, you need to activate it, then ask a question or make a request.

Note: You must be connected to the internet to use Siri.

  1. Do one of the following:

    • With your voice: Say “Siri” or “Hey Siri.”

    • On an iPad with a Home button: Press and hold the Home button.

    • On other iPad models: Press and hold the top button.

    • With EarPods with Remote and Mic: (Sold separately) Press and hold the center or call button.

  2. Ask a question or make a request—for example, say something like “What’s 18 percent of 225?” or “Set the timer for 3 minutes.”

    Tip: To change how long Siri waits for you to finish speaking, go to the Settings app 👁 Image
    ,     tap Accessibility, tap Siri, then choose Default, Longer, or Longest below Siri Pause Time.

When you activate Siri with a button and iPad is muted, Siri responds silently. When you activate Siri with your voice, Siri responds out loud. To change this behavior, see Change how Siri responds.

You can also activate Siri with a touch on supported AirPods. See Set Up Siri in the AirPods User Guide.

Tip: To prevent iPad from responding to “Siri” or “Hey Siri,” place your iPad face down, or go to the Settings app 👁 Image
, tap Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri), tap Talk to Siri (or Talk & Type to Siri), then choose Off.

Make back-to-back requests

After you activate Siri, you can make follow-up requests without reactivating it. (Available on supported iPad models in some countries or regions.)

  1. Activate Siri, then make a request.

  2. Immediately after you make the request, make another one.

    For example, say “Hey Siri, what’s the weather like in San Francisco? What about Cupertino?”

To override a request, interrupt Siri while Siri is speaking.

Make a correction if Siri misunderstands you

  • While making back-to-back requests: Repeat your request in a different way.

  • If you aren’t making back-to-back requests: Tap 👁 the Listen button
    ,     then repeat your request in a different way.

  • Spell out part of your request: Tap 👁 the Listen button
    ,     then repeat your request by spelling out any words that Siri didn’t understand. For example, say “Call,” then spell the person’s name.

  • Change a message before sending it: Say “Change it.”

  • Edit your request with text: If you see your request onscreen, you can edit it. Tap the request, then use the onscreen keyboard.

Tip: To correct your request without reactivating Siri, make the corrected request immediately after the original one. (Available on supported iPad models in some countries and regions.)

Type instead of speaking to Siri

If you don’t have Apple Intelligence turned on, you can turn on Type to Siri in Accessibility settings.

  1. Go to the Settings app 👁 Image
     on your iPad.

  2. Tap Accessibility, tap Siri, then turn on Tap to Siri.

  3. To type a request, activate Siri, then use the keyboard and text field to ask a question or make a request.

Note: To type to Siri with Apple Intelligence, see Type to Siri.

Turn off Siri

  1. Go to the Settings app 👁 Image
     on your iPad.

  2. Tap Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri), then tap Talk to Siri (or Talk & Type to Siri).

  3. Tap Off, then turn off Press Top Button for Siri.

    Note: The option to say just “Siri” is available on supported iPad models in some languages and regions.

If Siri doesn’t work as expected on your iPad, see the Apple Support article If Siri isn’t working on your iPhone or iPad.

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