Last Updated on May 20, 2021 by Rick Darlinton
Users of Apple products are familiar with Siri, which is an AI-based voice assistant. It performs specific tasks on the Macbook or iPhone/iPad, such as opening apps, finding answers to queries from the internet, and much more. However, it could disrupt the user’s daily routine if some technical glitch causes Siri to malfunction. The Siri not working on Mac issue can be easily fixed by following specific solutions. Here, we will discuss the most accessible techniques, making Siri work again on devices like Macbook Air or Macbook Pro.
1: Is Siri Enabled on Mac
The first simple solution to the Siri not working on Mac issue is checking whether you have enabled it on your system or not. Siri usually gets disabled when you have recently updated macOS on your system. If you don’t know how to allow Siri to operate on Macbook, then follow the steps below:
- Click on System Preferences from the Apple Menu.
- Select Siri and check the Enable Ask Siri
- Reboot your Mac and check whether Siri is functional or not!
2: Restart your Mac
The second method to Siri on Mac not working problem is probably the easiest of the lot. You only have to restart the Mac computer to fix Siri, which might have become dormant due to some technical glitch related to macOS X.
3: Check the Network
As discussed earlier, Siri navigates the internet to provide accurate answers to your requests. For Siri to work, it must be connected to the internet. Otherwise, you won’t be able to receive any results from the AI. Check your network connection if it is working or not. Moreover, you can check if your Macbook is connected to the Wi-Fi or not.
- Hit the Apple Menu and choose System Preferences.
- Click on Network and see if the system is connected to the internet or not.
- You can also restart your Wi-Fi modem to enable the network settings.
4: Delete Siri Preferences
You can set Siri preferences to navigate the voice-based AI more efficiently. The settings are compiled under .Plist files. These files can become corrupted, which can cause Siri not working on MacBook Pro problem. It usually occurs after a system or macOS update. You can delete your old Siri Preferences and re-enable them to make the voice assistant operational again.
- Select System Preferences listed on the Apple Menu.
- Uncheck Enable Talk to Siri, which will disable the voice assistant.
- Access the Finder Menu and click on Options to open Preferences.
- Click on Go and then select Library.
- Remove the .Plist files available on the window.
- Follow the first solution to enable Siri on your Mac computer.
5: Check Microphone Quality
As Siri is a voice-based utility, your Macbook’s microphone must be in tip-top position for it to work perfectly. If Siri is unable to receive commands due to a broken mic, then you will not be able to obtain relevant results properly. Without the mic, Siri is practically useless. Follow the method below to fix Siri Not Working on Mac:
- Head over to the Apple Menu and click on System Preferences.
- Choose Sound and hit the Input
- Locate the Microphone and check whether it is operational or not by speaking directly to it.
- If there is a change to the Input Levels, then the mic is working fine.
- Reboot the Mac to check if Siri is responsive or not.
6: Make Sure Siri is Not Restricted
The most recent macOS versions have enabled you to keep track of their activities on iPhone and Mac systems. You can quickly check how much time you have consumed using the exact app.
Moreover, this allows you to set restrictions on the particular utility, preventing you from accessing it after a specific time limit. It is a handy utility, but there are some downsides to it as well. If the MacBook Pro Siri not working issue persists, then there is a chance that you have restricted the screen time of the voice assistant.
- Run System Preferences from the Apple Menu.
- Click on Content & Privacy.
- Disable the Restriction
- If you intend on keeping the App Restriction, then simply uncheck Siri from the list, and check if the app starts working or not!
7: Turn Off VPN
VPNs generally mask your IP address which could prevent your Macbook or its utilities like Siri from connecting with Apple servers. If you have the VPN enabled on the system and Siri happens to malfunction, try using the voice assistant to turn off the virtual private network. If you still aim to use the VPN, switch to a different server location such as the US to enable Siri again.
8: Reset Siri to Factory Settings
You can reset Siri to its original factory settings to fix the Siri on Mac not working problem quickly. Though there is no direct way to perform this activity, you can use a third-party application, such as CleanMyMac X, to complete the task.
Bottom Line
Mac computers are probably one of the most user-friendly and secure desktops in the world. The Apple brand associated with it brings a certain sense of reliability to it. Moreover, utilities such as Siri add different dimensions of intuitiveness, such as increasing user productivity.
However, all can go sideways if Siri suddenly stops working on the Macbook. It could occur due to a glitch in the operating system or hardware failure(microphone). Still, all the Siri not working on Mac issues can be easily fixed when applying any of the solutions mentioned in the article above.