How to Make Siri Announce Calls on Speaker in iOS 16

In iOS 16, Apple allows Siri to read out the names or numbers of incoming callers directly through your iPhone's built-in speaker, eliminating the need to look at your screen or wear headphones. This guide explains how Siri handles incoming call announcements over speakerphone, how to activate the feature in your settings, and how to take advantage of hands-free call controls.

How Siri Call Announcements Work

When an incoming call arrives, Siri momentarily lowers the ringtone volume and speaks the caller's name as it appears in your Contacts list. If the caller is not saved in your contacts, Siri reads out the phone number or states that the caller is unknown. In iOS 16, choosing the "Always" setting directs Siri to announce the call through the device's internal speaker rather than limiting announcements to connected AirPods, Beats headphones, or CarPlay.

Steps to Enable Siri Call Announcements on Speakerphone

To set Siri to announce all incoming calls over the speakerphone, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone running iOS 16.
  2. Scroll down and tap Siri & Search (or select Phone).
  3. Tap Announce Calls.
  4. Select Always.

Selecting Always ensures that Siri announces every incoming call through the iPhone's speaker, regardless of whether you have accessories plugged in or connected via Bluetooth.

Answering Calls Hands-Free in iOS 16

Along with speaker announcements, iOS 16 introduced the ability to accept and end calls completely hands-free using Siri:

  • To Answer: When Siri finishes announcing the call, say, "Hey Siri, answer the call."
  • To Hang Up: To end an active call on speakerphone, say, "Hey Siri, hang up." Note that this feature must be turned on by going to Settings > Siri & Search > Call Hang Up.