How to disable Voice Control on your iPhone
Voice Control on iPhone activates when you hold the home button (or side button on newer models) for a few seconds. If you find it triggering accidentally or you simply don't use it, you can turn it off in Settings. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you have an older iPhone with a home button or a newer model with Face ID.
Voice Control is different from Siri — they are separate features that both respond to button presses. Disabling Voice Control will not affect Siri, and you can turn either one on or off independently. This guide covers both iPhone types so you can find the exact steps for your device.
Key Takeaways
- Voice Control turns on when you hold the home button or side button, and you can disable it by going to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and toggling it off.
- Disabling Voice Control does not affect Siri or any other accessibility features — each one is controlled separately.
- If you want to keep Voice Control but prevent accidental activation, you can require a confirmation before commands run.
- On iPhones with a home button, Voice Control is under Accessibility; on newer models with Face ID, the location is the same but the button you hold is different.
Disable Voice Control on iPhone with home button (iPhone 8 and earlier)
If your iPhone has a physical home button at the bottom, follow these steps to turn off Voice Control.
- Open Settings on your home screen.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Voice Control.
- Toggle the switch next to Voice Control to the off position (it will turn gray).
Once the toggle is off, holding the home button will no longer activate Voice Control. If you hold the home button now, nothing will happen — Siri will not activate either unless you have Siri enabled separately. Voice Control is now completely disabled on your device.
Disable Voice Control on iPhone with Face ID (iPhone X and newer)
If your iPhone has Face ID and no home button, the steps are identical, but the button you hold is different. Voice Control activates when you hold the side button (the power button on the right side of the phone) instead of a home button.
- Open Settings on your home screen.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Voice Control.
- Toggle the switch next to Voice Control to the off position (it will turn gray).
After you disable it, holding the side button will no longer trigger Voice Control. The side button will still work for other functions like powering off your phone or accessing Apple Pay, depending on how long you hold it.
What happens when you disable Voice Control
When Voice Control is off, your iPhone will no longer listen for voice commands when you hold the home button or side button. This means accidental activations will stop. You will not see the Voice Control interface appear, and your phone will not try to interpret what you say as a command.
Disabling Voice Control does not turn off Siri. If you want to use Siri but not Voice Control, you can keep Siri on and Voice Control off — they work independently. You can also disable Siri separately if you want neither feature active.
Keep Voice Control but require confirmation before it runs
If you use Voice Control sometimes but want to prevent accidental activation, you can keep it on but add a confirmation step. This way, Voice Control will listen when you hold the button, but it will ask you to confirm the command before it runs.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Accessibility.
- Tap Voice Control.
- Make sure the Voice Control toggle is on (green).
- Scroll down and tap Confirmation.
- Choose Always Require Confirmation.
Now when you hold the button and Voice Control activates, it will show you what it heard and ask "Did you mean [command]?" before it runs. This gives you a chance to cancel if it misheard you or if you triggered it by accident.
Difference between Voice Control and Siri
Voice Control is an older accessibility feature that responds to voice commands and is designed for users who cannot use the touchscreen. It activates by holding a physical button and works offline — it does not need an internet connection. Voice Control has a smaller set of commands and is more limited in what it can do.
Siri is Apple's voice assistant that can answer questions, search the web, send messages, and control many apps. Siri requires an internet connection and activates by holding the home button or side button, or by saying "Hey Siri" if you have that feature on. Many people use Siri but not Voice Control, or vice versa.
If you disabled Voice Control but still want voice commands, Siri is usually the better choice. You can enable Siri by going to Settings > Siri & Search and toggling Siri on. The two features do not interfere with each other.
Troubleshooting: Voice Control keeps turning back on
If you disable Voice Control but it turns back on by itself, the most common cause is that you have a shortcut or automation set up to enable it. Check your Shortcuts app to see if any automations are running when you plug in your phone or at a certain time of day.
Another possibility is that you are using a screen reader or other accessibility feature that re-enables Voice Control automatically. If you use VoiceOver or another screen reader, check its settings to see if it has an option to enable Voice Control. You can also try restarting your iPhone after disabling Voice Control — sometimes a restart helps the setting stick.
If Voice Control is still turning back on after a restart, contact Apple Support with details about when it turns back on (for example, after you charge it, or at a specific time). They can help you troubleshoot whether another setting or app is causing the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will disabling Voice Control turn off Siri?
No. Voice Control and Siri are separate features. You can disable Voice Control and keep Siri on, or turn off both, or keep both on. Each one has its own toggle in Settings > Accessibility.
Can I disable Voice Control but keep other accessibility features?
Yes. Voice Control is one of many accessibility features, and each one is controlled separately. Disabling Voice Control will not affect VoiceOver, Magnifier, Captions, or any other accessibility tool you use.
What button do I hold to activate Voice Control on my iPhone?
On iPhones with a home button (iPhone 8 and earlier), you hold the home button at the bottom. On iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and newer), you hold the side button (power button) on the right edge of the phone.
If I disable Voice Control, can I turn it back on later?
Yes. Go back to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and toggle it back on. You can turn it on and off as many times as you want.
Why does Voice Control keep activating when I don't want it to?
Voice Control activates when you hold the home button or side button for a few seconds. If you are holding the button while doing something else (like adjusting volume or taking a screenshot), it may trigger accidentally. Disabling Voice Control or requiring confirmation will stop this.