If Siri tends to cut you off before you can finish a spoken query or command, there are a couple of ways you can make it listen longer on iPhone and iPad. Keep reading to learn how.

hey siri banner apple
Have you ever had trouble getting ‌Siri‌ to listen long enough to receive your spoken query or request? If you press the Side or Home button on your Apple device to invoke the virtual assistant, you can easily fix this.

All you have to do is hold down the button for as long as it takes for you to complete your sentence, and ‌Siri‌ will continue listening until you release your finger.

But what if you mainly use the handsfree "Hey ‌Siri‌" spoken command to invoke the virtual assistant? If you're not physically pressing a button, how do you get it to keep the microphone active for as long as you need? Fortunately, there is a solution hidden in your device's settings.

How to Set Siri's Pause Time on iPhone and iPad

In iOS, Apple includes an option that lets you manually set how long ‌Siri‌ waits for you to finish speaking. The steps below show you how it's done.

  1. Open the Settings app on your ‌iPhone‌ or ‌iPad‌.
  2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
  3. Under the "General" section, tap Siri.
  4. Under "‌Siri‌ Pause Time," change the Default to Longer or Longest.

settings

That's all there is to it. Next time you invoke ‌Siri‌ using the Side or Home button, or with the "Hey ‌Siri‌" spoken command, the virtual assistant will wait longer than usual to listen to you, even if you don't say anything at first. To change the wait duration again, simply return to the accessibility menu described above and choose a different ‌Siri‌ pause time.

Popular Stories

Aston Martin CarPlay Ultra Screen

Apple's CarPlay Ultra to Expand to These Vehicle Brands Later This Year

Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon. In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis. In his Powe...
Apple Logo Black

Apple's Next Launch is 'Imminent'

Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models. "All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

New MacBook Pros Reportedly Launching Alongside macOS 26.3

Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
iOS 26 Home Feature

Apple Gives Final Warning to Home App Users

Tuesday February 3, 2026 8:55 am PST by
In 2022, Apple introduced a new Apple Home architecture that is "more reliable and efficient," and the deadline to upgrade and avoid issues is fast approaching. In an email this week, Apple gave customers a final reminder to upgrade their Home app by February 10, 2026. Apple says users who do not upgrade may experience issues with accessories and automations, or lose access to their smart...