Hey, Siri Not Working with AirPods? Try These 10 Things to Fix

Apple AirPods are one of the finest TWS earphones, and just like any other tech, glitches and issues are common. One of the rare issues is when the “Hey, Siri” voice command is not working with your AirPods. If you are facing the same issue, this guide should be a total rescue for you. But is it really your AirPods to blame? There are a few cases, and let’s look at each of them one after another using our handy solutions.

How to Solve Hey Siri Not Working with AirPods: 10 Things to Try

1. Check Compatibility

The first and foremost thing to do is check for the Siri compatibility with your Apple AirPods. While Siri is available for all the AirPods models, the voice command feature “Hey, Siri” is not available for the first generation AirPods and it is no use yelling “Hey, Siri” on them. However, the newer generation of AirPods offers a full integration with Siri and lets you use your AirPods hands-free.

To activate Siri on the first-generation AirPods, you will be required to tap your AirPods’ stem and activate Siri. 

But how do you know what AirPods model you have? The answer is simple: check the model number. There are two ways to check the model number of your AirPods. One is by using your iPhone/iPad and the second way is to check AirPods charging case.

First Way: Navigate to the “Settings” app on your iPhone and look for the “Bluetooth” settings. Now, find your AirPods from the list; tap on the (i) icon, and you will find your AirPods model number.

Second Way: Open the lids of your AirPods’ charging case, and under the right top of the charging case, you can find the model number of your AirPods along with other information.

Here is the list of model numbers for the AirPods,

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2. Ensure “Hey, Siri” is Enabled

Siri is a helpful feature, and most users believe you can activate it only by using the voice command “Hey, Siri.” You can use Siri by pressing the home button or power button on the newer iPhones. But imagine when you don’t have access to your iPhone/iPad; in such a case, you can always use your AirPods but will be required to set up the voice activation for Siri.

If the “Hey, Siri” is not enabled on your iPhone or iPad, it is natural that it won’t work when you raise the command. So, let’s quickly enable the “Hey, Siri” feature on your iPhone/iPad with a few simple steps.

1. Launch the “Settings” app on your iPhone/iPad.
2. Scroll down and find the “Siri & Search” menu.
3. Now, enable the “Listen for Hey Siri” option.
4. Once you enable the Hey Siri feature, you will find the prompt for setting up your voice, and within a few steps, the setup should be done.
5. You should now be able to use Hey Siri with your AirPods. 

3. Clean your AirPods Microphone

AirPods’ microphones can easily accumulate dirt and debris, and if you do not clean them regularly, they can compromise the sound quality and also block the microphone. So, a dirt buildup can be one of the prime reasons why the “Hey Siri” voice command is not working with your AirPods.

Cleaning your AirPods requires your utmost attention, as it is an expensive piece of tech. All you need to do is use a dry cotton swab and gently rub it onto your AirPods’ microphone to remove any dust. Avoid using liquids, as moisture can permanently damage your AirPods, and there is no coming back from there.

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4. Disable Automatic Switching Between Apple Devices

Apple AirPods work great with the Apple Ecosystem, especially the automatic switching of AirPods between devices. This feature is helpful when you don’t want to manually connect to your other Apple devices while having your AirPods in use.

Consider this scenario where you have AirPods connected between your iPhone and Mac, and you are playing an audio/video on your Mac device. For this particular instance, your AirPods are connected to your Mac and not your iPhone, and if you now raise the voice command “Hey, Siri” with the feature disabled on your Mac. Your iPhone may not respond from your AirPods as the primary voice channel is your Mac. 

Now, you will be required to have your iPhone closer and raise Siri like a speakerphone despite having your AirPods in your ear. You can disable the automatic switching of AirPods with the below helpful guide.

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5. Ensure your AirPods are Connected

The Apple AirPods automatically connect to your iPhone/iPad or Mac once they are paired. But at times, due to a glitch or when switching between devices, they may not connect automatically.

Here are the steps to establish a connection,

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (on iPhone X and later) or swipe up from the bottom (on earlier models) to open the Control Center.
2. Look for the Bluetooth icon to see if your AirPods are connected. You should see a small icon next to the battery indicator showing the connection.
3. If your AirPods are not connected, place them back in the case, close the lid, wait for about 15 seconds, then open the lid and try reconnecting them.

6. Check Network Connection

Siri requires an internet connection to function. If your device is not receiving a stable internet connection, Siri will show up a network error. Now, it is likely that you forgot to enable WiFi or mobile data, the internet is unstable, or there is some network connectivity issue.

Let’s look up at some of the possible solutions,

Make sure you’re connected to a WiFi network or have a strong cellular data connection. You can run a network speed test using a speed test app like Ookla or Google Speed Test. To run a speed test on Google without installing any app, head to the Google search and look for the query “Speed Test.” You will see a snippet in Google search results to run a speed test then and there. If there is an unstable connection, you should see the message on your screen.

If the issue with the network connection persists, you can toggle the network connection a few times, turn on and off the Airplane mode, restart your device, or, as a last resort, reset your network settings.

To reset the network settings,

1. Head to the “Settings” app on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap on “General” and scroll down to the bottom, where you can find the “Transfer or Reset iPhone” option.
3. Now, tap on the “Reset” option and then choose “Reset all Network Settings” from the reset list.
4. Once the network reset process is complete, run the speed test and check if you are still facing the issue.

7. Restart Your Device

Restarting your iPhone or iPad when Hey Siri is not working with AirPods is a handy solution. When you restart your device, the memory units are refreshed, which can solve temporary issues or glitches with your device. 

Here is how you can restart your device,

1. To restart your iPhone or iPad, hold down the Side Button (or the Top Button on iPads and older iPhones) along with the Volume Up or Volume Down button until the Power Off slider appears. Slide to power off.
2. Wait a few seconds, then press the Side Button again to turn the device back on.
3. Once the device is back on, try using Siri with your AirPods again.

8. Reset your AirPods to Default Settings

If you are still unable to use the “Hey, Siri” voice command on your AirPods, resetting your AirPods to factory default settings can help. Resetting your AirPods to factory default will help you reverse any recent changes to your AirPods settings, which might be preventing Siri from working.

To reset your AirPods, drop them back in the charging case and tap on the “forget device” option in your device settings. Now, open the charging case lid and press and hold the button on the back till the light on the front flashes amber, then white. Reconnect your AirPods to your device to continue using it.

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9. Update the Software

Updating the software not only rolls out newer features on your device but also solves existing issues and glitches. With newer updates, developers release patches for certain bugs or issues with devices that users are constantly facing. Your AirPods are automatically updated when your device is connected to a WiFi connection and the AirPods are in the charging case. However, your iPhone/iPad or Mac may require you to manually update the software.

Here is how you can update your iPhone/iPad,

1. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
2. If an update is available, download and install it.

Here is how you can update your Mac,

1. On your Mac, navigate to System Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Your device will check for available updates; if an update is available, tap on download and install it.

10. Contact Apple Support

If none of the above steps work, it is likely a hardware issue that requires technical assistance from an expert. You can check with “Apple Support” and book an appointment for further process.

In some cases, if you have dropped your AirPods a few times and the microphone is damaged due to dropping it on the floor, water damage, or other reasons, the only possible solution is replacement.

Most Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Wrapping up: Hey, Siri – I Love Reading Tiny Quip Guides

That pretty much sums up our guide on what steps you can take when Hey, Siri voice command is not working when you use your AirPods. Let us know which method worked for you and if you are still trying to figure out how to resolve the issue. If you wish to share your views or thoughts, let us know in the comment section below.

Also, we have tons of GUIDES ON AIRPODS, so do check them out to solve most of the tech glitches and explore hidden features of AirPods. Join our Telegram channel, Facebook page, and X to never miss a quick update.