Why Siri Isn’t Responding and How to Fix It in iOS 18 (7 Proven Solutions)

When Siri stops responding to voice commands, you lose hands-free control of your iPhone—whether you’re driving, cooking, or just want to check the weather without touching your screen. The good news: most Siri problems are fixable in minutes with these seven troubleshooting steps.

What is Siri and Why It Matters

Siri is Apple’s voice assistant designed to handle everything from setting reminders to controlling smart home devices without touching your iPhone. When Siri stops responding, it blocks hands-free control—a critical accessibility feature for many users and a convenience feature for everyone else. Siri requires an active internet connection to process voice commands, as it relies on Apple’s servers to interpret your speech. Current as of: iOS 18 (March 2025)

Why You Should Fix Siri Right Away

• Accessibility: Hands-free voice control is essential for users with mobility limitations or when your hands are full
• Safety: Control your iPhone while driving or cooking without taking your eyes off the road or task
• Convenience: Faster than typing for quick tasks like setting timers, making calls, or sending messages
• Smart Home Control: Siri is your gateway to controlling HomeKit devices, lights, thermostats, and compatible accessories

Things to Consider Before You Start

• Internet Requirement: Siri needs an active Wi-Fi or cellular data connection to work. Test by opening Safari and loading a webpage first
• Apple Intelligence Regional Limitations: Apple Intelligence (which integrates with Siri) is NOT available in mainland China, and NOT available in the EU if your Apple Account Country/Region is set to an EU location (rollout planned for April 2025). Basic Siri functions work globally, but some enhancements may be limited in your region
• Storage Space: Apple Intelligence requires 7GB of free storage on your device to function properly

7 Fixes That Work (From Quick to Advanced)

Fix 1: Reset Siri Voice Recognition (Fastest Solution)

1. Open Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri (note: iOS 15-17 versions show this as Siri & Search)
2. Look for the ‘Listen for “Hey Siri”’ toggle
3. Toggle it OFF and wait 3 seconds
4. Toggle it back ON

This resets Siri’s voice recognition system and resolves most temporary issues.

[Screenshot placeholder: Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri screen showing the ‘Listen for “Hey Siri”’ toggle in the ON position]

Fix 2: Verify Your Internet Connection

1. Open Safari and load any webpage (like google.com)
2. If the page loads, your connection is working—Siri should function
3. If the page doesn’t load, you’re offline:
   • For Wi-Fi: Go to Settings → Wi-Fi, turn it OFF, wait 5 seconds, turn it back ON, and reconnect to your network
   • For Cellular: Go to Settings → Cellular and ensure the toggle is ON
4. Move to a location with stronger signal if your connection is weak

Siri requires active internet to process voice commands on Apple’s servers.

[Screenshot placeholder: Safari browser loading a webpage successfully, showing strong internet connection]

Fix 3: Check Parental Controls Settings

1. Open Settings → Screen Time → [Child’s Name] → Content & Privacy Restrictions
2. Scroll down and tap Intelligence & Siri (Note: In iOS 15-17, this may appear under Apps as Siri & Dictation)
3. If it shows ‘Don’t Allow,’ tap it and change to ‘Allow’
4. You’ll need your Screen Time passcode to make this change

If parental controls have blocked Siri, this setting will re-enable it.

[Screenshot placeholder: Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions screen, showing the Intelligence & Siri setting with Allow/Don’t Allow options]

Fix 4: Force Quit and Restart the System

1. Open Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri
2. Toggle ‘Listen for Hey Siri’ OFF
3. Go to Settings → General → Shut Down (or press and hold the Side button to access the power-off menu)
4. Slide to power off and wait 30 seconds
5. Press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo (about 10 seconds), then release
6. Once your iPhone restarts, go back to Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri and toggle ‘Listen for Hey Siri’ back ON

A full device restart resolves deeper system conflicts affecting Siri.

[Screenshot placeholder: iPhone power-off slider showing ‘slide to power off’ message on the screen]

Fix 5: Reset Network Settings

1. Open Settings → General → Transfer or Reset
2. Tap Reset → Reset Network Settings
3. Enter your passcode when prompted
4. Tap Reset Network Settings to confirm
5. Your iPhone will restart automatically
6. Reconnect to your Wi-Fi network and re-enter your password

This clears all Wi-Fi and Bluetooth data—a deep fix for persistent connection issues.

[Screenshot placeholder: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset screen, showing the Reset Network Settings option highlighted]

Fix 6: Update to the Latest iOS Version

1. Open Settings → General → Software Update
2. If an update is available, tap Download and Install
3. Enter your passcode if prompted
4. Your iPhone will restart and install the update (requires Wi-Fi and at least 50% battery, though iOS 16.5+ allows updates below 50% if plugged into power)
5. Once installation completes, test Siri again

Apple frequently fixes voice assistant bugs in iOS updates. Make sure you’re running the current version.

[Screenshot placeholder: Settings > General > Software Update screen showing available iOS update with Download and Install button]

Fix 7: Perform a Complete Device Restart

If Siri still doesn’t respond after the above steps:

1. For iPhone X and newer: Press and hold the Side button (power button on the right) + either Volume Up or Volume Down button simultaneously
2. For iPhone 8 and older: Press and hold the Top (or Side) button alone
3. Continue holding until the ‘slide to power off’ slider appears
4. Drag the slider to turn off your iPhone
5. Wait 30 seconds
6. Press and hold the Side button (or Top button) again until the Apple logo appears
7. Release and wait for your iPhone to fully restart

This is the most thorough restart method and resolves the deepest system issues.

[Screenshot placeholder: iPhone showing the power-off slider with ‘slide to power off’ text visible]

When to Contact Apple Support

If Siri remains unresponsive after all seven fixes, the issue likely requires professional diagnosis. Here’s what to do:

1. Visit apple.com/support and describe the exact steps you’ve already tried (this information helps Apple’s support team)
2. Request a call with an Apple Support specialist or book a Genius Bar appointment at your nearest Apple Store
3. Bring your iPhone and have your Apple ID credentials ready
4. Apple may need to run diagnostic tests or suggest a device replacement if hardware damage is suspected

This is especially important if Siri stopped working after a drop, water damage, or other physical incident.

Nine times out of ten, one of these seven fixes will restore Siri to full working order. If you’re still experiencing issues after trying all solutions, professional support is your next step—Apple’s technicians have advanced tools to diagnose hardware problems or deeper software issues that standard troubleshooting can’t address.