The Loud Assistant
When you ask Siri a question on your Apple Watch, the digital assistant is designed to be as helpful as possible. By default, if you ask “What is the weather?” Siri will not only display the forecast on the tiny screen, but she will also use the watch’s internal speaker to read the entire forecast out loud at high volume. While this is helpful if you are driving and cannot look at your wrist, it is incredibly embarrassing if you are sitting in a quiet office meeting or a crowded movie theater. If you want Siri to remain perfectly silent and only communicate via the screen, you must restrict her audio output.
How to Turn Off Siri Voice Responses
You can force the digital assistant to remain silent via the Siri settings.
- Open the Settings app directly on your Apple Watch (the grey gear icon).
- Scroll down the main list and tap on Siri.
- Scroll down the page until you find the section labeled “Voice Responses.”
- Tap on Siri Responses.
- You will see a list of audio output options. Select Control With Silent Mode.
Respecting Silent Mode
The change is instantaneous. From now on, Siri’s voice is directly tied to the watch’s main volume toggle. If you swipe up from the bottom of your watch face and turn on “Silent Mode” (the bell icon with a line through it), Siri will become completely mute. You can still ask her questions, but she will strictly display the answers as text on the screen, allowing you to use the assistant discreetly in quiet environments.