Talking to Siri out loud isn’t always an option. In a meeting, on a quiet train, or in a lecture hall, the last thing you want is your phone announcing your questions to everyone around you. That’s what Type to Siri is for: it lets you type your requests to Siri instead of speaking them.
Step 1: Open the Siri settings
On recent iOS versions, open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri. (On older iOS releases, the same options lived under Settings > Accessibility > Siri.) Apple documents the current path in its Type to Siri support guide, and 9to5Mac has tracked how the feature’s location evolved across iOS releases.
Step 2: Turn on “Type to Siri”
Tap Type to Siri and switch it on. Once enabled, summoning Siri with the Side button no longer starts listening for your voice — instead, a keyboard and text field appear so you can type your request silently.
Step 3: Summon Siri with the Side button
Press and hold the Side button (or the Home button on models that have one). Siri appears with a text field at the bottom of the screen. Type your question — “set a timer for 20 minutes,” “text Anna I’ll be late” — and send it. Siri answers on screen, quietly.
Step 4: Dismiss and fine-tune responses
Press the Side button again to dismiss Siri. For a fully silent experience, also set Siri’s spoken responses to “Prefer Silent Responses” under Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Siri Responses — then answers appear as text only. And if you want your iPhone to stay quiet for incoming calls too, you can allow calls only from a specific SIM card in Focus mode.
Step 5: Remember the dictate shortcut
Type to Siri doesn’t lock you out of voice. When the keyboard is open, tap the dictate key to speak a one-off query, then go back to typing — the best of both worlds. And if SharePlay sessions keep interrupting your quiet workflow, you can turn off all SharePlay features on iPhone.
If it still doesn’t work
If the Type to Siri toggle is missing, update your iPhone — the setting moved to Apple Intelligence & Siri in iOS 18, and very old iOS versions don’t have it at all. If Siri still listens instead of showing the keyboard, double-check the toggle is actually on, then restart your iPhone. If Siri’s answers still play out loud, set Siri Responses to “Prefer Silent Responses.”
FAQ
Does Type to Siri replace voice Siri completely?
No. It’s a preference, not a replacement. The Side button summons the text field, but you can still speak via the dictate key, and “Hey Siri” voice activation keeps working if you have it enabled.
Can I still use Siri hands-free with Type to Siri on?
Yes. Voice activation (“Hey Siri”) and CarPlay continue to work with your voice. Type to Siri only changes what happens when you press the Side button.
Conclusion
Type to Siri is one of those small settings that changes daily life. Turn it on once, and your iPhone stays usable in every quiet room — no awkward voice commands required.
