How to Use Siri on iPhone 12 in 2021
This virtual companion keeps getting smarter.
What to Know
- There are two methods to access Siri on iPhone 12 models: long-pressing the right-side button or with a voice call, like “Hey Siri.”
- Siri no longer takes over your entire screen, instead of working with a colorful icon and widget replies.
- You can utilize Siri to announce messages to different Apple devices like HomePods and AirPods via an intercom-like mode.
This article describes how to enable and access Siri on the iPhone 12, what you can do with the voice assistant, and how to use the intercom feature.
How to Let Siri on iPhone 12
Before you avail of the new features released in Siri in iOS 14, you first need to ensure that Siri is enabled on your iPhone 12.
- Open Settings.
- Choose Siri & Search.
- The on the Siri and Search page, make sure the following 3 options are allowed:
-
- Listen for “Hey Siri”: This provides you to say the watch phrase “Hey Siri” to start an interaction with the voice assistant.
- Press Side Button for Siri: This lets you wake Siri by long-pressing the button on the phone’s right side.
- Allow Siri When Locked: This allows you to use Siri without unlocking your phone.
How to Use Siri on iPhone 12
One Siri is allowed on your iPhone 12. All you need to do is unless you say “Hey Siri” or long-press the button on the right side of the phone to access it.
By the Siri update in iOS 14, the voice assistant no longer takes over your whole screen. Instead, you see a colorful icon at the bottom of the screen to indicate that it’s listening to your question or request. Later, while responding, the responses appear as widgets and banners on a portion of your phone screen, though they still won’t take over the whole display.
How to Use Siri as an Intercom
One new feature you may find using Siri on the iPhone 12 is the intercom feature available if many Apple devices are in your home. The intercom feature is possible across Apple smart home devices, Apple Watch, iPhones, iPods, AirPods, and CarPlay.
To use the feature, say, “Hey Siri, say everyone [your message].” Siri will send the messages on connected devices. Also, recipients can respond by saying, “Hey Siri, replay [their response].
Messages sent by the intercom feature play on HomePod devices and AirPods and appear as notifications on devices such as iPhone and iPad.
Improvements to Siri in iOS 14
The iOS 14 update to Siri (the version installed on iPhone 12 at the time of release) includes some updates to the voice assistant’s features and abilities. Behind the appearance changes mentioned above, these features were also added or updated:
- Better Answers: Siri manages higher than 25 billion requests a month, according to Apple. To field all these requests, the virtual assistant had to learn a lot. Apple claims Siri has 20 times more cases than it did a few years ago. And the virtual assistant’s capacity to use the web to provide answers is also improved.
- Smarter Suggestions: With the improvements to Siri is a helpful widget for Shortcut Suggestions that allows it to suggest actions that you do regularly. For example, if you get in the car Siri might recommend opening maps or ordering a coffee from your favorite coffee house. And, you can have these ideas on your Today view or your home screen (or both).
- ETA Sharing: If you’re meeting different iPhone users and you want to give them an ETA, you can ask Siri to “Share my ETA.” Siri then sends your ETA, by Apple Maps, to that person. There are a pair of caveats, though. You have to have already begun directions in Apple Maps, and your Apple ID email is used to share your expected arrival time.
- Voice Messaging: Siri can record and send audio messages for you using iMessage or MMS text messages (which means you can even send audio files to Android users). Just speak, “Send an audio message to,” and Siri records and sends the audio. You have the option to listen to it, cancel it, or rerecord it before you send it. You also have the opportunity to do this through CarPlay.
- Better Translation: Siri’s translation services are updated with iOS 14. There are now 65 language pairs, and you don’t need to be connected to the internet for the translation to occur. What’s more extra, the translations are much more continuous than in the past.
- Cycling Directions With Maps: If you need cycling directions, you can now ask Siri, “What are cycling directions to [name of place].” If Siri doesn’t know or recognize the place you’ve requested directions for, the voice assistant gives advice and then redirects you to Apple Maps for the appropriate recommendations.
- Automated Reminders From Mail: In iOS 14, Siri gained the capacity to recognize possible reminders from email and make recommendations. If you see you create many reminders from email, this is a helpful feature to keep you on your game.
Improvements to Siri in iOS 14.5
Apple’s iOS 14.5 update, released in April 2021, also includes more Siri improvements. iPhone owners can now take the kind of voice they need Siri to use when answering inquiries. There’s no longer a default voice. If someone first sets up their device, they can pick from among a more diverse, natural-sounding bunch of options.
-
- Additionally, Siri gets more Group FaceTime support in the 14.5 updates. It’s now easier to initiate calls with many people or with any group in Messages. Siri can also announce incoming calls in Apple AirPods or fit Beats headphones. iPhone users can also have Siri call an emergency contact if they want assistance and cannot make the call themselves.
