Siri Not Working on Mac

siri

Even though the Siri voice assistant is more popular among iPhone users, there are also plenty of desktop users who rely on it to keep notes and improve their overall productivity. If you are one of these users and the Siri voice assistant has been malfunctioning on your Mac, then we have some helpful tips to help you resolve the issue.

The most basic thing to test is to try and call Siri – if the assistant responds with 'Siri not available,' then it is likely that there is trouble with the connection. This could happen because of a problem with your Internet Service Provider/router or simply because Apple's services are not working optimally. We recommend restarting your router and Mac to see if the issue gets fixed. You can also take a look at Apple's service status page at http://apple.com/support/systemstatus to see if Siri services are up and running. Experiencing WiFi issues? You might find the right fix at How to Troubleshoot the WiFi on your Mac.

Is Siri On?

It is possible that a recent update or change you made may have accidentally disabled Siri. Go to Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Siri and make sure that the checkbox Enable Ask Siri is marked. The same menu should also be used to:

  • Reset Voice Feedback by turning it off and on.
  • Temporarily switch to a different voice – this sometimes fixes issues with Siri.

Resync Siri via iCloud

iCloud synchronization is very useful, but it may sometimes cause certain software or services to bug out – Siri is not an exception. You can resync Siri by:

  • Open the Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Apple ID.
  • Find Siri in the list and deselect the checkbox next to it.
  • Save the changes, wait 1-2 minutes, and repeat the process but this time select the checkbox.

Is your Microphone Working?

Siri might have trouble receiving your commands because your microphone is either not working, or it is capturing your voice poorly. You should:

  1. Open the Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Sound.
  2. Select the Input tab.
  3. Try talking to see if the Input Level bar moves – if it does, then your voice is been captured properly. If it does not, however, you need to troubleshoot your microphone – see if it is plugged in properly, and restart your Mac. You can also try to reset your Mac'S PRAM and SMC - How to Reset a Mac's PRAM and SMC.

Does Siri Have Enough Permissions?

The robust security features of Macs allow users to fine-tune the permissions that each app and service gets. It is possible that Siri might have had its access restricted. To verify that this is not the problem:

  1. Go to Apple Menu -> System Preferences -> Screen Time.
  2. Select Content & Privacy -> Apps.
  3. Remove the checkbox next to Siri.
May 17, 2021
Loading...

Cyclonis Backup Details & Terms

The Free Basic Cyclonis Backup plan gives you 2 GB of cloud storage space with full functionality! No credit card required. Need more storage space? Purchase a larger Cyclonis Backup plan today! To learn more about our policies and pricing, see Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Discount Terms and Purchase Page. If you wish to uninstall the app, please visit the Uninstallation Instructions page.

Cyclonis Password Manager Details & Terms

FREE Trial: 30-Day One-Time Offer! No credit card required for Free Trial. Full functionality for the length of the Free Trial. (Full functionality after Free Trial requires subscription purchase.) To learn more about our policies and pricing, see EULA, Privacy Policy, Discount Terms and Purchase Page. If you wish to uninstall the app, please visit the Uninstallation Instructions page.