How-To

How to Use Siri to Search on Apple Watch

By Bryan M. Wolfe

Updated November 27, 2023

You’re already familiar with using Siri on your iPhone but did you know you can use the digital assistant on your Apple Watch, too?

Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, got its start on the iPhone, then iPad. Eventually, it made its way to Mac and HomePod. You can also use Siri on your Apple Watch.

On Apple Watch, Siri can perform various tasks and deliver the answers right on its display. The assistant supports a wide range of user commands, with many more added each year. These include checking basic information, setting alarms and reminders, adjusting device settings, searching the internet, and providing directions. It can also interact with both native and third-party apps.

Thanks to the recently introduced watchOS 6, Siri can also identify a song that’s playing and give you an instant Shazam result. When Siri doesn’t know the answer to a question, it will still point you in the right direction by displaying the first few search results along with a brief excerpt from each page. From there, you can tap Open Page on Apple Watch to view the listing.

Setting Up Siri on Apple Watch

If you already use Siri on your iPhone, the odds are relatively high that it’s also ready to go on Apple Watch.

To confirm on iPhone:

1. On your iPhone, tap the Settings app on the Home screen.
2. Tap Siri & Search.
3. Toggle Listen for “Hey Siri.”
4. On the iPhone X or later, you need to toggle Press Side Button for Siri.
5. With older devices, make sure that Press Home for Siri is on.

On Apple Watch:

1. Tap the Digital Crown on your wearable device.
2. Choose the Settings app.
3. Scroll, then tap Siri.
4. Toggle Listen for “Hey Siri.”
5. Toggle Raise to Speak.
6. Under Voice Feedback, choose Always On.

From here, you can begin using Siri.

Biggest Requirement: the Internet

Like similar tools, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, Apple Siri requires an Internet connection. Therefore, your Apple Watch or paired iPhone need online connectivity.

Using Siri on Apple Watch

There are various ways to interact with Siri on your Apple Watch. These include:

• Raising your wrist and speaking to the voice assistant.
• Say “Hey Siri” followed by your request.
• Tapping the Siri button on the Siri watch face.
• Pressing, then holding the Digital Crown until you see the Siri listening indicator.

You can ask Siri anything you want — not that it will understand everything! Among the questions or commands to try:

• “Take me home.”
• “Who sings this song?”
• “What song is this?”
• “Open the Podcasts app.”
• “What causes hurricanes?”
• “Start a 45-minute indoors.”
• “What kinds of things can I ask you?”

Turning Off Siri on Apple Watch

You can turn off the many ways to use Siri on Apple Watch. These should be turned on by default, however.

To turn off the Raising to Speak feature:

1. Tap the Digital Crown on your wearable device.
2. Choose the Settings app.
3. Scroll, then tap Siri.
4. Toggle off Raise to Speak.

Ditch “Hey Siri” by:

1. Tap the Digital Crown on your wearable device.
2. Choose the Settings app.
3. Scroll, then tap Siri.
4. Toggle off Listen for “Hey Siri.”

Remove Press Digital Crown feature by:

1. Tap the Digital Crown on your wearable device.
2. Choose the Settings app.
3. Scroll, then tap Siri.
4. Toggle off Press Digital Crown.

Does It Work?