To change Siri’s voice on an iPhone, open Settings, tap Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri on some iOS versions), tap Siri Voice, then pick a variety and a voice. Siri starts using the new voice after a short download.
These steps are for iOS 26 and iOS 27 and follow Apple’s Siri voice and language article. Apple no longer labels voices as male or female. Since iOS 14.5, voices are numbered (Voice 1, Voice 2, and so on), and you listen to each one to find the sound you want. If your iPhone is old enough to run iOS 7, like the iPhone 5 this guide first covered, see the short section on older iPhones near the end.
Change the Siri Voice
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Siri. If you don’t see it, tap Apple Intelligence & Siri. Apple uses that label on some software versions and devices.
- Tap Siri Voice. A list of voice options for your Siri language opens.
- Under the variety or accent choices, tap the one you want. For English, the choices include American, Australian, British, Indian, Irish, and South African.
- Tap a voice. A short sample plays so you can hear it. Tap others to compare.
- Leave the screen once you’ve picked a voice. If the voice needs to download, a progress indicator appears next to it. Stay on Wi-Fi or cellular until the download finishes.
- Test it. Hold the side button (or the Home button on an iPhone with one) or say “Siri” or “Hey Siri,” and ask something like “What’s the weather?” Siri answers in the new voice.
Finding a Male or Female Voice
Each accent has several voices, and they differ in pitch and tone. In American English, for example, some numbered voices sound lower and others higher. Play each sample and pick the one that sounds right to you. Apple made this change so no voice is the default and none is tied to a gender label. During setup on a new iPhone, Apple also asks you to choose a voice instead of assigning one.
Pace and Expressivity Sliders in iOS 27
On iPhones that support Siri’s Expressive Voices, the Siri Voice screen in iOS 27 can also show Pace and Expressivity sliders. Pace changes how fast Siri talks, and Expressivity changes how much the voice rises and falls.
These sliders don’t appear on every iPhone. Apple’s Siri voice and language article says Expressive Voices need Siri AI (Beta) on a supported iPhone: the iPhone Air or an iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro model. Siri AI (Beta) is available only in English. If you don’t see the sliders, use the regular voice choices above.
Change the Language Siri Speaks
The voices you can choose depend on Siri’s language. To pick a different language:
- Open Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri).
- Tap Language and choose the language you want Siri to understand and speak.
- Confirm the change if asked, then return to Siri Voice and choose a voice for the new language.
Changing Siri’s language doesn’t change the language of the rest of your iPhone. It does change what Siri listens for, so pick a language you speak. You may need to set up “Siri” or “Hey Siri” voice recognition again after the change.
Make Sure Siri Talks Back
If you changed the voice but still don’t hear Siri, the voice may be fine and Siri may be set to stay quiet.
- Go to Settings > Siri (or Apple Intelligence & Siri).
- Tap Siri Responses (or Responses).
- Choose an option that lets Siri speak, such as Prefer Spoken Responses or Automatic, depending on the choices shown.
Prefer Silent Responses shows answers on screen without speaking, which can make it seem like the voice change did nothing. With Automatic, Siri decides when to speak, so choose Prefer Spoken Responses while you test a new voice.
If the Voice Option Is Missing or Doesn’t Change
- You’re in the wrong menu. Make sure you opened Siri settings, not Accessibility > Spoken Content or VoiceOver. Those control other voices on your iPhone.
- The voice is still downloading. Connect to Wi-Fi and keep the iPhone on for a few minutes. Plug it into power if the battery is low.
- Your language has fewer voices. Some languages have only one or two voices and no accent choices.
- Siri is speaking through headphones or CarPlay. Disconnect for a moment and test through the iPhone speaker to hear the change.
- The device is managed. A work or school iPhone may block Siri settings. Ask your administrator.
- Restart and update. Restart the iPhone, then check Settings > General > Software Update and install any update.
To go back to your old voice, return to Siri Voice and choose it again. Nothing else about Siri changes.
Older iPhones (iPhone 5 and iOS 7)
On an iPhone 5 running iOS 7, the setting is at Settings > General > Siri > Voice Gender, where you choose Male or Female. The choice depended on the language you picked, and not every language offered both. Apple’s iOS 7 user guide (PDF) documents that screen. Later versions moved Siri out of the General menu and replaced the gender labels with the numbered voices described above.
If Siri keeps popping up on an iPhone with a Home button when you don’t want it, see why Siri keeps opening when you press the Home button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make Siri sound like a man?
Yes. Open Settings > Siri > Siri Voice and play the samples. Each accent includes lower-pitched and higher-pitched voices. Apple doesn’t label them as male or female anymore.
Does changing Siri’s voice change Maps directions?
Maps uses Siri’s voice for spoken directions, so the new voice carries over. Apple also notes that Siri’s language setting affects Maps directions and Safari’s Listen to Page feature.
Will the new voice work on my Apple Watch and HomePod?
Your Apple Watch uses the language and voice set on your paired iPhone, so it changes along with it. A HomePod has its own Siri voice setting in the Home app.
Can I give Siri a celebrity or custom voice?
No. You can choose only from Apple’s built-in voices for each language. In iOS 27, supported iPhones can adjust pace and expressivity, but you can’t record or import a voice.
How do I change the name Siri calls me?
That’s a separate setting. Siri uses the name on your contact card, which you set at Settings > Siri > My Information. You can also tell Siri, “Call me” followed by a nickname.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are checked step by step against the device or app maker’s own documentation and tested on his own devices whenever he has the hardware or software, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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