Saying “Hey Siri” to Siri for some important task, such as “Hey Siri, call Mom,” and receiving the same reply is quite disheartening, isn’t it? Have you ever tried the same situation and experienced the same result? If yes, then you would understand the frustration of being ignored by Siri. The voice assistant seems like it had a memory loss yesterday it was fine, and now it can’t help you at all. There are indeed instances when we have thought of the reason for the problem and even come up with a solution before we approached some experts and technicians at the Apple Store.
However, in reality, that’s not necessarily the case. Your one-time question “Why is Siri not working on my phone?” will be answered in this guide as if it were written by an expert, playing around with practical solutions and some of the author’s insightful insights ahead of a Genius Bar visit.
Is It Just You, or Is Siri Not Listening?
Siri, which serves as a hands-free personal assistant, is still vulnerable and may occasionally not be able to offer prompt service. The reasons for Siri’s inability to work can vary from the absence of the simplest settings’ activation to more serious hardware or software malfunctions when we’re speaking of devices like iPhone, iPad, etc.
First, I’d like to tell my story about the iPhone 13 Pro that suddenly ran into trouble when Siri came out of the “Hey Siri” command. The microphone function in the calls and voice registration worked well, only Siri couldn’t hear me. Through the various investigations I made, and by trying out the potential fixes. It dawned on me that it was not related to the hardware. Instead, it was just a setting that was somewhere in my iOS then, and that was probably turned off during the update process – strange as it may seem.
Common Reasons Why Siri Is Not Working
Before we get into the solutions to the problem, what factors are usually behind Siri’s quiet behavior?
Most Common Reasons Siri Isn’t Working
| Issue | Possible Cause |
| Siri doesn’t respond at all | “Hey Siri” is not enabled or mic issue |
| Siri hears but doesn’t respond | Network problems or an iOS bug |
| Siri works only with button presses | Voice activation turned off |
| Siri doesn’t hear you at all | Obstructed mic or hardware problem |
| Siri doesn’t work on AirPods | Audio routing or Bluetooth conflict |
Step-by-Step Fixes to Try When Siri Isn’t Responding
Let’s first of all look at some of the simplest fixes, gradually moving on to the most complex ones.
1. Check Siri Settings
Siri might, in some cases, be turned off without your knowledge, especially after an iOS update.
- Go to Settings > Siri & Search
- Ensure the following facilities are approved:
- Listen for “Hey Siri.”
- Pressthe Side Button for Siri
- Allow Siri When Locked
In case they are already activated, switch them off and switch them on again.
2. Check Your Internet Connection
In the case of Siri, most time, the voice assistant needs an internet connection to work. If you are not connected or connected to a weak Wi-Fi network, then the likelihood that you will hear the message, “I’m having trouble connecting to the network,” is very high.
Change over to mobile data or another Wi-Fi connection, and then try
3. Restart Your iPhone
Although it may seem like overkill, a straightforward restart can eliminate hidden bugs. Press and hold the Side Button + Volume Down until the slider appears, power off, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on.
4. Update iOS Software
Maybe the main cause for Siri’s poor performance is that the software is outdated.
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update
- Download and install the latest available iOS version
Every so often, Apple improves on Siri-related problems. Therefore, do not neglect this crucial step.
What If Siri Doesn’t Hear You, But the Microphone Works?
One of the most confusing problems I faced was when I was supposedly talking to Siri, but Siri didn’t hear me. Nevertheless, the other party could very well hear me during phone calls, and I could send voice messages to my contacts too, even Shazam heard me! The real problem was not the microphone that didn’t work; Siri’s special audio permissions and background app refreshing were causing the issue.
Checklist if Siri Doesn’t Hear You, But Mic Works
| Fix | Where to Check |
| Re-enable Siri | Settings > Siri & Search |
| Check app permissions | Settings > Privacy > Microphone |
| Clean the mic area | Especially near top & bottom of the iPhone |
| Especially near the top & bottom of the iPhone | Background noise can confuse Siri |
| Turn off Voice Control | Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control |
Practical Idea: Ditch the Cover or Case
There is one trick that worked for a friend of mine. You simply have to remove your iPhone case. Some third-party cases or screen protectors can cause the mic holes to be blocked (especially the front-facing mic used by Siri). Consequently, the moment the case was removed, Siri immediately started responding again. This is a situation worth considering because this problem is uncommon, and checking it before you start to panic would be reasonable.
Could It Be a Hardware Problem?
If every life hack has been tried, and there is no dinner from Siri like from an old friend, your device may have a hardware issue. This issue can be the following:
- The microphone is broken: Siri is in a situation where it cannot hear you because of a broken mic, even if other phone features are working well.
- Moisture damage: The water may have a small influence on the mic used by Siri without turning it off entirely.
The easiest way to confirm the diagnosis is to check the mic in the Voice Memos application. Record your voice and then check if it is loud and clear. If the voice is not ok, there is no other way than going to the Genius Bar.
Reset Siri (And Its History)
If everything above is a dead end, there’s still a solution:
- Close Siri in the Settings.
- Restart iPhone.
- Open Siri again.
Alternatively, you can enter Settings > Siri & Search > Siri History and select Delete Siri & Dictation History. This will return everything to the initial stage of Siri’s “perception” of your voice and settings.
FAQs
1. Why is it that when I say “Hey Siri,” nothing happens?
A common reason for this is the “Hey Siri” function being disabled, or your mobile phone is upside down, or power saving mode is on. Check that Siri can work with the phone being locked.
2. Although my device’s microphone is functioning, Siri does not hear me. What can I do in such a case?
In your device Settings, Privacy, and Microphone specifically, have you checked the microphone access of Siri? If not, then remove the case, clean the mic slot, and disable the settings that prevent the voice input of Siri.
3. What to do if Siri is not responding on AirPods?
The first thing you should do is make sure that your AirPods are connected and have Siri enabled. Also, check the Bluetooth settings and in case it is necessary, reset your AirPods.
4. Can Siri problems be solved with iOS updates?
Yes, definitely. As a rule, most of the Siri bugs are fixed by regular software updates. It is better to have the latest iOS version installed on your device so that your experience is at its best.
5. Is Siri down at this time?
You can browse the Apple System Status page which will show you if there is a problem with the Siri server. This might be a very rare situation but could still happen.
Conclusion:
In case you are still concerned about the functioning of Siri, just calm down. In most situations, the fix is quite simple. A setting that is turned off, a connection issue, or an update that hasn’t been installed, Siri is just good enough that you get her back to your service with a single move.
The “Silent Siri” incidents have not passed me by, too, and honestly, it is a real head-scratcher. But, well, I’ve learnt that usually a clever assistant is both forgetful and has selective hearing.