Change Siri preferences on Mac
On your Mac, use Siri preferences to choose a language and voice, turn voice feedback on or off, and manage which apps Siri can learn from and make suggestions. Learn how to use Siri on your Mac.
To open Siri preferences, choose Apple menu 
Option | Description | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enable Ask Siri | Use Siri to do everyday tasks, get quick answers, and more. To stop using Siri, deselect the checkbox. (Siri continues to learn from and make suggestions in apps.) If you ask Siri something when the checkbox isn’t selected, you’re prompted to enable Siri. You must be connected to the internet to use Siri. | ||||||||||
Listen for “Hey Siri” (available on some Mac models) Listen for “Hey Siri” on AirPods (available when you pair AirPods that support Hey Siri) | Select the checkbox to be able to say “Hey Siri” to start using Siri, instead of clicking the Siri icon or using a keyboard shortcut. To stop using Hey Siri, deselect the checkbox. This option is only available if your Mac or paired AirPods support Hey Siri. If you turn off Ask Siri and then turn it on again later, you may need to set up Hey Siri again. | ||||||||||
Allow Siri when locked (available when Listen for “Hey Siri” is turned on) | Use Siri even if your Mac is locked or in sleep. Just say “Hey Siri,” then make your request. Depending on your request, you may need to unlock your Mac. | ||||||||||
Keyboard Shortcut | Click the Keyboard Shortcut pop-up menu, then choose a shortcut to ask Siri. To create your own shortcut, click the Keyboard Shortcut pop-up menu, choose Customize, then press the keys you want to use. For example, you could press Option-Z. | ||||||||||
Language | Choose the language and dialect that you want to use to ask Siri; Siri will use the same language and dialect to speak to you. Siri is not available in all languages or countries or regions. | ||||||||||
Voice Variety | Choose the variation of voices that appear in the Siri Voice option. Some languages may not have a variety of voices. | ||||||||||
Siri Voice | Choose a preferred voice for Siri. Some languages may only have one voice. | ||||||||||
Voice Feedback | Turn voice feedback (spoken responses) from Siri on or off. If you turn feedback off, the response from Siri is shown in the Siri window but is not spoken. | ||||||||||
Siri History | Delete Siri and Dictation interactions you’ve performed on this Mac from Apple servers. See Delete Siri and Dictation history. | ||||||||||
Show Siri in menu bar | Show the Siri icon in the menu bar—another way to quickly ask Siri. You can also use Dock & Menu Bar preferences to show Siri in the menu bar. | ||||||||||
Siri Suggestions & Privacy | Choose the apps that Siri can learn from and make suggestions in. See Customize Siri suggestions. | ||||||||||
About Siri & Privacy (available when you click Siri Suggestions & Privacy) | Click to learn how Siri sends the things you say and other information such as your name, your contacts, and other data to Apple to understand you better and recognize what you say. | ||||||||||
If speech is difficult for you or you don’t want others to hear your Siri requests, you can type your requests to Siri instead of speaking them. See Change Siri preferences for accessibility.
To share or stop sharing your Dictation and Siri audio recordings with Apple at any time, select or deselect the Improve Siri & Dictation checkbox in the Analytics & Improvements section of Privacy preferences. See Change Privacy preferences.