Why Is Siri So Quiet? (How to Fix it in Seconds)

Steven CarrLast Updated: April 9, 2022

5 minutes read

If you’re an iPhone user, you’ve probably heard of Siri, Apple’s always-on virtual assistant. Siri can help you with just about anything–from checking the weather, to providing you with directions. With the latest iOS 15 update, Siri is now sharper than ever and more interactive. The new updates to Siri include:

Contextual awareness: Siri can now respond keeping the last question in mind, so there’s a thread of conversation.
Customizable voices: Apple added a fifth new “American” accent to the list of Siri voices, referred to as “Quinn.” Additional Siri accents include British, Indian, Irish, and South African.

With the new updates, however, there’s a chance Siri’s voice and/or volume gets altered. Or perhaps you just bought a new phone, and you’re unsure how to adjust Siri’s volume.

To learn how to troubleshoot Siri’s voice if it’s too quiet, too loud, or you simply want to change the settings, keep reading below.

Table of Contents

How Do I Make Siri Louder?

There are several ways to test for Siri’s volume and increase the sound if needed. Surprisingly, you can’t adjust Siri’s volume directly through the settings app, which many people initially gravitate towards.

To increase Siri’s volume, try these steps:

First, turn on “ring mode” on your iPhone. This switch is on the top left side of your iPhone. If your phone is on “Silent,” you will not hear Siri’s voice.
Activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri,” and you will see the icon at the bottom of your iPhone screen, indicating that Siri is listening.
From here, use the volume control buttons on the side of your phone to increase Siri’s volume.
Another option is using voice commands. You can say phrases such as, “Hey Siri, increase the volume to 80%,” or “Hey Siri, speak louder.” Siri operates on a volume scale of 1 to 100%.

What should I do if my “Hey Siri” command isn’t working?

In the event that Siri isn’t recognizing your voice or registering anything, there are several steps you can take to troubleshoot.

As with most iPhone issues, oftentimes simply turning your phone on and off will do the trick. Similarly, updating to the latest iOS software tends to fix any lingering bugs. If you are still experiencing issues after completing these steps, continue reading.
If you are wearing headphones or earbuds, there’s a possibility this is interfering with Siri. For example, if your headphones are connected to another device, such as your Macbook, your phone will not recognize the Siri command. You can check which device is connected via Bluetooth by going to Settings > Bluetooth > My Devices. If it is connected to another device that is not your phone, you can disconnect manually here.
Another possibility is that your Siri function is not turned on. Go to Settings > Siri & Search and turn on Listen for “Hey Siri”. Here, you can see the various ways to activate Siri, such as the side button and allowing Siri to be used when your phone is locked.
Last but not least, check to make sure your microphone isn’t blocked. Things like dust, debris, moisture, or a poorly fitted iPhone case can block the microphone and Siri won’t be able to hear you.

My Siri Voice Sounds Muffled, How Do I Fix This?

With the new iOS update, some people have complained about Siri sounding odd or muffled. People have described it as Siri being “underwater” or sounding very robotic and unnatural. If you are experiencing this issue and have already tried turning your iPhone on/off, consider the troubleshooting steps below:

Turn off low power mode. Oftentimes when you’re operating on low power mode, iPhone will turn off certain features as it tries to save battery, which can affect Siri’s sound quality. To fix this, go to Settings > Battery > Low Power Mode and turn this off.
Redownload Siri by visiting Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice > Variety and choose a new accent. This forces Siri to reset, and you can then go back and change to the original accent and voice.
Check your storage. Choosing an accent and voice for Siri takes up audio file storage space ranging from 150MB to 500MB. If you don’t have enough storage, Siri’s sound quality could be affected.
Reset your device. This is a last resort option, as resetting your device erases your settings and you’ll have to reset other features on your phone. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone, and erase all content settings. Your phone will indicate what settings it is erasing.

Increasing Siri’s Volume On Other Apple Devices

Siri isn’t just for the iPhone. Siri is offered on Apple products, including the Apple Watch, iPad, AirPods, HomePod, Mac, Apple TV, and CarPlay, so you can have a virtual assistant pretty much anywhere you go on any digital platform.

If your Siri is too quiet on any of these devices, follow the steps below to fix Siri:

Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is currently on Series 7, which features a larger, always-on Retina display, rounded corners, and quicker charging. To increase Siri’s volume, go to Settings > Siri > Voice Volume. Tap the slider to adjust.

iPad

The iPad functions similarly to the iPhone in terms of settings. You can say “Hey Siri” and press the volume buttons on the side, or you can control Siri’s volume through your voice. If your iPad isn’t recognizing “Hey Siri”, follow the steps listed above to troubleshoot.

Apple HomePod

The HomePod is designed to adjust the volume based on the level of noise in your room. However, you can easily increase the volume by tapping the plus or minus sign on the top of your HomePod, or asking “Hey Siri, increase the volume to 75%”.

MacBook

The latest Macs feature Siri on the digital Touch Bar above the keyboard. To adjust Siri’s volume, touch the Siri button located in the top right corner and when it starts speaking, drag the slider on the Volume control (also located on the Touch Bar).

Apple CarPlay

Just like you’d adjust the volume on the radio, you can turn up Siri’s voice using the dials in your car dashboard or steering wheel.

What Can Siri Do For Me?

Siri is a useful digital assistant if you know what you’re looking for. Oftentimes, our hands aren’t free when we’re driving, handling pets or children, cooking, eating, or more. It’s helpful to talk directly to Siri, so you don’t have to worry about fumbling around with buttons or unlocking your phone.

Siri can help you with a variety of tasks, including:

Make calls and Facetime your contacts
Send messages, or have Siri read you your messages
Play music
Calculate math equations
Check the stock market
Provide navigation and directions via Apple Maps
Open apps and use their features
Open your camera and take a photo
Make reservations at your favorite restaurant
Translate languages and do monetary conversions
Set alarms and reminders
Check email
Check sports information and game scores
Tell you a bedtime story
Check your flight status
Create a password when you say “Random password”
Identify a song when you say “Name that tune”

If you’re using Siri hands-free, make sure that Listen for “Hey Siri” is turned on in your app. Go to Settings > Siri & Search > Listen for “Hey Siri”.

Do All Apple Devices Have Siri?

Today, any new Apple product on the market will have Siri. However, Siri didn’t arrive until the iPhone 6s, so any models before that will not have Siri. For iPads, the 6th generation or above will have Siri. However, for iPad Airs, Siri begins in the 3rd generation. AirPods (2nd and 3rd generation, AirPods Max, and AirPods Pro all use Siri.

All Apple Watch and HomePod models have Siri.

All MacBook Pros and Airs from 2018 or later have Siri.

Final Thoughts

Now that you have a better understanding of how to turn Siri on, adjust the volume, and ask Siri various commands, this should provide you with a firm grasp on how to use Siri. As with any technology, there are always caveats and it isn’t always perfect, which is why troubleshooting can help solve some quick fixes to why your Siri is so quiet. For additional support and resources, you can visit the Official Apple Support Center and visit the forums for common FAQs.