The most amusing and practical Siri commands for iOS and macOS.

      There was a time when Siri held the title of the top voice assistant, but it eventually lost this position to competitors like Google Assistant and Alexa. With the emergence of AI assistants such as Google Gemini and ChatGPT Voice, the competition has intensified even further.

      Fortunately, after years of neglect, Apple has finally decided to improve Siri. While there is still much progress to be made, I must admit that I’m enjoying this new version of Siri, which has become more beneficial to my daily routines than ever before.

      However, Siri's usefulness depends largely on how it is used by its operator; thus, learning the tricks to maximize its potential is essential. The commands you use may accomplish your goals, but they might not be the most effective methods to interact with Siri. We’ll guide you through various commands that assist with tasks ranging from calculations to managing device settings.

      **Activating Siri**

      If Siri is unresponsive, it might be disabled. On newer iPhones, navigate to Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri (or just Siri in iOS 27) to verify (older, non-Apple Intelligence devices still use the classic Settings → Siri & Search path). Once activated, there are several methods to initiate Siri:

      - Press and hold the Home or Side button.

      - Enable “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’” in the same settings menu, then simply say “Hey Siri” aloud.

      - If your iPhone has iOS 27, you can also swipe down from the top-middle to access Siri AI.

      - If you’re using AirPods, double-tap the AirPods Pro or 2nd-gen AirPods to engage Siri (this can be customized as well).

      - For the latest AirPods and AirPods Pros, press and hold the stem to activate Siri.

      - Users of AirPods Max can hold the Digital Crown until they hear a chime.

      - On Apple Watch, press and hold the Digital Crown or raise your wrist and begin speaking.

      - On a Mac, press and hold the F5 key or use the “Hey Siri” command.

      - In your car, say “Hey Siri” through CarPlay; no need to touch the screen while driving.

      **Siri Just Got an Upgrade: Meet Siri AI**

      If you’ve noticed Siri felt stagnant in recent years, significant changes are underway. Apple introduced Siri AI at WWDC this June, marking the most substantial transformation Siri has undergone. Unlike the previous command-and-response format, Siri AI can now engage in real conversations, remember past inquiries without requiring repetition, and sift through your Photos, Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, and Calendar to find what you’re looking for.

      To support this, Siri AI operates on Apple’s new Foundation Models, which were developed with Google’s assistance. However, Apple has customized these techniques from Gemini to create something smaller, faster, and specifically optimized for Apple’s hardware. Your private data remains secure, as Private Cloud Compute manages sensitive information independently.

      Siri AI also introduces a Camera mode for Visual Intelligence. Point your camera at a membership barcode, and Siri can convert it into a Wallet pass, or take a picture of an item and locate its listing on Amazon. Additionally, there is now a dedicated Siri app that allows you to start a conversation on your iPhone and continue it on your Mac or iPad, maintaining contextual relevance.

      The update spans the entire Apple lineup:

      - iOS 27 on iPhone

      - iPadOS 27 on iPad

      - macOS 27 Golden Gate on Mac

      - watchOS 27 on Apple Watch

      - visionOS 27 on Vision Pro

      The caveat is hardware. To run this feature, you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro or more recent, even though iOS 27 itself is compatible with iPhones as old as the iPhone 11. On the Mac side, macOS Golden Gate marks the end of support for Intel, moving forward exclusively with Apple Silicon.

      One important note as you get excited: Siri AI is still in public beta as of this writing, initially supporting English and will not be available in the EU immediately. Apple has stated that the full rollout will be available later this year, with iOS 27 expected in September.

      If you want to customize its voice, go to Settings → Siri → Voice to modify Siri’s speaking speed and expressiveness. These settings will also reflect in Maps and Safari for spoken directions, ensuring your preferred speed is consistent across the system.

      **Commands for Calling, Voicemail, Messages, and Email**

      Siri can manage most of your daily communication tasks without needing you to open an application. Here’s what to say:

      - “Call [name or number].”

      - “FaceTime [name or number].”

      - “Call [name or number] on speaker” to initiate the call on speakerphone.

      - “Call [name] back” to redial the last person who called you.

      - “Check my voicemail” or “