Discover the Secrets of Using Siri with Apple Intelligence

With iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1 (Sequoia), Siri gains even more capability than before with the help of Apple Intelligence. Siri understands conversational language more easily, is more customizable, and can help you figure out how to use your Apple gadgets. 

This article explains how to enable and use Siri with Apple Intelligence.

How to Turn On Siri With Apple Intelligence

To take advantage of Apple Intelligence, you must first update your operating system to iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia (macOS 15.1) and then join the waitlist.

1. Select Settings > General > Software Update > Update Now or Upgrade Now.

2. Once you’ve finished updating your operating system, join the waitlist to activate Apple Intelligence.

   This step is necessary since Apple Intelligence is still in beta. You’ll receive a notification when Apple Intelligence is ready on your machine.

3. Select Set Up Apple Intelligence.

4. Click Continue to proceed through the guided setup.

5. Select Continue again to review the Speak to Siri options.

    If you want to disable Apple Intelligence with Siri at any time, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and move the toggle to the left/off position beside Apple Intelligence.

6. One final step if you’re on a Mac, enter Command twice on your keyboard and then select Enable Shortcut in the dialog box to allow the Type to Siri shortcut.
   

How to Use Siri With Apple Intelligence

With Apple Intelligence for Siri turned on, you can make several new types of requests from your supercharged digital assistant. Here are a few main enhancements to know.

Type to Siri

Previously, the only way to ask Siri questions was to ask it aloud. With Apple Intelligence, you can also type your queries. Here’s how.

1. On iPhones and iPads, double-tap the bottom of the display.  On a Mac, press the Siri button if you have a Touch Bar or the Siri icon from the Menu Bar. Alternatively on a Mac, press Command twice.

    If you don’t see the Siri icon on your Mac, it go to System Settings > Control Center > Menu Bar Only > Siri > Show in Menu Bar.

2. In the Siri request bar, input your question.

3. Siri's responses will appear in the upper-right corner, and you can type additional queries without closing the interface.

Ask for Help About Apple Products

Another time-saving feature of Siri with Apple Intelligence is the ability to ask Siri questions about how to do things with your Apple products.

Rather than having to manually go to Settings to make adjustments to Display and Brightness or text size, you can bring up the Siri field and type questions like:

• “What is Apple Intelligence?” 
• “How do I make a Memoji?”
• “How do I back up my Mac?”
• “How do I connect my AirPods to my iPhone?”

Why Use Siri With Apple Intelligence?

Apple is rolling out more enhancements to Apple Intelligence and Siri through the rest of 2024 and into 2025. 

In iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2, Apple added Genmoji, ChatGPT in Siri, Image Playground, and Visual Intelligence, to name a few.

Here are a few other ways that Siri with AI smarts could make your life easier—and is easier to use.

Make Requests While Speaking Naturally

Siri is more conversational than ever with Apple Intelligence, which means you don’t have to be as exact when making requests. 

For example, if you try to set a reminder and fumble over your phrasing, you can correct yourself and Siri should follow along.

Ask Siri Contextual Questions

Siri can also keep up with the conversation and details that are relevant to you and what you’re talking about. 

If you ask Siri about a book title, you can follow up with related questions and requests, such as:

• “Where can I buy this book?”
• “Map directions to the nearest bookstore.”

Or, if a friend makes book or movie recommendations or shares a location in Messages, you can ask Siri to take you directly to that item in Apple TV or Maps, and it'll understand the conversation thread.