Siri Not Working On Your Mac? Fix it Here!

Several users have reported that Siri is not working on Mac. Other reports indicates that only the “Hey Siri” command is not working, but other aspects of Siri are working and the digital assistant can still recognize commands. If Siri is not registering your Hey Siri command or is not working on your MacBook, the troubleshooting steps given in this article will help you fix the problem for good!

Siri, Apple’s own digital assistant, is quite helpful in performing various tasks, answering questions, giving recommendations, and searching the internet. This digital virtual assistant was first introduced in 2011 and is now a integral part of every Apple device.

But what if Siri is not working and are unable to use Siri on your Mac?

This problem has been reported to occur mostly on macOS devices, and some affected users noted that Siri had stopped working on Mac after upgrading to macOS Big Sur.

Why Is Siri Not Working on Mac?

This error has been reported just recently, and although there have been several reports of the issue, Apple has yet to comment on it or release an update to fix it.

If the error happened after upgrading to Big Sur, it is possible that Siri has some compatibility issues with the new macOS. If this is the case, all you have to do is wait for the update from Apple that includes the fix for this problem. As to when this will be released, only Apple knows.

There is also a possibility that you are having corrupted preferences, or incorrect Siri settings etc. If Siri stopped working due to these reasons, the following solutions can help you fix the issue.

Fix Siri not working on Mac issue

If Siri is not working on MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, here are the steps you can take to quickly get Siri working on your Mac so you can continue with your work.

Fix 1: Make sure that Siri is enabled on your Mac

On your Mac, click Apple menu > System Preferences, click Siri and make sure that the “Enable Ask Siri” box is checked.

Fix 2: Make sure the Internet is working

The second thing you should do is to make sure that your network is working properly. Ensure that your Mac is connected to the Internet. Check to see if websites load in Safari or other web browsers. If Siri has stopped working for you, you would, at your earliest, suspect your internet connection as the culprit. As such, the first fix you can try is to check to see if your internet connection is working. Here is how:

Click on the Apple logo in the toolbar at the top. Click on System Preferences in the contextual menu. Click on Network. Check to see if there is a green icon next to the network you are connected to. If the green icon is present, your internet connection is not to blame. However, if there is a red icon next to the network you are connected to, your internet connection is down and that is most probably why Siri is not working on your Mac. If that’s the case, here are troubleshooting tips you can try:

• Turn off and on Wi-Fi. (Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar).
• Contact your Internet service provider to find out if there are any outages.

Fix 3: Restart your Mac and router

Restarting your Mac is simple but effective. Here is how:

• Click the Apple menu.
• Choose restart option.

To restart your router/modem: Unplug your Mac from the power outlet, wait a few seconds and then plug it back in.

Fix 4: Update your Mac

Make sure that your Mac is running the latest version of the macOS software. You can easily update your Mac. Here is how:

please note that Siri on Mac requires macOS Sierra or higher: To check for updates, click the Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update. This will check for updates. And if there is an update available, follow the onscreen prompts to update your device.

Fix 5: Check Siri servers

Make sure that Apple Siri servers are up and running. Head over to Apple’s System Status website and check. If you see a green dot next to Siri, everything is working. If not, just wait, Apple will fix the issue as soon as possible.

Fix 6: Make sure the microphone is working on your Mac

Siri may not be able to detect your voice if your microphone is not working properly. You can configure the microphone settings on your Mac by going to Apple menu > System Preferences > Sound > Input and select a mic (built-in internal one usually) and check the input levels. Does the input level moves when you speak? If yes, that means that your microphone is working.

Fix 7: Turn off your VPN

Siri needs to connect to its Apple server to process any information, this connection may be obstructed if a VPN is enabled, since it initiates internet connections from different spots worldwide. If you are using a VPN service on your Mac, try to turn it off and then try again.

Fix 8: Make sure Siri is not disabled in Parental Controls

Ensure Siri is restriction-free by checking Screen Time for restricted apps. Here is how:

1. Go to System Preferences > Screen Time.
2. Go to Content & Privacy.
3. Here, you can turn off restrictions completely or uncheck any mentions of Siri within the Content and Apps tabs.

Fix 9: Delete Your Siri Preferences.

One of the reasons why Siri doesn’t work on Mac is a corrupted .plist file. The .plist file contains all the settings and preferences associated with the Siri app. To reset Siri’s preferences, follow the steps below:

1. Start by quitting the Siri app.
2. Next, disable Siri from System Preferences by unchecking Enable Talk to Siri.
3. Next on, open Finder, then navigate to the Preferences folder by holding Option, then clicking Go > Library.
4. In the Preferences folder, delete all .plist files with Siri in their filename.
5. Finally, re-enable Siri under System Preferences to generate a new .plist file.

If Siri is not working on your MacBook, simply follow the troubleshooting tips above to fix the issue. If you have any other question, let us know in the comments section below.