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Siri on Mac is versatile and easy to set up with simple voice commands and shortcuts, making your Mac more efficient. Siri helps you manage files, control your system, launch apps, manage your calendar, and control your smart home devices. Apple Intelligence greatly enhances your Mac with notable limitations.
Gone are the days when Siri was the first feature on the iPhone. You can now use Assistant to handle all kinds of processes on your Mac that traditionally required a keyboard and mouse. Here’s how to make the most of Assistant on your desktop.
What you need to use Siri
Getting started with Siri on your Mac is very easy, but there are a few things you should check first. Requires a relatively new Mac running macOS Sierra or later. If you want the convenience of hands-free “Hey Siri” commands, you’ll need either an Apple Silicon or T2 security chip inside. This applies to most Macs from 2018 onwards.
Setting up Siri takes approximately 30 seconds. Go to System Settings (or System Preferences if you’re using an older macOS version), click Apple Intelligence or Siri, and flip the switch to turn it on. There are many options for different accents and languages, so it’s a good idea to choose a voice that suits your taste. If your Mac supports “Hey Siri,” you’ll also see that option.
Get started with Siri
What I love about Siri on the Mac is that there’s no wrong way to use Siri. It is typically triggered using the Globe Key + S shortcut, but there are several other options. Remember, if you have “Hey Siri” set up, you can start a conversation just by saying the magic words.
Some people prefer to click. The Siri icon appears in the menu bar and in the Dock. I use these shortcuts because sometimes I don’t feel like talking or I’m in a public place like a coffee shop or a quiet place.
Required command
Siri’s capabilities on Mac go far beyond simple queries. When it comes to file management, Siri acts as your personal file assistant. When you ask, “Show me the documents I worked on last week,” Siri searches for files, taking both creation and modification dates into account. You can get even more specific with commands like “Find spreadsheets containing ‘budgets’ from the past three months” or “Show presentations created in Numbers.”
System control through Siri turns everyday tasks into simple commands. Instead of navigating through multiple menus to adjust display brightness, just say “Increase screen brightness” or “Set brightness to 75%.” The same applies to other settings that have levels (such as volume) or toggles (such as Wi-Fi).
Need to quickly enable Do Not Disturb for a meeting? Just ask Siri. Want to know how much battery and storage you have left? Siri will tell you right away.
Siri is also great at finding specific system settings. Instead of clicking multiple menus, say “Open sound settings” or “Show Bluetooth settings.” This natural language navigation also extends to application launch.
You can open any app with a simple command, and Siri also understands contextual requests like “Open my last Numbers document” or “Show me what I was working on in Pages yesterday.” .
Siri core functionality
When it comes to Numbers and Pages, the true power of Siri on your Mac comes when you start using it in Apple’s ecosystem of apps and services.
Calendar management is now seamless and you can ask Siri to “schedule a meeting with Sarah tomorrow at 2pm” or “show me what’s next week.” Need to check availability? Ask, “Do you have a meeting on Friday?” Siri can also help you manage multiple calendars, separating work and personal schedules.
Email and messaging through Siri saves you countless clicks. Say, “Message John about tomorrow’s lunch” or “Create an email to the marketing team.” Siri can read your messages, help you reply, and even search your email history. When you’re in a meeting or working on a project, you can let Siri handle these communications to help you stay focused on your primary task.
This integration also extends to other Apple devices. Just ask Siri to “Find my iPhone” or “Play music on HomePod.” If you have HomeKit devices, you can control your entire smart home from your Mac. Turn off the lights, adjust the thermostat, and check your security cameras, all through Siri. This cross-device functionality turns your Mac into a central hub for the entire Apple ecosystem.
(Apple) Intelligent Mac
Apple Intelligence transforms the way your Mac understands and helps you. However, you will need certain equipment to get started. Basics: Mac M1 or later running macOS Sequoia 15.1, approximately 4 GB of free space, and a compatible version of English set as the language. However, more languages will be coming in 2025, according to Apple.
Getting started is similar to turning on Siri, but you may need to join a waitlist first. According to Apple, all you have to do is wait a few hours to be granted access to this feature. When you log in, your Mac automatically downloads what you need.
So what’s special? Simply put, Apple Intelligence powers your entire Mac. Photography gives you an eerie understanding of what’s in your photos. Asking for “pictures of dogs playing in the snow” actually works (usually). Emails and Messages give you smart replies that look like you wrote them, while Focus Mode strives to learn when you want peace and quiet. Siri also received a major upgrade, with better voice recognition and more knowledge about everything.
When it works, it works!
Of course, like any AI, Apple Intelligence certainly has its quirks and limitations. In some cases, it might confidently suggest a completely wrong smart reply to an email, or summarize an important notification and not show it for hours.
I once misidentified my dog as a fawn in a photo. Also, the summary of the message may miss important context. The trick is to treat it like a useful but imperfect assistant. We’re good at automating simple tasks, but we need to double-check how important things work.
Privacy considerations
Apple takes a strong stance on privacy with Siri and intelligent features. Unlike some virtual assistants, Siri processes many requests directly on your device. When server processing is required, Apple uses a random identifier rather than your Apple ID to maintain anonymity.
You can see and delete your Siri history in your system settings, and you have full control over whether to share your voice recordings to help us improve our service.
Apple Intelligence adds an interesting wrinkle to this simplicity by integrating with ChatGPT. But Apple does a good job of explaining when and what data is shared. First, it’s off by default, so you have to enable it manually in (Settings) > (Apple Intelligence & Siri).
Without a ChatGPT account, your requests remain anonymous. OpenAI cannot recognize IP addresses and cannot store or train data on them. However, once you connect your account (required for premium features), your ChatGPT account settings regarding storage and training will apply.
Siri on your Mac represents a major evolution in the way you interact with your computer. It may take some time to get into the habit of using voice commands, but the increased productivity makes it worth the effort. Start with simple tasks like setting reminders or checking the weather, then gradually try more advanced features as they become second nature.
You’ll likely find that Siri not only changes the way you use your Mac, but the way the entire Apple ecosystem works together.
