Siri not working? Fixes for iPhone, CarPlay and AirPods

Siri not working on your iPhone usually comes down to five checks: the connection, the Siri switch, voice setup, spoken responses and a VPN. Apple's Siri troubleshooting page lists them, and this guide puts them in order, then adds the fixes for CarPlay and AirPods and the extra checks if you are trying the new Siri AI on iOS 27. Every step comes from Apple's support pages, read on November 8, 2026.

Start with the first section. Most problems end there. If Siri works on the iPhone but not in the car or in your AirPods, jump to those sections.

Siri not working on iPhone: the checks Apple lists

Apple's page for when Siri isn't working on an iPhone or iPad gives these checks. Try them in order.

1. Check the connection. Siri needs the internet. When the device is offline, Siri often says "I'm having trouble with the connection."
2. Make sure Siri is on. Open Settings and tap Siri, then tap Turn On Siri and follow the setup. On some iOS versions these settings sit under Apple Intelligence & Siri.
3. Turn "Siri" or "Hey Siri" on. Go to Settings > Siri > Requests, or Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Talk & Type to Siri. Make sure "Siri" or "Hey Siri" is on. If it already is, turn it off and back on.
4. Set up your voice again. On the same screen, turn "Siri" or "Hey Siri" off and on, tap Continue, say each command the screen shows, then tap Done.
5. Try typing. If Siri still doesn't respond to your voice, Apple says you can type to Siri or press a button to get its attention.

If Siri answers but you can't hear it

Go to Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri) > Responses and select Prefer Spoken Responses. Apple has a separate article for changing how loud and how fast Siri speaks.

If Siri is missing from Settings

Apple says to check your VPN settings if Siri doesn't appear in Settings after a restart. Some VPN profiles don't allow Siri. Also update the iPhone: Apple says to update the device to turn on Siri and Siri AI.

If Siri doesn't understand you

Siri uses one language, and it must be a supported one. Apple's page on changing the Siri voice or language says to open Settings, tap Siri, then tap Language. Siri features also vary by language, country and region, and Apple keeps a feature availability page that lists what works where you live.

Siri not working in CarPlay

First test Siri on the iPhone with CarPlay unplugged. If it works there, the problem is the connection or the car. If it doesn't, go back to the section above.

Apple's CarPlay setup page says to start the car and make sure Siri is on. Then, depending on the car, you reach Siri one of three ways:

• Press and hold the steering wheel voice command button, then ask.
• Touch and hold the CarPlay Dashboard or CarPlay Home button on the touchscreen, then ask.
• Say "Hey Siri," if the car supports it. Listen for "Hey Siri" must be on under Settings > Siri & Search.

If CarPlay itself is the problem, Apple's CarPlay troubleshooting page lists these steps, to be tried in order:

1. Confirm that your country and your car support CarPlay, and update the iPhone to the latest iOS.
2. Check the connection. For wired CarPlay, try a different USB cable and port. For wireless CarPlay, turn on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, tap the CarPlay network and make sure Auto-Join is on.
3. If CarPlay doesn't start on its own, select the CarPlay logo on the car's display.
4. Restart the iPhone and the car.
5. Make sure Siri is on.
6. If the iPhone isn't detected, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If that is on, tap Allowed Apps and make sure CarPlay is enabled.
7. Go to Settings > General > CarPlay, tap your car, choose Forget This Car, then set CarPlay up again.
8. Update the car stereo's firmware. Your car's manual says how.

Apple adds a note on adapters: some combinations of USB-C to Lightning adapter, cable and vehicle can disrupt wired CarPlay. In a car that supports only wired CarPlay, use a direct USB cable.

Siri not working with AirPods

Apple's Siri with AirPods page has the setup. Connect the AirPods to your iPhone, then go to Settings > Siri > Requests and choose "Siri" or "Hey Siri." If you don't see Requests, turn Siri on first.

Which phrase works depends on the model:

Apple says that in some countries and regions only "Hey Siri" may be available. You can also activate Siri by touch: double-tap either AirPod on AirPods 1 or 2, press and hold the stem on AirPods 3, 4, 5 or Pro, or press and hold the Digital Crown on AirPods Max. To change what press and hold does, go to Settings, tap your AirPods' name, then Press and Hold AirPods, and choose Siri.

If Siri doesn't read your notifications

Apple's Announce Notifications page lists what it needs: compatible AirPods or Beats headphones that you are wearing, paired to an iPhone on iOS 15 or later, and a locked iPhone. Check these:

• Go to Settings > Notifications > Announce Notifications and turn it on.
• Tap Messages inside that screen to choose Priority Notifications, Time Sensitive and Direct Messages, or All Notifications.
• Lock the iPhone and keep the screen dark. Siri doesn't announce notifications while you are using the device.
• Confirm the headphones are paired in Bluetooth settings.

Apple also notes that if several notifications arrive at once, Siri may stop announcing them when you remove one earbud or the headphones.

Siri AI on iOS 27: what to check

Siri AI is Apple's rebuilt assistant, and it is still a beta. Apple's Siri AI page gives the steps: update to iOS 27, open Settings, select Siri, then select Try Siri AI (Beta). If Siri is off, turn it on first. You then choose a voice, finish voice enrollment and review privacy settings, and Siri AI starts downloading. Our guide to how to turn on Siri AI covers those steps in full.

If Siri AI doesn't show up or stops answering, check what Apple lists:

• Language. The device language and the Siri language must match, and both must be supported. Apple lists English, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.
• Region. Your Apple Account must be in an eligible region. Apple says Siri AI isn't available on iOS, iPadOS or watchOS in the EU, and doesn't work if your Apple Account region is mainland China.
• Device. On iPhone, Apple lists iPhone 15 Pro or later, iPhone 16 or later, iPhone Duo and iPhone Air. Users under 13 can't use Siri AI.
• Waitlist. During high demand you might be added to a waitlist first, and wait times vary.
• Daily limits. Apple says features that rely on server-side models, Siri AI among them, are subject to daily usage limits. Limits can vary by feature, request complexity and system demand. Apple says expanded access will cost a fee in the future.

Apple's page doesn't say how to fix a Siri that broke after an update, beyond the steps above. If you are weighing the new Siri against a chatbot, see our Siri AI vs ChatGPT comparison.

If none of it works

Apple's troubleshooting page points to separate articles for Siri on Apple Watch and on other devices. If the steps above don't help, contact Apple Support, because the cause may be in the car's software, the headphones or your account rather than in the iPhone.