How to Fix Siri not Working After iOS 17 Update

Apple has introduced a new Siri activation method in iOS 17. Now, you can directly wake the virtual assistant by simply saying "Siri" without the preceding "Hey." This latest update in iOS 17 offers the choice to prompt Siri using either "Hey Siri" or just "Siri." This enhancement aims to provide a more intuitive and convenient Siri experience, among several other new features that accompany the iOS 17 update.

However, after iOS 17 update, some users reported that when greeted with “Hey Siri”, Siri didn’t respond properly. If you have the same problem, this guide will help you fix Siri not working in iOS 17 with effective solutions.

Part 1. What are the new Siri changes for iOS 17?

iOS 17 introduces significant changes to Siri, enhancing its accuracy and responsiveness. Now, Siri can understand requests more accurately and even respond in Standby Mode. Additionally, it's capable of reading audiobooks aloud, offering a time-saving feature for users.

The improved Siri in iOS 17 represents a more powerful, accurate, and user-friendly virtual assistant. Here are two notable changes to Siri in this update.

1. Siri activation
One of the standout alterations in iOS 17's Siri is the revised wake-up method. Unlike earlier iOS versions, you can now activate Siri simply by saying "Siri" without the initial "Hey."

However, if you still prefer, you can continue using the "Hey Siri" wake word. Nevertheless, many users may find the new "Siri" wake word to be a more convenient and natural option.

2. Back-to-back requests
A noteworthy addition to iOS 17's Siri is the back-to-back request feature, enabling you to prompt Siri for multiple tasks without reactivating it with "Hey Siri" or "Siri" each time.

For instance, you can say, "Hey Siri, set a timer for 5 minutes and then play my workout playlist." Siri comprehends this as two consecutive tasks – setting a timer and playing your workout playlist – all without requiring you to re-engage Siri with "Hey Siri" in between.

Part 2. Troubleshoots for Siri not working in iOS 17

This part will offer you 6 solutions to troubleshoot the issue Siri not working in iOS 17. Make sure your iPhone isn’t face down, and try them one after another until your issue gets fixed.

1# Choose a wanted way to activate Siri

Since iOS 17 changed the way you activate Hey Siri you may not be used to using it, thus, you can switch it to its older way and retry whether you can activate Siri in your iOS 17 device.

Go to the Settings app on your iPhone > Tap Siri & Search > Tap Listen for. From here, you can choose “Hey Siri” to enable this function you used to do.

2# Refresh Hey Siri

If "Hey Siri" is not working on your iPhone after iOS 17 update or Siri is having trouble understanding your commands, it's likely that the "Hey Siri" function isn't enabled or Siri itself is experiencing issues on your device. Re-enabling or enabling the "Hey Siri" function might resolve the problem.

Go to Settings > Scroll down and choose Siri & Search > Toggle off the switch next to Listen for “Hey Siri”.

Wait for a while and enable the function again. Then set up “Hey Siri” to check whether your issue gets fixed.

3# Turn off Low Power Mode

The "Hey Siri" function won't work, and Siri won't respond if the low power mode is activated. To address this, disable the Low Power Mode using the following steps and then try speaking to Siri again.

Go to the iPhone Settings app > Scroll down to choose Battery > Locate Low Power Mode and make sure it is disabled.

4# Turn off and on Dictation

Hey Siri not working in iOS 17 may be resulted from iPhone dictation not working. To fix this problem, you can try to disable and re-enable Dictation to troubleshoot the issue.

Head to the iPhone Settings > Tap General > Click Keyboards > Find the Enable Dictation option, and toggle it off.

5# Check Internet connection

"Hey Siri" functionality is highly dependent on a stable network connection. When not connected to the internet, chances are Siri not responding in iOS 17 with messages like "Sorry, I'm having trouble connecting to the network" or "Try again in a little while."

In such cases, it's essential to check your internet connection. Try enabling Airplane Mode, which temporarily disables both cellular data and Wi-Fi. After a short while, turn off Airplane Mode to see if this resolves the issue of "Hey Siri" not working.

Further solution: Reset Network Settings
Just in case, to avoid any network glitches that lead to Siri not working in iOS 17, you can follow the steps below to reset network settings.

To reset network settings, go to Settings > Tap General >Tap Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Choose Reset Network Settings. 

6# Force restart iPhone

If none of the previous methods have resolved the issue, performing a force restart on your iPhone could be the solution. Below are detailed steps on how to hard reset your iPhone.

• iPhone 8 and later with Face ID: Press and quickly release the Volume + button > Perform the same operation on the Volume - button > Press the Side button and release when you see the Apple logo.
• iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press and hold both the Volume - button and the Power button > Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.
• iPhone 6s or earlier: Press both the Power button and the Home button for seconds > Release both buttons when the Apple logo appears.

Conclusion

That’s all for the solutions to the issue - Siri not working in iOS 17. We’ve covered you with 6 practical solutions to help you out of the issue, and hope you can get out of the issue and enjoy the new feature of Siri in iOS 17.