Siri Doesn’t Speak Responses On iPhone? How To Troubleshoot!
Last updated on November 7th, 2021 at 03:26 pm
Posted in Bug Fixes by Patricia on May 11, 2021
Siri doesn’t speak on iPhone?
Is Siri not speaking out responses on iPhone? Are the replies only displayed on the screen? This issue can be caused by a restrictive iOS setting or and iOS bug like the one that has been reported after the release of iOS 14.5, but the issue is randomly occurring in iOS 15 too!
Siri Not Speaking Issue
The virtual assistant fails to speak out the responses. To be more precise, Siri is only speaking the first word of a reply and is automatically muted for the rest of the phrase.
Workaround: Make sure that Siri Captions are enabled on your device. This way your iPhone will display Siri’s answers on the screen. If you can’t hear them you can at least read what your virtual assistant intended to say.
How To: Open Settings and browse for Siri & Search -> Siri Responses. Enable Always Show Siri Captions!
How To Fix Siri Doesn’t Speak Out Responses
Below you can find the most common troubleshooting options:
1. Check iOS Settings
You should be aware that Siri doesn’t speak when the iPhone is in Silent Mode!
By default, Siri is set to automatically mute itself when the iPhone is in Silent mode. So, if it doesn’t speak out the answers check if your iPhone is silenced.
Tip: You can set Siri to always speak out, even when the Silent switch is turned On. To achieve this, browse for Settings -> Siri & Search -> Siri Responses. Select Always from the Spoken Responses category.
2. Reboot iPhone
If all settings are properly configured and the Volume on your iPhone isn’t the culprit of Siri not speaking, your next option is to restart your iOS device. Starting fresh will flush any minor glitches that could keep Siri muted.
How to: Quickly press & release Volume Up followed by Volume Down. Next, press & hold the Side Button until the white Apple logo is displayed on the iPhone’s screen. Release and be patient until the iPhone force restarts.
3. Ask Siri To Unmute Herself
Lidia informs in the comments section that she went through all possible troubleshooting steps, including Volume checks without any luck.
She did manage to fix Siri not speaking by asking it directly if it can speak?
Command: "Hey Siri, can you speak?" or "Hey Siri, I can't hear you!"
Siri either replies that its volume is too low, or she informs you that she will speak louder and bumps up the volume. Siri’s voice should become audible again after this.
Fact: Read Lidia’s full report over here.
Tip: If you repeat the “Hey Siri, I can’t hear you!” command Siri will gradually increase its volume. Thanks Joann for sharing this.
4. Re-Enable Bluetooth
(Updated October 29)
Uwe confirms this bug in iOS 15.1.
He has managed to fix three iPhone models affected by the Siri not speaking out responses glitch, by turning Bluetooth Off and back On. Does this work for you too?
How to: You can disable and enable Bluetooth in Settings, or in the Control Center.
Fact: Initially, this bug was occurring mainly for iPhone 11 owners, but lately the glitch has been also reported for iPhone X, 8, SE, SE 2 and more. If Siri is muted on your device too, don’t hesitate to inform use! Use the comments section available at the end of this article! Please mention your iPhone model and iOS version.
Useful: iOS 14.5 brings a series of enhancements to Siri including:
– diverse voice options,
– the ability to announce incoming calls even when you’re wearing your AirPods or compatible Beats headphones,
– the option to initiate Group FaceTime calls via groups from Messages or contact lists,
– the ability to call Emergency contacts!
Related: Check out these 7 Siri settings and fine tune your iPhone’s virtual assistant!
I have an iPhone 12 Pro Max. Siri is not announcing calls or messages. She does respond to hey Siri. Checked all settings a dozen times, but no joy on iPhone, or AirPods max or pro. My wife has a 12 pro and it works perfectly on her phone.
That’s very strange indeed. Have you tried to contact Apple support?
Just to make sure. Have you checked that:
1. iPhone isn’t in Silent mode.
2. iPhone incoming calls volume isn’t too low.
3. Settings -> PHone -> Announce Calls is set to Always.
4. Settings -> PHone -> Silence Unknown Callers is set to OFF.
I have an iphone 11 and siri is not responding when i ask a question. siri is only typing on the screen.
Have you checked Settings -> Siri & Search. Are ‘Spoken Responses’ set to Always?
Siri is muted only captions shows in my iphone 11
Thanks for reporting. This must be a bug. Have you tried to force restart the iPhone and see if it helps?
I have the same problem on my iPhone SE. Ever since updating to iOS14.6 Siri shows captions but no sound.
Thanks for reporting. If you checked all settings and iPhone isn’t muted (with the Mute/Silent switch) you’re dealing with a software glitch and have to wait for a fix in an upcoming software update. Next on the line is iOS 14.7.
Same……
Siri does not verbally speak to me anymore! Ive disabled Siri and turned off my phone and then back on. Nothing. My mute button is not on. I have checked all my Settings against my husband’s Settings, and they’re the same. His Siri is verbally talking to him. Waaahhh!!! I hope an iOS 14.7 update fixes it!!
Have you tried to change Siri’s voice and see if you can hear it? Settings -> Siri & Search -> Siri Voice. Tap on the various option available. A demo voice should be played. Can you hear it?
Thank you Patricia. Your advice worked like a charm!!!!
Marcia
You’re welcome! Glad it did!
My Siri stopped responding its answers. I had my ringer turned all the way up, my regular volume turned all the way up but it just wouldn’t speak out loud. I shut my phone off, force restart, even disabled Siri and turned it back on, redid “Hey Siri”. Nothing. Finally I asked something along the lines of “Siri can you speak” and it said it was at 6% and I said “can you turn to 100%” and it started speaking out loud again! Hope this helps someone when they think they’ve tried everything!
Thanks for your contribution Lidia! I could actually replicate this issue and your fix works. I have updated it into the main content of the article for better visibility. It will surly help others too.
Thanks, your tip worked 😁
Thanks for confirming Trey.
Lidia, a thousand thanks! I had tried all the “fixes”for mute Siri before stumbling across your solution which, of course, worked. I am beholden!
Lidia N. says:
AUGUST 10, 2021 AT 6:18 AM
My Siri stopped responding its answers.
Thanks for confirming Willa. Glad that the fix worked for you.
Above is true – just purchased IPhone 11, 14.7,
Siri spoke one time, and since then, nothing.
Thanks for the feedback. Have you managed to fix the issue with one of the tips provided in the article?
Simple fix is to wake up Siri by Saying ‘Hey Siri’ and turn the volume up.
Happening to me. Help
Have you asked Siri to unmute itself?
Siri always responds to “hey Siri” with that annoying ‘ding’, instead of a verbal response.
I have ALWAYS checked for ‘Spoken Responses’.
Have fully updated, have restarted.
ios15.0.2
Iphone 8.
Help please!!
Have you tried the fix provided in the article. Just command Siri: ‘Hey Siri can you speak?’ or ‘Hey Siri I can’t hear you!’ Does it work?
Having the same problem. After updating my iPhone 8, Siri stopped responding while using AirPods pro. Neither verbal response or beep.
What firmware version is running on your AirPods Pro? Is it 4A402?
Following IOS 15.1 update Siri’s voice was no longer audible on my iPhones SE, SE2 and daughter’s iPhone X. Checked all suggested settings and fixes without resolution, including forced reboot. Nothing worked but noticed the headphone icon appearing during Siri responses. Plugged headphones into the SE but still no voice. Finally turned Bluetooth off/on and voilà – Siri’s voice is back…. on all three of them.
Thanks for the valuable feedback Uwe. We will update your fix in the main content of the article. Glad that you managed to fix your issue.
Unfortunately, this fix was only temporary and the problem is probably related to the XLink BT Gateway serving our rotary phones to keep these vintage (old), wired phones still functioning. During a call, telephone audio is routed to this gateway via Bluetooth rather than to the speakers. Apparently, Siri audio is now also being routed to this gateway and is therefore no longer audible. In any case, un-pairing the XLink BT gateway or turning off Bluetooth allows us to hear Siri again. Sorry for any confusion….
Apparently there is a volume control for Siri. I don’t know how to access it. But I said “heySiri”, “I can’t hear you” and it appear on the side of the screen. I just repeated this phrases a couple of times and Siri increased the volume each time.
Thanks for the contribution Joann. We will update your tip in the main content of the article.
Thanks so much for this article it really helped me
I’d love you to publish a App for resolution like this
You’re welcome Zee. Glad we could help. What would you like us to publish?
Go to settings, then Siri & Search, at this place you can adjust Siri volume with Volume up and Volume Down.
In this I git back Siri speaking.
Thanks for sharing Chris. I’m adjusting the overall Volume level when applying your tip, or the Ringer & Alerts level if Change with Buttons is enabled in Sounds & Haptics.
I put Siri on “Always” for spoken responses in Settings, made sure silent mode was off, and said “Hey Siri I can’t hear you.” I heard a faint response “I’ll speak up.” Then I realized my volume was set to the lowest setting. Used the side volume button to increase the volume, and it is fine now. My phone insists on setting itself to the lowest volume regularly, which is annoying. I also miss calls because of this.
Thanks for the feedback Kitty.
Check Settings -> Sounds & Haptics -> Ringtone and Alert Volume. If Change with Buttons is enabled you might be accidentally lowering the Volume without noticing it.
I have an iPhone 11. iOS 15.5. I have tried all the suggestions that you gave but Siri continues to not speak even though the words are caption at the bottom of the screen. The only thing that works is to turn the phone off and turn it back on. This has been going on for about three weeks now. Since July 2.
Thanks for sharing your feedback. iOS 15.6 is out in the meantime. You might consider updating and see if it helps.
Ok so guys I have tried all the above mentioned methods the siri works fine when m wearing a Bluetooth set
But the moment I take it off and use the Audio,It doesn’t respond at all even though my device works just fine and the audio works fine as well
Is it possible that the Bluetooth audio headset remains connected after you take it off and iPhone still uses it to peak up sounds instead of the actual device’s microphone?
I’ve been unable to set up listen for hey Siri, because it kept on saying Siri didn’t quite get that try again, I’ve flashed my phone, upgrade it, did everything needed yet it’s not working
What about type to Siri in Settings -> Accessibility -> Siri -> Type to Siri.
My situation is weird, I have the same issue as John, I cannot even get Hey Siri setup. When I try the response is “Siri didn’t quite get that”. When I use Siri verbally I get no feedback response at all either by voice or written response. Just a subtle vibration. However, if I go to Settings> Accessibility >Siri>Type to Siri, and enable it then it works. I get the verbal response and the written one. What could be the problem?
Thanks for reporting. Does the fix mentioned in this article help?
https://www.iphonetricks.org/siri-not-working-ios-16-problem-fix/