Apple Intelligence will bring an updated version of Siri to your iPhone in a process that will last until 2025 as the digital assistant on your phone becomes smarter and more aware of what’s on your screen. However, one of the immediate changes coming with the iOS 18.1 update is the ability to type questions and Siri commands instead of saying them out loud.
The new feature is perfect for situations where you’re in a place where discreetly summoning Siri is a better option. Maybe you’re in a meeting and want your assistant to create a reminder for a task that just came up. Maybe you ask Siri to search for something you’d rather keep secret when you’re out in public. Or maybe you just prefer to keep your requests between you and your digital assistant.
Whatever your reason, if you have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone running iOS 18.1 — the software is currently in public beta — you can use Siri typing. You just need to know how to invoke this feature and make sure it’s enabled.
1. Go to Settings
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First, make sure Talk to Siri is turned on if it wasn’t turned on when you set up Apple Intelligence on your phone. Go to the Settings app AND select Apple Intelligence and Siri from the main menu.
2. Turn on Text to Siri
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Select the Speak and text to Siri menuand on the next screen make sure the switch for Typing to Siri is enabled.
3. Use Type to Siri
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Whenever you want to use Type to Siri, simply touch the bottom edge of the iPhone screen; a keyboard will appear surrounded by a glowing interface that indicates Siri is ready to listen. (Or in this case, reading). It can take a while to touch the right spot on the screen – I’ve found that the closer to the edge the better.
As you type your request, the predicted text appears in the text box and shortcuts similar to what you typed appear above it. This is to save you typing time if you’re giving a common command, such as asking Siri to set an alarm.
And that’s it for using Type to Siri in iOS 18.1. You can download the iOS 18.1 public beta right now to try it out for yourself.
If you’re looking for more tips on how to make the most of the new Apple Intelligence technology available on iPhone, we’ll show you how to use the writing tools that are now available on your phone. We can also show you how to get email summaries in the Mail app, and how to create a memory video from photos and videos in your Photos library.
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