New Siri Voices on iPhone & iPad: How to Change

Apple regularly adds new Siri voices with iOS updates, giving you more accent and dialect options for English (and other languages). This guide shows you how to download and switch to a new Siri voice on your iPhone or iPad, and how to fix it if the new voice doesn’t appear or won’t download.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone or iPad running iOS 14.5 or later (older versions have a smaller voice selection).
A stable Wi-Fi or cellular connection to download new voices (voices are a few hundred MB each).
Enough free storage space (at least 1 GB free is recommended).

Step-by-Step

Update iOS (if needed): Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, tap Download and Install and wait for it to finish. New voices are often added in major iOS releases, so being current is the first step.
Open Siri & Search settings: On your iPhone or iPad, open Settings and tap Siri & Search.
Tap “Siri Voice”: In the Siri & Search menu, tap Siri Voice. This is where you pick the accent and the specific voice.
Choose a variety (accent): If you use English, you’ll see options like American, Australian, British, Indian, Irish, South African, and more. Tap the one you want to hear.
Select a voice: Under the chosen variety, you’ll see a list of voices (e.g., “Voice 1”, “Voice 2”, “Voice 3”, or names like “Siri Voice 4”). Tap each one to hear a sample. The voice you tap becomes the active Siri voice immediately.
Download the voice (if prompted): Some voices are pre-installed, but many newer ones need to be downloaded. If you see a download icon (a cloud with an arrow) next to a voice, tap it and wait for the download to finish. You can continue using your device while it downloads.
Test Siri: After selecting and downloading, press and hold the side button (or Home button on older models) to activate Siri and ask “What time is it?” to hear the new voice.
Change the language (optional): If you want Siri in a different language entirely, go back to Siri & Search > Language and pick a new one. Then repeat steps 3–6 to choose a voice in that language.

Common Mistakes

Not updating iOS: If you don’t see the new voices, you’re likely on an older iOS version. New voices are tied to software updates.
Changing the wrong setting: Some people go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content and change the voice there. That only affects the screen reader, not Siri. You must use Siri & Search > Siri Voice.
Confusing “Siri Voice” with “Siri Responses”: The Siri Responses setting controls when Siri speaks aloud, not which voice it uses. Don’t change that unless you want Siri to be silent or only speak on certain occasions.
Assuming all voices are available in all regions: Some voices are region-specific. If you don’t see a particular accent, it may not be offered for your region or language.
Not waiting for the download: If you tap a new voice and it sounds the same, it might still be downloading. Check the download icon and wait for it to disappear.

Tips

Use the voice preview: The preview plays a sample sentence. Listen carefully to the intonation and pronunciation – voices can differ significantly even within the same accent.
Download multiple voices: You can download several voices and switch between them without waiting. This is useful if you want to change your Siri voice occasionally.
Free up storage: If you have many voices downloaded, they use space. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and look for “Siri” to see how much space voices are taking. You can delete unused voices from the Siri Voice list by swiping left on them.
Use Siri with a different language: You can set Siri to a different language entirely (e.g., Spanish) and then choose a voice for that language. This gives you a whole new set of voices to choose from.

Troubleshooting

New voices don’t appear: Make sure your device is updated to the latest iOS. If you’re already updated, try restarting your iPhone or iPad. If they still don’t show, check Apple’s official list of Siri voices for your region – some are only available in certain countries.
Voice won’t download: Check your internet connection. If you’re on Wi-Fi, try turning it off and on, or switch to cellular data (if you have unlimited data). Also, ensure you have enough free storage – go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and delete unused apps or files if needed. Restarting the device can also help.
Siri still uses the old voice after selecting a new one: This can happen if the download isn’t complete. Go back to Siri Voice, tap the new voice again, and wait for the download to finish. Then restart your device and test again.
Voice sounds robotic or distorted: This is usually a temporary glitch. Toggle Siri off and on in Settings > Siri & Search (turn off “Listen for ‘Hey Siri’” and “Press Side Button for Siri”, then turn them back on). If that doesn’t work, restart your device.
Can’t find the Siri Voice option: If you’re using an older iOS version, the path might be different. On iOS 13 and earlier, go to Settings > Siri & Search > Siri Voice – it should still be there, but the voice list is smaller. If you don’t see it at all, your device may not support Siri (unlikely for any iPhone or iPad that supports iOS 14+).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many Siri voices are there?
A: The exact number varies by language and region. For English, there are typically 4–5 voices per accent (American, British, Australian, etc.), and Apple occasionally adds new ones with iOS updates.

Q: Can I use a Siri voice from another country?
A: Yes, you can select any English accent (e.g., British or Australian) regardless of your region, as long as you have Siri set to English. Some non-English languages may require you to change the Siri language first.

Q: Do new Siri voices work with all apps?
A: Yes, the voice you choose for Siri is used system-wide for any spoken responses, including Siri in CarPlay, AirPods, and HomePod (if you have one). However, third-party apps that have their own voices are not affected.

Q: How much storage do Siri voices take?
A: Each voice is roughly 100–300 MB, depending on the language and quality. You can check the total under Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Siri.

Q: Will my Siri voice settings sync across my devices?
A: Siri voice settings are stored per device. If you change the voice on your iPhone, it won’t automatically change on your iPad. You’ll need to set it on each device.

Q: Can I make Siri sound like a celebrity?
A: No, Apple only offers its own set of voices. You cannot upload custom voices or use celebrity voices.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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