Search Photos the smart way with Siri
Siri can quickly search photos and videos using various criteria, including date, location, people, objects, and activities. Get smart with your searches.
The standard way to find photos on your iPhone, iPad or Mac, is to open the Photos app and tap, scroll and swipe around until you discover the image you’re looking for.
Sure, there are better ways to search, such as using the People & Places albums to sift through your photo library.
There is another way, and it will save you a lot of time and frustration when looking for a photo or video.
It is, of course, Siri.
Siri can quickly locate photos and videos using various criteria, including date, location, people, objects, and activities. And some combination thereof.
Search photos by date
Activate Siri on an iPhone by using one of these options:
- Say “Hey Siri” followed by your request.
- Press and hold the Side button (iPhone X and newer) or Home button (iPhone 8 and older) on your iPhone.
(If this doesn't work, learn how to set up Siri on an iPhone).
You can be as specific or general as you like; just say:
Hey Siri, show me photos from December 25, 2006
Hey Siri, show me photos from April 2014
Hey Siri, show me photos from last month
Hey Siri, show me photos from last Christmas
Photos will open and display a search results page, with the search terms you used inserted in the search field.
The results are supplied below. First, there are some suggested keywords relating to your query. Followed by all of the photos that fit the search terms. Next, the results are broken out into People, Moments Categories, and Albums.

Search photos using people & places
Suppose you have already set up the People album in the Photos app by naming your family members and friends. In that case, Siri can help you find their photos with a quick voice command.
Hey Siri, show me photos of Dad
Hey Siri, show me photos of Jane
The same applies to places. Be as general or as specific as you need to be:
Hey Siri, show me photos of Australia
Hey Siri, show me photos of Sydney from last year
Combine all search parameters and get really specific.
Hey Siri, show me photos of Dad and me in Paris
Hey Siri, show me photos of Jane from last May
Hey Siri, show me selfies from today
Hey Siri, show me photos of Dad in Australia from last Christmas
Search photos for objects and activities
Siri is brilliant at recognizing activities and objects.
Hey Siri, show me photos of the beach
Hey Siri, show me photos of rivers
Hey Siri, show me photos of cats
It’s not hyperbolic to say that it’s far quicker and easier to search through large photo and video libraries using Siri.
Want to discover more about using Siri, Apple’s popular virtual assistant? We’ve written a helpful collection of tutorials full of techniques for using apps, dictation, using Siri Shortcuts, and a comprehensive beginner’s guide to activating and using Siri.
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