How to Use the New Siri for Everyday Questions, Lists, and Messages
Have you ever remembered that someone sent you plans, but could not remember the time and did not want to scroll through an entire conversation to find it? The new Siri can help with that kind of everyday task.
You can use it to get a dinner idea, build a packing list, refine an answer with a follow-up question, and search for details in your messages using ordinary language. The best way to get comfortable is to start with one small task and build from there.
What You’ll Learn
- Check whether your iPhone or iPad supports the new Siri and required software.
- Request beta access through Siri & Intelligence and allow time for waitlist approval.
- Use follow-up requests to refine dinner ideas and packing lists without repeating yourself.
- Ask Siri ordinary questions to locate and verify details from your Messages conversations.
Check Whether Your iPhone or iPad Is Compatible
Before requesting access to the new Siri, check both your device model and software version.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap About.
- Look for Model Name.
For iPhone, you need one of the following:
- iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max
- Any iPhone 16 model or later
- iPhone Air
The regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are not included.
For iPad, you need one of these models:
- iPad Pro with an M1 chip or later
- iPad Air with an M1 chip or later
- iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip
You will also need iOS 27 or iPadOS 27. To check, tap the back button in Settings, choose Software Update, and look for iOS 27 or iPadOS 27.
Request Access to the Siri Beta
Downloading the required software does not automatically give you access to the new Siri. It is still in beta, so you need to request access first.
- Open Settings.
- Find and tap Siri & Intelligence.
- Follow the prompts to join the waitlist.
Be patient here. Waitlist approval can take several days, so it may not happen immediately. Once access is available, you can begin practicing with simple requests.
Find Siri and Start a New Conversation
Once you have access, swipe down from the middle of your Home Screen to open Search. Type Siri, then tap the Siri app when it appears.
If Siri opens inside an earlier conversation, tap the back button in the upper-left corner to return to the main conversations page. Then tap the paper-and-pencil button to begin a new conversation.
You can type your requests, which is especially helpful when you are somewhere quiet or simply prefer the keyboard.
Use Siri to Get a Dinner Idea
A simple request is a comfortable place to begin. For example, you might type:
Give me an idea for dinner using chicken and rice.
Siri can provide a recipe suggestion, such as a chicken-and-rice meal with ingredients and instructions. Your answer may not look exactly like someone else’s answer, and that is perfectly normal.
The especially useful part is that you can add details in the same conversation without starting over. After receiving the first suggestion, type:
Make it for two people.
You do not have to repeat the original question. Siri uses the earlier request as context and adjusts the answer. This is a helpful habit to practice: begin with a basic request, then add one detail that makes the answer better suited to you.
Make and Refine a Packing List
Siri can also give you a useful starting point for planning. Try a request such as:
Make a short packing list for a two-night visit with family, and I’m traveling by car.
Read through the suggested list and decide what applies to your own trip. A generated list is a starting point, not a substitute for reviewing what you personally need.
If something is missing, add a follow-up request in the same conversation. For example:
Include a phone charger and a light sweater, if they aren’t already on the list.
Siri updates the list and confirms the additions. Take a moment to check that the requested items were actually included.
Keep Important Conversations Easy to Find
Your packing list remains in your Siri conversations unless you specifically ask to move it into Notes or Reminders.
To return to it later, open the conversation from the main Siri conversations page. If you want to keep it handy, pin it to the top:
- Tap the back button to return to the conversation list.
- Swipe left on the conversation you want to keep.
- Tap Pin.
Pinning is especially helpful once you have several Siri conversations. It keeps useful items, such as a packing list, close to the top where they are easier to find again.
Ask Siri to Find Details in Messages
One of the most useful everyday features is asking a normal question about a message you received, even when you cannot remember the exact wording.
For example, imagine Laura invited you to play pickleball on Sunday, but you cannot remember the time. Rather than scrolling through messages, you could ask:
What time did Laura ask me to play pickleball on Sunday?
Siri can search the relevant messages and explain the answer in plain language. In this example, Laura originally asked about noon or 2 p.m., and after noon was confirmed, Siri identified noon as the final plan.
It also provides links to the relevant messages. Tap one of those links to open the original conversation and verify the details for yourself, including the correct day and time.
This is helpful because you can ask about the meaning of a conversation rather than trying to remember the exact words someone used.
What to Do If Siri Cannot Find the Answer
If Siri misunderstands your question, try again with a little more detail. Include the person’s name, the activity, and the day or other detail you remember.
Siri needs the relevant message to be available in order to find the answer. If it cannot locate it, check Messages yourself rather than assuming there was no invitation or no answer.
Start With One Small Task
You do not need to learn every new Siri feature at once. Choose one task that would genuinely make your day easier:
- Ask for a quick dinner idea based on ingredients you have.
- Create a short list for an upcoming outing or visit.
- Find a detail from a message without searching through a long conversation.
Start small, read the answer carefully, and use follow-up questions when you want to make the result more useful. That is the simplest way to become more comfortable using the new Siri on your iPhone or iPad.
Want a little more help with your iPhone or iPad?
You don’t have to figure everything out on your own! I’ve created two ways to help you keep learning at your own pace.
Learn with me in Ellen’s iPhone & iPad Confidence Club
Get members-only video lessons, printable guides, monthly Live Q&As, and a searchable Learning Directory so you can easily find the help you need.
Prefer printable instructions?
Ellen’s Weekly PDF Club delivers a step-by-step guide to go with each week’s YouTube video, plus access to the PDF library while you’re subscribed. Keep the instructions beside you as you practice!
I’d love to help you feel more confident using your iPhone and iPad.
Ellen
Like Video instead? Head to my YouTube channel for more great tips.
