All versions of Apple Watch include Siri; in fact, many of the watches’ most valuable features are due to its close integration with the voice assistant.
Siri on the Apple Watch can be used in a very similar way to on the iPhone. With the same ability to play music, check the weather, and financial markets, provide directions, send messages, start workouts, and much more.
Many of our tutorials for the iPhone also apply to the Apple Watch, the differences being in interaction and how results are delivered.
Remember, your Apple Watch needs to be connected to a cellular network or Wi-Fi for Siri to work.
How to turn on Siri on your Apple Watch
To check that Siri is already enabled or to turn it on, you use the Settings app on your watch, or the Watch App on your iPhone.
On your Apple Watch
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down to Siri.
- Make sure Listen for “Hey Siri”, Raise to Speak, and Press Digital Crown are all toggled on.
If you scroll down further, you also can adjust voice feedback and volume on your watch.
On your iPhone
- Open the Watch App.
- Scroll down to Siri.
- Make sure Listen for “Hey Siri”, Raise to Speak, and Press Digital Crown are all toggled on.
You also get the same voice and volume options as you do on the watch.
How to activate Siri on your Apple Watch
You can ask Siri to open an app, start a call, send a message, begin a workout, and much more (further examples below). Siri can be triggered on your watch using one of these three methods.
1. By pressing the Digital Crown
Siri can be activated straight from your wrist by holding down the Digital Crown.
2. By saying “Hey Siri”
Siri on the Apple Watch can also be triggered via the “Hey Siri” voice command.
Simply speak “Hey Siri” followed by your request:
Hey Siri, is it going to rain today?
Hey Siri, start a workout.
3. By using “Raise to Speak”
With watchOS 5 and Apple Watch Series 3 or later, you no longer need to say “Hey Siri” to get Siri’s attention. You can use the Raise to Speak feature to activate Siri when lifting your watch to your mouth.
If you use Siri a lot, saying “Hey Siri” so often can feel repetitive and a bit tedious. This feature aims to solve that problem.
- Raise your wrist to wake your Apple Watch.
- Hold your watch near your mouth.
- Make your request.
In theory, this is a brilliant idea; in reality, it can be a little unreliable. You must be pretty confident in raising the watch to your mouth. If you perform the action too slowly while sitting down or hold your arm too far away, Siri might not react.
Once Siri has processed your request, you’ll feel a light tap on your arm to let you know a response is ready.
What can Siri do on Apple Watch?
Using one of the methods above, activate Siri and ask a question:
What’s my heart rate?
How many calories have I burnt today?
How do I say, ‘what’s your name’ in Spanish?
What is the capital of Germany?
What is 145 multiplied by 75?
Start a 30-minute outdoor walk.
Start a 5-minute timer.
Remind me to feed the goldfish.
Turn on the lights in the kitchen.
If you want more examples, ask Siri what you can ask Siri!
What kind of things can I ask you?
How to change Siri’s voice feedback settings on your Apple Watch
Siri can speak responses on your Apple Watch.
- Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
- Scroll down to, and tap on Siri.
- Choose from one of the following options:
Always On: Siri will always speak responses, even when your Apple Watch is in silent mode.
Control With Silent Mode: When your Apple Watch is set to silent mode, Siri responses are silenced.
Headphones Only: Siri only speaks responses when your Apple Watch is connected to Bluetooth headphones.
How to use the Siri Watch Face
From watchOS 4, you can change your watch face to a dedicated Siri face.
The Siri Watch Face uses many data sources, including the default Apple Watch apps and third-party apps you have installed. Using machine learning, it aims to predict what it thinks you want to see at any given time of the day.
Whenever you open or interact with an app on your watch, Siri will learn from your behavior.
So, first thing in the morning, it may show you the weather forecast, then upcoming appointments and reminders later. Suppose you regularly exercise at a particular time of day. In that case, the Workout app will appear on the Siri Watch Face when you need it.