hoW to Tailor Siri and Search to you

Siri is clever!

Siri’s on–device intelligence learns from what you do with the apps on your iOS device. It uses that info to suggest things you might want to do based on observations of past habits, such as at a particular location or time.

Consider your privacy

You might keep it turned on to benefit from Siri’s suggestions, but turn off Allow on Lock Screen for privacy. That stops hints that you use the app, and your actions in it, being seen by others.

Explore commands

Tap one there, or tap All Shortcuts for a longer list of actions, and tap one of those. On the next page, tap the red record button — or tap Type Phrase, if Type to Siri is turned on in Settings > General > Accessibility > Siri.

Rein things in

In Settings > Siri & Search, under Siri Suggestions are three switches you can turn off to prevent suggestions appearing on: the Lock screen; in Search results; and when you select text and tap Look Up.

Exclude an app?

If you do turn off the first switch, the second is replaced by Show App. Turn that off if you don’t want the app to appear in Search/Today view’s suggestions widget, and among search results when you type.

Say your phrase

Say the phrase you want to trigger your action, then tap the stop button. Tap Done if Siri heard correctly. You‘ll be taken to Settings > Siri & Search > My Shortcuts. Use this list to review/remove custom voice commands.

App–specific choice

Lower down, tap an app to refine its Siri integration. The first item lets info from the app appear in Search’s results, Look Up, on the Lock screen, and in keyboard’s suggestions. Turn it off to stop suggestions for this app.

Pre–empt Siri

You can set a Siri voice command for an action you perform often, using a phrase of your choice. At the top of Siri’s settings page, under Suggested Shortcuts, are three actions it thinks you might want to do this for.

Try it out

Call for Siri’s help however you prefer — holding the side/Home button or perhaps by saying “Hey Siri”, then say the phrase you just assigned. Siri will then coordinate with the relevant app and get it to do what you asked.