¿How to make Siri announce calls on your Apple Watch? Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you receive a call but can't pick up your iPhone or look at your Apple Watch screen? This scenario is common: we're cooking, driving, exercising... and wouldn't it be great if Siri could tell us out loud who's calling directly from our Apple Watch or headphones? Siri's call announcement feature on Apple Watch is one of those little details that, once you discover and activate it correctly, can change your daily routine.In this article, we'll tell you everything—and it's really everything—you need to know so you never miss an important call or have to compulsively stare at any screen again.
Thanks to the integration between Siri and the Apple ecosystem, you can now take advantage of the convenience of voice prompts on both iPhone and Apple Watch. If you've ever been curious about how to set it up, what the requirements are, and how to customize when and how calls are announced, you've come to the right place.We explain all the steps, tricks, limitations, and recommendations to get the most out of this feature, including little-known details and recent updates.
What is the Announce Calls feature with Siri?
The ability for Siri to announce incoming calls is not a recent addition, although many users are still unaware of it or don't take advantage of all its features. The function consists of Siri, Apple's voice assistant, saying out loud the name of the person who calls us. —if it's in our address book—or indicates that it's an unknown number if the call comes from someone we don't have registered.
This feature, available from iOS 14 and later on both iPhone and iPad, can also be used on the Apple Watch, taking convenience to the next level. It is specially designed for those occasions when we cannot look at the screen: while listening to music, traveling by car, exercising or even when the mobile is far away.By integrating Siri with AirPods or compatible headphones, or simply using the watch's speaker, we can receive these notifications conveniently and securely.
Requirements for using Call Announcement with Siri
Before activating the feature, it's a good idea to review a few basic aspects to ensure your device is compatible and that you have everything you need:
- iPhone with iOS 14 or later: This is required for the option to announce calls to appear in Settings.
- Apple Watch with recent watchOS: While most setup is done from your iPhone, your Apple Watch must be up to date to ensure full compatibility and proper functioning of Siri.
- Siri activated: Without the voice assistant, the feature can't talk to you or process who's calling.
- Compatible Headphones: To hear Siri prompts, you'll need wired or Bluetooth headphones (such as AirPods) or the speaker on your Apple Watch.
How to enable call announcement on your iPhone and Apple Watch?
The process is very simple, but It is advisable to be clear about the steps so that everything works as you expect and you can get the most out of the function.. Keep in mind that activation is initially done on the iPhone, but the Apple Watch inherits the settings to offer the most integrated experience possible.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down to the section Phone (o FaceTime in the case of the iPad).
- Find and press the option Announce calls.
- Choose one of the following options based on your personal preferences:
- Always: Siri announces all incoming calls, regardless of whether you have headphones, a car, etc.
- Headphones and car: Siri will only announce calls when it detects you're using compatible headphones or connected to your car's Bluetooth system.
- Headphones only: The warning will only occur if you have headphones on, excluding the car.
- Never: Calls will not be announced (this is usually selected by default).
Select the option that best suits your daily routine.For example, if you primarily use headphones, the middle option may be ideal. If you prefer not to miss any calls, choose 'Always'.
How to set it up specifically on the Apple Watch?
Once you set up the option on your iPhone, your Apple Watch follows the same guidelines. But It's interesting to know how you can interact with Siri on the watch and what extra settings are available. to personalize the experience even further.
- Raise your wrist and speak directly to your Apple Watch: This feature, known as 'Raise to Speak,' allows Siri to always be available and ready to assist you with just a gesture.
- Say 'Hey Siri' or just 'Siri' followed by your question or request: The classic voice invocation method is supported on the Apple Watch just like it is on the iPhone.
- Press and hold the Digital Crown until you see the listening indicator: You can speak at that time and Siri will answer your request.
In addition, from the app of Settings on the Apple Watch itself, you can decide whether you want to keep the following options activated:
- 'Lift to speak'
- 'Ask Siri' when you hear 'Hey Siri'
- Access Siri at press the Digital Crown
To do this, go to Settings > Siri and turn each feature on or off as you prefer. These options give you complete control over how and when Siri can listen to you., ideal for avoiding accidental activations or for responding if you have specific accessibility needs.
What happens during a call announced by Siri?
When you receive a call and have the announce feature enabled, the process is typically like this:
- If the person calling you is saved in your calendar, Siri will say the name out loud through headphones or the Apple Watch speaker.
- If it's a number you don't have saved, Siri will prompt you with "Unknown Number," respecting the privacy of the participants.
- For calls with a hidden number, Siri will also announce "Unknown Number," regardless of whether that number belongs to a saved contact.
- El tone of voice and language It will be the one you have configured in Siri and, in addition, the current volume that you have programmed in the Apple Watch or in the headphones will be used.
Importantly The Call Announcement feature does not read full phone numbers, it only identifies them as 'unknown' to protect privacy.. It also doesn't affect your ability to answer or reject the call—it simply helps you quickly decide what to do based on who's calling.
Before finishing and as always, we recommend this article about Siri and the Apple Watch called Siri to listen to Spotify on the Apple WatchLittle by little, with all this information, you'll improve how you use your device.
Benefits of announcing calls with Siri: Why is it worth enabling?
Beyond mere comfort, Call announcement represents a significant advance in accessibility and productivity:
- You don't need to look at the screen to know who's calling.: Ideal when your hands are full, you're wearing gloves, or you're away from your iPhone.
- Reduce distractions: especially useful when driving or playing sports, when looking away can be a risk or a nuisance.
- Greater accessibility: Perfect for people with visual impairments or those who prefer voice responses instead of classic notifications.
- Integration with AirPods and other headphones: If you're a regular user of Apple's wireless earbuds, the flow is smooth and easy to use.
The fact that the feature is so customizable allows it to perfectly adapt to how you use your Apple Watch or iPhone on a daily basis.You can even take advantage of this feature when your iPhone isn't nearby, thanks to the Apple Watch's Wi-Fi connection to receive calls directly.
Advanced customization and key considerations
Controlling how Siri announces calls goes beyond simple activation. It's important to consider some additional factors that can influence the experience:
- Language and pronunciation: Siri will use the language and voice you previously configured. You can adjust the language by going to Settings > Siri & Search > Language, selecting the variant that makes it easier to understand contact names.
- Ad volume: Siri will speak at the volume you've set for the system. Be sure to adjust the volume before activating the feature, especially if you're often in noisy environments.
- CarPlay and car: If you use CarPlay or have your phone paired to your car's Bluetooth, the feature can be seamlessly integrated to announce calls without you having to touch your phone.
- Third party apps: Some supported apps can also benefit from Siri Announcements, such as messaging apps, provided they are supported by the system.
Siri also detects if you use VoiceOver, and can give you additional information designed for users with accessibility needs, or even read you extra information relevant to the context of the call.
How to answer announced calls from your Apple Watch
This system's usefulness is even greater if you use quick gestures or shortcuts. For example, if you're wearing AirPods, you can answer a call with just a double-tap on the earbud, without having to touch your Apple Watch or iPhone. The system is designed to minimize the necessary actions and prioritize comfort and safety..
On Apple Watch, simply press the virtual green button, swipe to answer or reject with a simple touch, or use voice commands if you have the functionality available. Siri can also help you send messages or perform other related actions right after announcing the call.
Planned changes and future updates to Siri
Over the past few years, Siri has been improving its ability to interact with users, and significant new features are expected in 2024 and beyond. Apple is betting on Siri's increasing integration with artificial intelligence, which could allow for new ways of announcing calls in the future., automatic context-based customizations, and much more.
Staying up-to-date on iOS and watchOS updates will be key to continuing to take advantage of a constantly evolving system, always focused on making everyday life easier and improving accessibility for all users.
