How to Use Siri and Google Assistant on Your Phone in the UK

Voice assistants are already on your phone, waiting to be switched on. Siri on iPhone and Google Assistant on Android can set timers, send messages, give directions and answer questions, all without you touching the screen. This guide shows how to set them up, use them every day and keep your privacy under control in the UK.

Setting up Siri on iPhone

To turn on Siri, open Settings, then tap Apple Intelligence and Siri. Switch on Listen for "Siri" or "Hey Siri", then follow the prompts to say a few phrases so your iPhone learns your voice. If your iPhone is older, the same setting may sit under Settings, then Siri and Search.

Once setup is done, try it. Say "Hey Siri, what is the weather today?" and Siri should answer out loud and show the forecast. Or press and hold the side button, wait for the animation, then speak. If Siri does not respond, check that Listen for "Siri" is on and that your phone is not on silent.

In the same settings menu, tap Siri Voice to pick from the available voices and accents, including British voices.

Everyday things to ask Siri

Siri is best at short, practical tasks. Try "Set a timer for ten minutes", "Remind me to call Mum at six", "Text Sarah I am running ten minutes late", or "Play BBC Radio 2". For travel, ask "How long will it take to drive to Manchester?" and Siri will open Maps with the route. For quick facts, try "What is 15 percent of 240?" or "How many days until Christmas?"

Siri can also control smart devices in your home if you have set them up in the Home app. "Turn off the living room lights" or "Lock the front door" works if those devices are connected. You can ask Siri to read out your messages while wearing AirPods, and the Shortcuts app lets you chain actions together with a single phrase.

Set up Google Assistant on Android

On Android, Google Assistant is built into most phones. Open the Google app, tap your profile picture, then Settings, then Google Assistant. Look for Hey Google and Voice Match and switch them on. Your phone will ask you to say "Hey Google" a few times so it can recognise your voice. On newer Android phones, Google's newer assistant, Gemini, may answer instead. If you prefer the classic Assistant, you can switch back in the Digital assistants section.

You can also summon the assistant without your voice. On most Android phones, swipe in from the bottom corner of the screen, or press and hold the home button. A small panel appears at the bottom, ready for you to type or speak. Typing is useful in quiet places such as a library.

Try "Hey Google, set an alarm for seven in the morning" or "Hey Google, navigate to the nearest petrol station". Google Assistant is strong on follow-up questions too. Ask "Who won the football last night?" and then "What was the score?" without repeating the team name.

Routines that save time

Both assistants can run routines, sets of actions triggered by one phrase. On Android, open the Google Home app or the Assistant settings, tap Routines, and you will find ready-made ones such as "Good morning" and "Bedtime". The morning routine might read out the weather, the traffic and your first calendar event. On iPhone, the same idea lives in the Shortcuts app. Start with the ready-made options and change them gradually.

Privacy: what the assistant hears and stores

Voice assistants listen for a wake word, and they store recordings of your requests so they can improve. Both Apple and Google give you controls. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Apple Intelligence and Siri, then Siri and Dictation History, where you can delete Siri's stored recordings. You can also turn off Listen for "Siri" entirely and use the side button only.

On Android, open the Google app, tap your profile picture, then Your data in Search, or visit your Google Account activity page. There you can delete voice recordings, turn off voice and audio activity, and set recordings to delete automatically. You can also turn off personal results on the lock screen, so the assistant will not read out your messages to anyone who picks up your phone.

Fixing common problems

If Siri does not respond, check three things. First, make sure Listen for "Siri" is switched on. Second, check that your iPhone is connected to the internet, because Siri needs a connection to answer most questions. Third, check the language is set to English (United Kingdom) in Settings, then General, then Language and Region.

If Google Assistant does not respond, check that Hey Google and Voice Match are switched on, that the Google app is up to date in the Play Store, and that the microphone is not blocked by a case or by dirt. Try retraining Voice Match if the assistant often fails to hear you. A phone restart fixes a surprising number of assistant problems. If the assistant keeps activating by accident, switch off the wake word and use the button instead.

If you have an iPhone, Siri is the natural choice because it works closely with Apple apps such as Messages, Calendar and Maps. If you have an Android phone, Google Assistant is the natural choice because it works with Google apps and services. Start small. Set a timer, ask for the weather, send one message by voice. Once those feel natural, try a routine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Siri free on iPhone?

Yes, Siri is free and built into every iPhone, with no subscription and no extra app to download. You need an internet connection for most requests and to be signed in with your Apple ID. Siri works on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac and HomePod.

Does Google Assistant listen all the time?

Google Assistant listens for its wake words, "Hey Google" or "OK Google", and only starts recording after it hears one. It stores recordings of your requests unless you turn that off. You can delete recordings and turn off voice and audio activity in your Google Account settings.

Can I change Siri or Google Assistant to a British voice?

Yes. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Apple Intelligence and Siri, then Siri Voice, and choose a British voice. On Android, open the Google app, tap your profile picture, then Settings, then Google Assistant, then Assistant voice, and pick the voice you prefer.