Get "Hey Siri" working again on your Mac

Why it happens

Your Mac only listens for the phrase when it's set to a phrase you actually say, not Off. It also needs a working microphone it can hear you through. On a MacBook, the built-in microphone switches off while the lid is closed, so the phrase can't reach it then.

How to fix it

1. Make sure Siri itself is on. On macOS 26, open System Settings and click Apple Intelligence & Siri, then turn on Siri. On macOS 27, click Siri in the sidebar and click Turn On Siri if you see it.

   macOS 26 Tahoe Apple Intelligence & Siri›Siri

   macOS 27 Golden Gate Siri›Turn On Siri

2. Pick the phrase. On macOS 26, open the Listen for pop-up on the Apple Intelligence & Siri page. On macOS 27, click Siri, then Requests. Choose “Siri” or “Hey Siri” to answer to either, or “Hey Siri” for the longer phrase only. Off means your Mac isn't listening.

   macOS 26 Tahoe Apple Intelligence & Siri›Listen for

   macOS 27 Golden Gate Siri›Requests

3. If your Mac asks you to say a few phrases so it learns your voice, follow along. Sit close to the Mac in a quiet room.

4. Test it with the built-in microphone. Disconnect headsets for now, keep the lid open, and say "Hey Siri, what time is it?"

On macOS 26, the phrase is set with the Listen for pop-up in Apple Intelligence & Siri. On macOS 27, Siri has its own place in the sidebar: click Requests and choose “Siri” or “Hey Siri”, “Hey Siri” or Off. macOS 27 also has no Siri keyboard shortcut setting.

Still not fixed?

1. Check that your Mac hears you. Open Sound, click Input and pick the built-in microphone, then speak and watch the level move.

   Sound›Input

2. If it only fails while your Mac is locked, turn on Allow Siri when locked. On macOS 26 it's on the same page as Listen for, and on macOS 27 it's under Requests in Siri settings.

   macOS 26 Tahoe Apple Intelligence & Siri›Allow Siri when locked

   macOS 27 Golden Gate Siri›Requests

3. Using a MacBook with the lid closed and an external display? The built-in microphone is off then. On macOS 27, open the lid. On macOS 26, open the lid or call Siri with the keyboard shortcut shown in Siri settings, where one choice is holding the Microphone key in the top row if your keyboard has one.

4. If you don't see the shorter “Siri” or “Hey Siri” choice, your Mac or Siri language may not offer it. Pick “Hey Siri” instead.

5. Set the phrase to Off, restart your Mac, then choose it again and follow any voice setup it offers.

6. If Siri works when you call it another way (on macOS 26, the keyboard shortcut) but never hears the phrase, and the microphone level doesn't move in Sound settings, the microphone may be faulty. Contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider to have it checked.