How to use back-to-back commands with Siri in iOS 17

Activating Siri

"Now you can issue back-to-back commands without needing to say 'Siri' again," said Craig Federighi, senior vice president of Software Engineering at Apple, during WWDC 2023.

Siri was introduced with the iPhone 4s in 2011, and has expanded throughout the ecosystem since then. Throughout the years, it has also gone through multiple redesigns and received a plethora of new features.

Reactivating Siri for follow-up questions or commands can be a nuisance. You must repeat "Hey Siri" or hold down the side button for each request.

If you frequently use Siri to control multiple appliances in your home, back-to-back integration will be very convenient for you.

How to issue back-to-back commands

Issuing back-to-back commands is the same as using Siri regularly, but the trickiest part is knowing when to say the next request. Here's how to do it successfully.

1. Activate Siri
2. Say any request you want
3. Let Siri answer or perform the request completely
4. After it is done, say another command without reactivating it

Multiple commands cannot be stacked on one another in one request. You must wait for Siri to complete the first command before giving another one.

You can activate Siri by saying "Hey Siri" or just "Siri". You can also hold down the side button to activate them as well.

A more efficient Siri experience

Back-to-back commands alleviate the annoyance of reactivating Siri whenever you have a follow-up question or command. This update makes the virtual assistant more convenient and allows them to get more done quickly.

Since Siri can now continue listening after your first query, the initial issue is ultimately resolved. You can also give as many follow-up requests as you desire.

Siri can perform back-tor back commands with devices running iOS 17 or iPadOS 17.