How to use Siri on Apple Watch in watchOS 27: Standard Siri and new Siri AI features

I often reach for my Apple Watch to check the next appointment, set a reminder, or reply to a message while my hands are busy. However, sometimes it is not comfortable to type on such a tiny screen. That is where Siri can be really helpful.

With watchOS 27, Apple is taking this experience further with the new Siri AI experience. Instead of relying only on voice commands, Siri AI is designed to understand more conversational requests, find relevant personal information, and help you complete tasks across supported apps.

In this article, I will provide you with all necessary information about Siri on Apple Watch, from enabling the standard assistant to setting up and using Siri AI. I’ll also explain which Apple Watch models are compatible, how availability works, and what to do if you can’t find the new features.

Standard Siri vs. Siri AI: What’s the difference?

If you’ve been using Siri on your Apple Watch for a while, you probably already know how useful it is for quick tasks. I find voice commands particularly handy when I don’t want to interrupt what I’m doing just to interact with my watch.

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Siri AI takes that familiar experience further. Rather than treating every request as a separate command, it’s designed to understand more natural conversations and help with more complex questions.

Feature	Standard Siri	Siri AI
Set timers, alarms, and reminders	Yes	Yes, with supported actions
Send messages using voice commands	Yes	Yes, with additional contextual capabilities
Ask general questions	Yes	Designed for more conversational answers
Find personal information	More limited	Can use relevant context across supported apps
Handle complex requests	Best for straightforward commands	Designed to understand more detailed requests
Dedicated conversation history	No equivalent dedicated AI conversation hub	Available through the Siri app
Device requirements	Supported Apple Watch models	Compatible Apple Watch and Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone
Availability	Depends on language, region, and feature	Beta, subject to additional requirements

Here’s the important distinction: there is no need to have Siri AI to make your everyday life easier with Siri. If all you want is to set a quick reminder or send a reply without reaching your iPhone, standard Siri can still do the job. Siri AI is more useful when you want to ask follow-up questions.

How to set up Siri AI on Apple Watch in watchOS 27

The first thing I’d check before looking for Siri AI is whether both your Apple Watch and iPhone are compatible. Updating your watch alone doesn’t automatically unlock every Apple Intelligence feature.

Requirements for Siri AI

Before getting started, make sure your devices meet the following requirements:

• Apple Watch: Series 9 or later, Ultra 2 or later, or SE 3.
• iPhone: An Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone, including iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16 models and later.
• Software: Compatible versions of iOS and watchOS 27 or later.
• Language: A supported Siri and device language.
• Connection: Your watch must be paired with a compatible iPhone, which needs to be nearby for the supported experience.
• Availability: Siri AI is a beta feature, and access depends on region, language, device, and feature availability.

If you have an older Apple Watch, don’t assume something is wrong if you can’t find Siri AI. Your watch may still support standard Siri without meeting the requirements for the newer experience.

Enable Siri AI on your Apple Watch

Apple’s setup process begins on your paired iPhone.

1. Open Settings on your compatible iPhone.
2. Tap Siri.
3. If Siri is disabled, turn it on.
4. Look for Try the new Siri (Beta).
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup.
   

Once setup is complete, Siri AI can become available on supported devices, including your compatible Apple Watch.

A quick troubleshooting tip: If the beta option doesn’t appear, check your iPhone model first and ensure Siri AI is enabled there. Then check software updates, language settings, and regional availability before assuming the feature is broken.

How to turn on or off Siri on Apple Watch

Before trying the newer AI features, I’d recommend checking that standard Siri is working properly. This also gives you a fallback if your Apple Watch doesn’t support Siri AI.

First, ensure that you have enabled Siri on your iPhone by going to Settings > Siri > Turn On Siri and follow the on-screen instructions.

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
2. Scroll down and tap Siri.
3. Tap the Listen For option.
   
4. Choose whether Siri should respond to “Siri” or “Hey Siri,” depending on the available options.
5. Follow any on-screen instructions to enable Siri.
6. Return to Siri settings and enable Raise to Speak and Press Digital Crown if you want to use those methods.
   

I recommend enabling more than one activation method. Voice activation is convenient when you’re moving around, but it may be better to use the Digital Crown when you don’t want to speak a wake phrase aloud.

How to activate Siri on Apple Watch

Once Siri is enabled, you can activate it in three ways. Your choice will probably depend on where you are and what you’re doing.

1. Using “Hey Siri” or “Siri”

This is the quickest option when you can comfortably speak aloud.

Say “Hey Siri” or “Siri,” followed by your request. For example:

• “Hey Siri, set a timer for 10 minutes.”
• “Siri, remind me to call Mom this evening.”
• “Hey Siri, what’s my next calendar event?”

I find it helpful to include the important details in the same sentence. For example, saying “Remind me to submit the report at 4 PM tomorrow” provides Siri with much more information than just saying that you want to set a reminder and filling in the details afterward.

The option to use “Siri” without “Hey” isn’t available in every language or region.

2. Using Raise to Speak

There are times when speaking a wake phrase feels unnecessary, especially if you already have your wrist raised to check your watch.

With Raise to Speak, you can bring your Apple Watch toward your face and begin speaking. Your watch can detect the movement and activate Siri.

This is useful when you’re walking, carrying something, or trying to avoid waking Siri on another nearby Apple device. If you find the feature activating accidentally, you can turn it off under Settings > Siri.

3. Using the Digital Crown

When I’m in a quiet place, using the Digital Crown is a practical alternative to speaking a wake phrase.

1. Press and hold the Digital Crown.
2. Wait for Siri to appear.
3. Speak your request.

This method is particularly useful in situations where you want to keep things discreet, such as during a meeting or while sitting in a quiet waiting room.

Note: Once you have activated Siri, you don’t need to look at the screen. Just lower your wrist. The tap will let you know there is a response. To respond to Siri’s query or keep up with the conversation, press down on the Digital Crown and talk.

How to use Siri AI on Apple Watch

The most interesting part of Siri AI is how it changes the way you can phrase a request. Instead of memorizing a specific command, you can describe what you’re trying to find or do.

1. Ask more natural questions

Imagine you’re planning a trip and want a quick answer without taking your iPhone out of your pocket. You can ask Siri AI a question and then follow up with another question to explore the topic.

For example:

• “What’s the best time of year to visit Japan?”
• “What should I pack for a three-day trip?”
• “Can you suggest a simple way to organize my travel plans?”

The advantage is the conversational approach. You can build on the previous question rather than starting from scratch every time.

2. Find information without opening multiple apps

This is where personal context can make a difference. We’ve all had situations when we remember saving something but can’t remember whether it was in Notes, Messages, or another app.

Siri AI is created to assist in searching for relevant information across supported apps when the necessary access is available.

For example, you could ask:

• “What’s the last thing I added to my Weekend Projects note?”
• “Where is my dance class next week?”
• “Can you find the travel details I saved?”

Rather than opening several apps and searching manually, you can describe the information you’re looking for.

The results depend on what’s actually stored on your devices, which apps are supported, and the permissions you’ve granted. If Siri can’t access the relevant information, you may still need to open the app yourself.

3. Complete tasks with natural-language requests

Sometimes, the hardest part of using a small screen is navigating multiple menus just to make a simple change.

Siri AI is designed to make supported actions easier by letting you describe what you want to do.

For example:

• “Move my lunch appointment with Jasmine to Friday.”
• “Share my travel details with my family.”
• “Update my exercise goal to 45 minutes.”

The assistant may be able to use relevant context to understand the request and carry out a supported action.

I would still recommend checking the result when a request changes a calendar event, shares information, or affects someone else.

4. Continue conversations in the Siri App

Another useful addition is the dedicated Siri app on Apple Watch. It brings conversations together, making it easier to return to a topic instead of starting over each time.

To use it:

1. Open the Siri app on your Apple Watch.
2. Start a new conversation or open an existing one.
3. Ask your question or make your request.
4. Return to the conversation when you want to continue it, where supported.

You can also pin conversations you want to access more easily. Supported conversations can continue across compatible Apple devices, so you don’t necessarily have to finish everything on your watch.

This can be particularly helpful for ongoing tasks, such as planning a trip or working through a series of related questions.

What you can do with standard Siri on Apple Watch

Even if you don’t have access to Siri AI, standard Siri still handles the everyday tasks that make an Apple Watch convenient.

1. Choose when Siri speaks

There’s nothing more awkward than having a voice assistant speak aloud when you’re trying to keep things quiet. Fortunately, you can control when Siri responds verbally.

1. Open Settings on your Apple Watch.
2. Tap Siri.
3. Select Siri Responses.
4. Choose the option that suits you:
   • Always On: Siri speaks responses even in Silent Mode.
   • Control With Silent Mode: Siri follows the watch’s Silent Mode setting.
   • Headphones Only: Siri speaks responses only when compatible Bluetooth headphones are connected.
     

Select the method which better fits your everyday routine. If you frequently use your watch in meetings or public places, controlling spoken responses can make a real difference.

2. Let Siri announce calls and notifications

If you often leave your iPhone in your bag or pocket, announcements can help you stay informed without constantly checking your screen.

Open the Siri settings on your Apple Watch or paired Apple device and configure Announce Calls and Announce Notifications. Adjust these features to match your preferences and the devices you use.

3. Send a message

When typing feels inconvenient, try saying: “Send a message to Alex saying I’ll be there in 10 minutes.” Review the message if prompted, then tap Send or follow Siri’s instructions.

It’s one of the most convenient ways to make the Apple Watch really hands-free while you walk or have your hands busy with other stuff.

4. Add a reminder

If you suddenly remember something you need to do later, you don’t have to open the Reminders app and fill in every field.

Say something like: “Hey Siri, remind me to submit the report at 4 PM tomorrow.” You can also add items to lists by saying, “Add milk to my grocery list.”

The more specific you are about the task and timing, the easier it is to create the reminder you actually need.

5. Open an app

Instead of scrolling through your apps, say: “Open Workout.”

You can replace Workout with another installed app. This is a small convenience, but it becomes particularly useful when you want to get something done quickly.

6. Search for information on the web

If you want to look something up without taking out your iPhone, ask Siri a question. Depending on the request, it may display relevant information or web results that you can open for more details.

The results and level of detail may differ between standard Siri and Siri AI.

7. Identify a song

Have you ever heard a song playing in a café and wanted to know what it was before it ended? Activate Siri and ask, “What’s this song?”

Siri can use Shazam-powered music recognition to identify supported songs playing nearby.

8. Find apps on the App Store

If you’re looking for a new fitness app or game, ask Siri to help you find relevant apps.

For example, say, “Find Apple Watch fitness apps.”

The results depend on the request and the search features available on your device.

Final thoughts: Is Siri AI worth using on Apple Watch?

For me, the appeal of Siri has always been convenience. Setting a timer, sending a quick message, or creating a reminder without navigating a tiny screen can make everyday tasks feel much simpler.

Siri AI builds on that convenience by making it more conversational to ask questions, find relevant information, and complete supported tasks. Its dedicated app also makes it easier to return to previous conversations.

However, you don’t need the newest AI features to get value from your Apple Watch. Standard Siri remains useful, especially if you mainly rely on voice commands for quick actions.

If you have a compatible Apple Watch and iPhone, it’s worth exploring Siri AI. Keep in mind it’s a beta experience, and availability depends on your device, language, and region.

Read more on Apple Watch:

• How to change Apple Watch face
• How to set Siri to read messages in different languages
• How to use Type to Siri on iPhone, iPad and Mac (Apple Intelligence)