Change Siri Voice: Step-by-Step for iPhone & Mac
You can change Siri’s voice on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac in about 30 seconds. The exact steps differ slightly by device, but the option lives in the Siri settings on both platforms, and you can choose from several male and female voices in different accents.
Why Change Siri’s Voice?
Apple introduced a wider range of Siri voices in iOS 14.2 (2020) and macOS Big Sur (2020), adding two new American voices and, for the first time, letting you pick a voice that isn’t tied to your device’s region or language. Before that, Siri’s voice was automatically matched to the language and region you selected (for example, a U.S. English iPhone would default to a female American voice). Now you can choose a voice that feels clearer, more natural, or simply more pleasant to listen to for long navigation prompts, audiobook-style readings, or hands-free queries.
How to Change Siri’s Voice on iPhone and iPad
On an iPhone or iPad running iOS 14.2 or later, the voice selection is no longer buried in the Language & Region settings. Here’s the exact path:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Siri & Search.
- Tap Siri Voice.
- Choose a Variety (American, Australian, British, Indian, Irish, South African, or, in newer versions, more options).
- Choose a Voice (the names vary by region, but you’ll see options like “Voice 1� and “Voice 2� or specific names like “Siri (Female)� and “Siri (Male)�).
On iOS 15 and later, the voice options are labeled simply as “Voice 1,� “Voice 2,� etc., and you can tap each one to hear a preview. The change applies immediately to all Siri interactions, including spoken responses, dictation, and CarPlay.
How to Change Siri’s Voice on Mac
On a Mac with macOS Big Sur or later, the process is similar but located in System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions):
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences).
- Click Siri & Spotlight (or just Siri in older versions).
- Next to Siri Voice, click the dropdown menu.
- Select a voice from the list. You’ll see options like “American (Female),� “American (Male),� “Australian (Female),� etc.
On macOS Ventura and later, the Siri settings are under System Settings > Siri & Spotlight. On older macOS versions, it’s System Preferences > Siri. The voice change takes effect immediately, and you can test it by asking Siri to speak.
What About the HomePod and Other Devices?
If you have a HomePod, the Siri voice is set per HomePod, not per iPhone. To change it on a HomePod:
- Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Tap the HomePod icon.
- Scroll down and tap Siri Voice.
- Choose a voice.
The HomePod uses the same voice options as your iPhone, but the selection is independent. So you can have a female voice on your iPhone and a male voice on your HomePod if you want.
Common Problems and Misconceptions
“I don’t see the voice options.� This usually means your device is running an older version of iOS or macOS. The voice selection was introduced in iOS 14.2 and macOS Big Sur. If you’re on an older version, you can still change Siri’s accent by changing the language (e.g., from U.S. English to U.K. English), but you cannot choose a male or female voice independently.
“Changing the voice doesn’t stick.� If you change the voice and it reverts, try restarting your device. Also, make sure you’re not in a “Restricted� mode (Screen Time) that prevents changes to Siri settings.
“Siri still sounds the same in my car.� CarPlay uses the voice set on your iPhone, so it should change immediately. If it doesn’t, try disconnecting and reconnecting your iPhone to the car.
How to Choose the Right Siri Voice
There’s no “best� voice; it’s purely personal. However, you might consider:
- Accent: If you’re learning a new language or want Siri to pronounce place names correctly, choose a voice that matches the region you’re in or the region of the language you’re speaking.
- Clarity: Some people find the American voices clearer for navigation prompts, while others prefer the British voices for their softer intonation.
- Gender: Apple allows you to pick a male or female voice for any supported language, which is useful if you find one easier to understand or more pleasant.
You can preview each voice by tapping it on iPhone/iPad or clicking it on Mac. Take a few seconds to listen to a sample sentence—it’s the same sentence for every voice, so you can compare directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change Siri’s voice to a celebrity or a custom voice?
No. Apple does not offer celebrity voices or the ability to upload a custom voice. The only options are the built-in Siri voices, which are generated by Apple’s text-to-speech engine. There are third-party apps that claim to change Siri’s voice, but they don’t actually modify the system Siri—they only work within that app.
Will changing Siri’s voice affect other languages?
Yes, but only for the language you’re using. If you have Siri set to U.S. English and you change the voice, it only affects U.S. English. If you switch Siri to another language (e.g., Spanish), you’ll need to set the voice for that language separately.
Does changing Siri’s voice affect the voice used for spoken directions in Maps?
Yes. The Siri voice you choose is used everywhere Siri speaks, including Maps turn-by-turn navigation, notifications, and phone calls. There is no separate voice setting for Maps.
Why did my Siri voice change automatically after an update?
After a major iOS or macOS update, Apple sometimes resets Siri’s voice to a new default. This is rare, but it has happened. You can simply go back into Siri settings and re-select your preferred voice.
Can I change Siri’s voice on an Apple Watch?
No. The Apple Watch uses the Siri voice set on your paired iPhone. You cannot change the voice directly on the watch. If you want a different voice on the watch, change it on the iPhone.
Is there a way to make Siri speak slower or faster?
Yes, but that’s separate from the voice choice. On iPhone/iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Speaking Rate and adjust the slider. On Mac, go to System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Speaking Rate. This affects Siri’s spoken responses, but not all Siri interactions (e.g., in-car prompts may not follow it).
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