Most people use Siri commands for the same three things: a timer, the weather and a song. That leaves a lot on the table, because Siri can also read your messages, steer the Home app, change iPhone settings and, with the new Siri AI in iOS 27, search your own photos and email. The trick is knowing how to phrase each request.
Below are the commands worth learning, grouped by what you are trying to do, followed by the new Siri AI requests and the settings that help Siri understand you. Siri first shipped on the iPhone 4S in October 2011, so many of these work on older devices too.
Siri Commands: The Short Version
How it works: wake Siri by saying “Siri” or “Hey Siri”, or by holding the side button, then say the whole request straight away, for example “Set a timer for 12 minutes” or “Call Mum”. Name the app, person or room when it matters, and Siri will usually act without asking a follow-up question.
Before You Start: Turn On Siri and Pick a Trigger
- Open Settings, tap Siri, and tap Turn On Siri if it is off.
- Tap Requests and choose “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to use your voice.
- On the same screen, turn on Press Side Button for Siri for a silent option, and Type to Siri if you would rather type a command.
- Stay online. Siri needs an internet connection to handle requests.
On iPad the trigger is the top button, or the Home button on older models. Apple's guide to using Siri on every Apple device lists the button for each one, from Apple Watch to the Apple TV remote.
Siri Commands for Calls, Messages and Email
- “Call Dad” or “FaceTime Priya” starts a call from your contacts.
- “Hang up” ends the current call without touching the screen.
- “Read my messages” reads new texts aloud, and “Read me my emails” does the same for Mail.
- “Text Sam that I am running ten minutes late” writes and sends a message in one go.
- “Send an email to Jordan” starts a new email that you dictate.
With supported AirPods you can answer some Siri announcements, such as incoming calls, by nodding or shaking your head. If you are choosing earbuds partly for this, our comparison of AirPods 5 specs and battery life covers the current range.
Siri Commands for Music and Podcasts
- “Play some 90s rock” or “Play something relaxing” starts a station or mix.
- “Who sings this?” or “What album is this from?” identifies the current track.
- “Add this song to my Running playlist” saves it without opening the Music app.
- “Skip ahead two minutes” or “Play this at double speed” controls playback.
- “Play the latest episode of [podcast]” and “Follow [podcast]” handle podcasts.
Asking for any song in the catalogue needs an Apple Music subscription. Telling Siri what you like, with commands such as “Play more like this”, shapes what it picks next.
Siri Commands for Timers, Alarms, Reminders and Calendar
- “Set an alarm for 6:45 a.m.” and “Set a timer for 20 minutes” cover the everyday basics.
- “Remind me to call the bank when I get to work” creates a location-based reminder.
- “Add milk to my shopping list” adds an item to an existing list in Reminders.
- “Schedule lunch with Ana on Thursday at 1” creates a calendar event.
- “What is on my calendar tomorrow?” reads back your schedule.
Siri Commands for Directions and Places
These need Location Services switched on. Set your home and work addresses on your contact card first, so that “home” and “work” mean something to Siri.
- “Give me walking directions home” or “Get transit directions to the airport”.
- “Find a coffee shop near me” or “Find an EV charging station”.
Siri Commands for Quick Answers
- “How do you spell necessary?” and “How do you say thank you in Japanese?”
- “What time is it in Sydney?” for time zones.
- “Will it rain this afternoon?” for the weather.
- “What was the score in last night's game?” for sports.
- “What is 15 percent of 84?” and “How many ounces in a kilogram?” for maths and conversions.
- “When is Mum's birthday?” pulls details from your contacts.
Siri Commands for iPhone Settings and Apps
- “Turn on the flashlight”, “Turn up the volume” and “Turn on the Work Focus”.
- “Open Camera” or “Open Battery settings” jumps straight to an app or settings page.
- “Speak screen” reads the current page aloud, and “Turn on VoiceOver” switches on accessibility features.
Siri Commands for Your Smart Home
Siri controls any accessory added to the Home app. With a home hub such as a HomePod set up, these also work when you are away from home.
- “Turn off the living room lights” or “Dim the bedroom lights to 30 percent”.
- “Set the thermostat to 70 degrees”.
- “Lock the front door” or “Close the garage” for supported locks and openers.
- “Play jazz in the kitchen” and “Stop the music everywhere” for HomePod and AirPlay speakers.
On a HomePod you can also touch and hold the top of the speaker instead of saying the wake word.
Giving Siri Commands on Apple Watch, Mac and Apple TV
The same requests work across Apple devices. Only the way you start them changes.
- Apple Watch: say the wake word, or press and hold the Digital Crown and speak. On Apple Intelligence-capable models the watch uses the same version of Siri as its paired iPhone.
- Mac: click the Siri button in the menu bar, or press and hold the Dictation key on an Apple keyboard with function keys. With Siri AI on macOS 27, Command-Space opens Spotlight, where you can type a request to Siri.
- Apple TV: hold the Siri button on the side of the Siri Remote, speak, then let go.
- iPad: press the top button, or the Home button on models that have one.
Typing works on most of them too. On a Mac with Siri AI you type into Spotlight; on Apple Watch with Siri Classic, press and hold the Digital Crown and type the request, though typing is not yet available with Siri AI on the watch. Some Apple TV remotes put the Siri button on the front rather than the side.
New Siri AI Commands in iOS 27
Siri AI is a beta in iOS 27 for the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 or later, in English to start and not at first in the EU. You turn it on from the Siri screen in Settings with Try Siri AI (Beta). Our list of iOS 27 supported devices shows which models qualify. It adds requests that use your own data and what is on screen:
- “Find photos from our beach trip last summer” searches your library by description.
- “When does Ravi's flight land?” reads details from your mail and calendar.
- “What is this and how do I make it?” while a recipe photo is on screen.
- “Plan a menu for Saturday's dinner”, then “Add the ingredients to my shopping list”.
- “Proofread this” or “Write a three-day itinerary for Lisbon” for writing help.
Siri mode in Camera extends this to the world around you. Open Camera, tap Siri, point it at something and ask a question, or tap a suggestion: aimed at a restaurant bill, for example, it can offer to split the bill with Apple Cash.
Siri AI keeps conversations in a dedicated Siri app, so you can pick a thread back up later. You can also start a request by swiping down from the Dynamic Island, or by touching and holding a photo or file and choosing Ask Siri.
Tips for Phrasing Siri Commands It Gets Right
- Say it in one breath. Wake Siri and give the full request immediately, rather than pausing for it to respond.
- Use the names your data uses. Siri matches contact names, playlist names and Home room names closely, so “Kitchen” in the Home app beats “the cooking area”.
- Tell Siri who people are. Saying “Ana is my sister” lets you say “Call my sister” later.
- Turn on Always Show Request. In Settings, Siri, Responses, it shows what Siri heard, which explains most wrong answers.
Availability varies by language and region. Apple keeps a feature availability list showing which Siri features work where.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most useful Siri commands?
Timers, alarms, reminders, messages and directions save the most time day to day. Smart home commands come next if you have accessories in the Home app.
Do Siri commands work without saying Hey Siri?
Yes. Hold the side button on iPhone, or turn on Type to Siri and double-tap the bottom edge of the screen to type a command instead.
Can Siri control third-party apps?
Many apps add their own actions to Siri and to the Shortcuts app. In Settings, Siri, App Access you can see which apps Siri can learn from and suggest.
Why does Siri misunderstand my commands?
Usually because a name does not match your contacts or Home app, or because the voice recording is weak. Turn on Always Show Request to see what Siri heard, and retrain your voice under Settings, Siri, Requests.
