How to Use Siri as a Proactive Assistant in iOS 9

iOS 9 features a more advanced version of Siri that allows you to make more efficient use of your iPhone or iPad. Unlike previous versions of Siri that only allowed you to search online or within your device, Siri in iOS 9 can be used as a proactive assistant. Siri can not only come up with instantaneous solutions to your complex questions but can also set reminders and suggest which apps and contacts you will use next.

As soon as you turn on Siri on your iOS 9 device, its initial screen displays example commands that it can accept and the types of solutions it can provide. Siri also has a new suggestions window to provide you quick access to searches if think you’ll need in real-time.

Here’s how you can enable and use Siri as a proactive assistant on your iPhone running iOS 9:

■From your iPhone’s Home screen, tap Settings.
■Tap General from the Settings window.



■From the General window, tap Siri.



■Once the Siri window opens up, slide the Siri button to the right.
■From the pop up box that appears at the bottom, tap Enable Siri.



■Optionally, you can also slide the Allow “Hey Siri” button to the right and follow the on-screen instructions if you want to enable Siri with a voice command (the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus do not require a charger, but older phones may).



■Once done, press the Home button.
■Back on the Home window, press down and hold the Home button for a few seconds until Siri initializes itself.
■If you have enabled Siri for the first time, read the displayed list of commands and solutions that Siri can provide you with.





















■To create a reminder, tap the microphone symbol at the bottom of the screen and speak the event for which you want Siri to remind you. (E.g. “Remind me to call home when I reach my car.”)



■Wait until Siri recognizes your voice command, creates the required reminder or takes the commanded action and confirms about its completion.



■Once done, press or long press the Home button to go to the Home screen or give another voice command to Siri respectively.

To access use the Siri Suggestions window:

■On the first window of your iPhone’s Home screen, swipe your finger to the right. (This opens the Siri Suggestions window.)
Note: In older devices like iPhone 4S, you may need to practice a bit on this.
■Tap inside the Search field available at the top.



■Start typing the object’s name or information that you want to search. (Notice that the suggestions’ list changes dynamically as you continue typing.)









■From the suggestions displayed on the screen, tap the one that you wish to open.

Note: Alternatively, you can also tap the microphone icon at the right of the Search field at the top, and speak the name of the object or information you are looking for.