Tutorial · Voice Assistants
How to use Siri AI on iPhone: turn it on, ways to activate it and what to ask
Turn on Siri AI in iOS 27, learn every way to activate it, and try Apple's own example prompts for photos, mail, your screen, the Camera and writing.
The short answer
To use Siri AI, update to iOS 27 on an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 or later, open Settings, tap Siri, then tap Try Siri AI (Beta) and follow the onscreen instructions. After that, activate Siri by saying Hey Siri, holding the side button or swiping down from the top of the screen, and make your request.
Siri AI is the new, conversational version of Siri that arrived in beta with iOS 27 on September 14, 2026. It understands your personal context and what’s on your screen, has broad world knowledge, and comes with a dedicated Siri app and a Siri mode in the Camera. This tutorial shows how to turn it on, every way to activate it and the kinds of requests Apple’s own guide suggests, with the exact steps from Apple Support.
What you need
- An iPhone that supports Siri AI: an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model or later. Older iPhones can run iOS 27 but not Siri AI, and our guide to iOS 27 and supported iPhones lists which.
- iOS 27 or later.
- Siri and the device language set to a supported language. Siri AI is available in English to start.
- An internet connection. Apple says you must be connected to use Siri.
- A supported region. Siri AI will not initially be available in the EU on iOS.
Step 1: Update to iOS 27
Go to Settings, tap General, then Software Update, and tap Download and Install if the update is there. Back up first. The full steps are in our iOS 27 guide.
Step 2: Turn on Siri AI
- Open Settings on your supported iPhone.
- Tap Siri.
- If Siri is off, tap Turn on Siri, then tap Try Siri AI (Beta). If Siri is already on, tap Try Siri AI (Beta).
- Follow the onscreen instructions.
Step 3: Activate Siri
Apple lists these ways to bring Siri up. The first group works with any version of Siri, and the second needs Siri AI.
| Method | How | Needs Siri AI? |
|---|---|---|
| Your voice | Say “Siri” or “Hey Siri”, if that option is turned on | No |
| Side button | Press and hold the side button on an iPhone with Face ID | No |
| Home button | Press and hold the Home button on an iPhone that has one | No |
| Wired EarPods | Press and hold the centre or call button | No |
| Dynamic Island | Swipe down from the top of the screen | Yes |
| Shortcut menu | Touch and hold something on screen, such as a file or a photo, then choose Ask Siri | Yes |
| Camera | Open Camera, tap Siri, or click and hold the Camera Control | Yes |
| Screenshot | Press and release the side button and volume up button together, then tap the Siri options that appear | Yes |
When you activate Siri with a button, it responds silently if your iPhone is in Silent mode, and out loud when Silent mode is off. When you activate it with your voice, it responds out loud.
What to ask Siri AI
These examples come from Apple’s own getting-started guide.
| Task | Try saying | Apple’s tip |
|---|---|---|
| Find what you need | “Find photos from my trip to Lisbon” or “What time should I leave to pick up Antonio?” | Siri AI can search your photos, mail, messages, calendar and more |
| Get more done | “Plan a menu for my watch party on Saturday” | Swipe down on the response to see the full menu, then follow up, for example “Send this to the fantasy league group chat” |
| Ask about any topic | “Give me some tips on how to improve my tennis backhand” or “When will cherry blossoms reach peak bloom this year?” | World knowledge is combined with your personal context |
| Ask about your screen | “What is this and how do I make it?” | Swipe down on the response to see the recipe, then say “Add the ingredients to my shopping list” |
| Write with Siri | “How’s this sound?” or “Write a day-by-day itinerary for a 3-day trip to New York” | Swipe down on the response to keep revising or ask follow-ups |
Use Siri mode in Camera
Siri mode in Camera uses Visual Intelligence to identify something, ask questions or search based on what’s in the frame. With Camera open, tap Siri to switch to Siri mode, or click and hold the Camera Control when your iPhone is locked. Point the camera at something, then tap the ask button to pose a question. You can also tap a suggestion. Apple’s examples are tapping Split Bill with Apple Cash when you point the camera at a check, and importing a card to Apple Wallet.
Write with Siri
Siri AI can draft from scratch, summarise information and give feedback on what you’ve written. Apple suggests asking it to proofread a note or write an itinerary. Activate Siri and describe what you want, then swipe down on the response to revise it or ask follow-up questions. Apple’s iOS 27 overview says the writing tools can also adjust the style and tone of your writing for the audience.
Pick up a conversation in the Siri app
Siri AI comes with a dedicated Siri app that keeps all your conversations in one place. Open it, then select a conversation to continue it or tap the new-conversation button to start another.
Siri Expressive Voices
With Siri AI on supported models, you can use Siri Expressive Voices: pick a voice, then customise how expressive it is and how fast it speaks. Apple lists them on the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Limits and privacy to know about
- It is a beta. Apple labels Siri AI “Beta”, so behaviour can change and some things may not work as expected.
- Usage limits apply. Features that rely on server-side models, including Siri AI, are subject to daily limits that can vary by feature, request complexity and system demand. Apple says expanded access will be available for a fee in the future.
- Language and region. English to start, and not initially in the EU on iOS. Apple’s launch announcement says French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish follow the next month.
- Privacy. Apple says Siri is designed to protect your information and that you can choose what you share. See Apple’s Siri, Dictation and Privacy information for the details.
Turn Siri AI off or go back to Siri Classic
- Go back to the old version: go to Settings, tap Siri, tap Turn On Siri, then tap Use Siri Classic.
- Switch Siri off: go to Settings, tap Siri, tap Turn Off Siri at the bottom, then tap Turn Off Siri again.
Our guide to turning off Siri has more on switching it off. For the launch story see Siri AI in iOS 27, for how it stacks up against Amazon’s assistant read Siri AI vs Alexa+, and for the assistant overall see the Siri profile.
Frequently asked questions
How do I turn on Siri AI?
Open Settings on a supported iPhone running iOS 27 or later and tap Siri. If Siri is off, tap Turn on Siri and then Try Siri AI (Beta). If Siri is already on, tap Try Siri AI (Beta). Then follow the onscreen instructions.
Which iPhones can use Siri AI?
Siri AI is in beta on iOS 27 or later on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model or later, with Siri and the device language set to a supported language. It is available in English to start.
How do I activate Siri AI once it is on?
Say Siri or Hey Siri if that option is turned on, press and hold the side button (or the Home button on an iPhone that has one), or hold the centre or call button on wired EarPods. With Siri AI you can also swipe down from the top of the screen, touch and hold an item and choose Ask Siri, or use Siri mode in Camera.
Can Siri AI see what is on my screen?
Yes. Apple says you can ask Siri about content on your screen, such as an image or a PDF, to get answers, search or take action. You can also take a screenshot by pressing the side button and volume up button together, then tap the Siri options that appear.
Why can't I see Try Siri AI (Beta) in Settings?
The option appears on a supported iPhone running iOS 27 or later with Siri and the device language set to a supported language. Check your model, install the update and check your language. Siri AI will not initially be available in the EU on iOS.
How do I go back to the old Siri?
If you have Siri AI but want the previous version, go to Settings, tap Siri, choose Turn On Siri and then tap Use Siri Classic. To switch Siri off completely, tap Turn Off Siri at the bottom of the Siri settings and confirm.
Sources
Product facts are checked against the vendor's own announcements and documentation.
- Get started with Siri AI on iPhone — Apple Supporthttps://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/get-started-with-siri-ai-iphv6zwrg8jvfgr/ios
- Turn on and activate Siri on iPhone — Apple Supporthttps://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/turn-on-and-activate-siri-iph83aad8922/ios
- What's new in iOS 27 — Apple Supporthttps://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/whats-new-in-ios-27-iphfed2c4091/ios
- Major updates for Apple's software platforms are now available — Apple Newsroomhttps://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/major-updates-for-apples-software-platforms-are-now-available/
