How to Enable the Hidden ‘Type to Siri’ Feature on iPhone

Siri is incredibly useful for setting timers, creating reminders, or performing quick calculations on your iPhone. However, talking to a digital assistant aloud is not always appropriate. If you are in a quiet office, a library, or simply do not want people around you overhearing your commands, using voice activation is impossible.

Apple includes a hidden accessibility feature called “Type to Siri.” When enabled, activating Siri brings up a keyboard instead of a listening microphone, allowing you to silently type your requests and receive silent, on-screen responses.

How to Enable Type to Siri

Because this is classified as an accessibility feature for those with speech impairments, it is buried deep within the Settings app.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Scroll down and tap on Accessibility.
3. Scroll down to the “General” section near the bottom and tap on Siri.
4. Look for the switch labelled Type to Siri.
5. Toggle the switch to the On position (it will turn green).

How to Use the Feature

Using the feature is just as simple as using standard voice commands.

1. Activate Siri as you normally would by pressing and holding the Side Button (on iPhones with Face ID) or the Home Button (on older iPhones).
2. Instead of the swirling Siri animation waiting for your voice, a text entry box and your keyboard will immediately appear on the screen.
3. Type your request (e.g., “Set a timer for 20 minutes” or “What is the weather in London?”).
4. Tap the blue Done or Return key on your keyboard.
5. Siri will process the request and display the result on the screen silently.

Can I Still Use My Voice?

Enabling “Type to Siri” changes the default behaviour of the physical button press, but it does not disable voice commands entirely.

If you have the “Hey Siri” hands-free feature enabled in your primary Siri settings, you can still say “Hey Siri” out loud at any time. The iPhone will recognise the vocal trigger and respond with voice, just as it always has. This gives you the best of both worlds: silent typing when you press the button, and hands-free voice control when you speak the trigger phrase.