This article covers how to turn the Announce Messages feature off in iOS 14 (and earlier) and WatchOS 7.0 (and earlier) to stop your iPhone or Apple Watch from reading your text messages to you through compatible earphones.

What to Know

  • Announce Messages on iPhone or Apple Watch will allow Siri to read your incoming text messages aloud to you.The Announce Messages feature only works when you’re wearing compatible headphones and when your device is locked.To turn off Announce Messages permanently, go to Settings > Control Center and tap the - (Minus) next to Announce Messages with Siri.

How to Stop Siri From Reading Messages From Settings on Your iPhone

If you have compatible earphones, Siri can read your text messages to you, but it will only do this when using your Apple Watch or iPhone, and the device is locked. However, some may prefer not to have their messages automatically read to them, so follow these steps to turn it off.

  • On your iPhone, go to Settings.
  • Select Control Center.
  • Scroll through the list of Included Controls until you find Announce Messages… (The full command is Announce Messages with Siri, but you may not see it all on your screen due to screen size.) Top the - (Minus) to remove the Announce messages feature from your options.
  • This setting removes Announce messages from the Control Center completely until you choose to turn it back on.

How to Stop Siri From Reading Messages Temporarily From the Control Center

Once Announce Messages is enabled on your iPhone, you can quickly access it from the Control Center to temporarily turn it on or off.

These instructions assume Announce Messages with Siri is enabled.

On your iPhone, go to Settings.

Select Control Center.

Scroll through the list of Included Controls until you find Announce Messages… (The full command is Announce Messages with Siri, but you may not see it all on your screen due to screen size.) Top the - (Minus) to remove the Announce messages feature from your options.

This setting removes Announce messages from the Control Center completely until you choose to turn it back on.

  • Unlock your iPhone and swipe down from the right corner of the screen.
  • Tap the Announce Messages icon (it should look like a white box with a black border and a red soundwave pattern in the top right corner) to turn off Announce Messages with Siri.
  • Alternatively, you can tap and hold the Announce Messages icon to open a menu and mute Announce Messages for 1 hour or turn it off for the day. Announce Messages will automatically turn back on after the specified amount of time when you use one of these options.

How to Turn Off Siri Reading Texts From Your Apple Watch

If you’re using your Apple Watch and don’t have your phone nearby, you can use it to prevent Siri from reading your texts aloud, as well. It works very similarly to disabling Announce Messages with Siri from the Control Center on iPhone.

Unlock your iPhone and swipe down from the right corner of the screen.

Tap the Announce Messages icon (it should look like a white box with a black border and a red soundwave pattern in the top right corner) to turn off Announce Messages with Siri.

Alternatively, you can tap and hold the Announce Messages icon to open a menu and mute Announce Messages for 1 hour or turn it off for the day. Announce Messages will automatically turn back on after the specified amount of time when you use one of these options.

  • On your Apple Watch, swipe up from the bottom to open the watch’s Control Center.
  • Scroll to the bottom and tap the Announce Messages icon (it’s the same icon you’ll find on iOS). This turns the Announce Messages feature off until you enable it again.
  • Alternatively, you can tap and hold the Announce Messages icon to open a menu of options where you can choose

On your Apple Watch, swipe up from the bottom to open the watch’s Control Center.

Scroll to the bottom and tap the Announce Messages icon (it’s the same icon you’ll find on iOS). This turns the Announce Messages feature off until you enable it again.

Alternatively, you can tap and hold the Announce Messages icon to open a menu of options where you can choose

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