How to Turn Off Siri App Suggestions

Siri can be a helpful virtual assistant when you need it, but if its suggestions are beginning to bother you, shut suggestions off completely. Alternatively, you can restrict Siri App Suggestions to specific areas such as the search bar or lock screen with a few changes.

These directions apply to devices with iOS 12 or newer.

How Do Siri Suggestions Work?

The Apple Siri Suggestion feature lets Siri recommend content from specific apps when you perform a search on your device, arrive at a distinct location, or attempt to launch apps during particular times of the day. This is accomplished by carefully analyzing how you use your device and then making appropriate suggestions.

While all analyzing is done locally on your device, and thus allows for greater privacy, you might find the feature bothersome and opt to turn it off or customize it for your own experience.

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How to Turn Off Siri Suggestions on iOS

If you aren’t interested in receiving suggestions from your virtual assistant, open the Settings app to turn off the suggestion feature.

Open the Settings app from your home screen.
Select Siri & Search.
Scroll down to Siri Suggestions section and use the toggle buttons to select where suggestions should appear: Suggestions in Search, Suggestions in Look Up, and Suggestions on Lock Screen.
Tap all three green buttons to completely turn off the Siri Suggestion feature.

Depending on the version of iOS, all three options may not be available.

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How to Remove Siri App Suggestions on iOS

If you find Siri Suggestions useful, but would prefer that Siri didn’t recommend a specific app, individually choose apps to remove from the list of possible suggestions.

Open Settings.
Tap Siri & Search.
Scroll down and choose any app that you want to remove from Siri Suggestions.
Tap the Search, Suggestions & Shortcuts toggle switch to turn it off and make it white. If you don't see that option, use the toggle next to Siri & Suggestions.

How to Disable Siri Suggestions Widget

One last spot you might discover Siri attempting to provide recommendations is on your Today View screen. Follow these steps to access your Today View and hide the Siri Suggestions widget:

From your home screen, swipe right until you are presented with the Today View—a list of customizable widgets.
Scroll to the bottom and tap Edit.
Tap the red minus button next to Siri App Suggestions, then choose Remove.

If there's a green plus button next to the option, then Siri Suggestions is disabled.
Tap Done at the top to save the changes.

How to Remove Siri App Suggestions on Mac

Like with iOS, turning off Siri Suggestions in macOS is fairly straightforward:

From the Apple menu, choose System Preferences.
Select Siri from the list.
Choose Siri Suggestions & Privacy or About Siri & Privacy.
Choose which apps Siri can learn from to make suggestions, then select Done when finished.