How to Turn Off Siri App Suggestions

iPhone & iPod

Updated September 02, 2019

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

These directions apply to devices running iOS 12 or newer.

How Do Siri Suggestions Work?

Apple’s 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, you can simply pop into the Settings app to turn off the suggestion feature.

Open the Settings app from your home screen.
Select Siri & Search.
Scroll down and use the toggle buttons under Siri Suggestions to select where you'd like suggestions to 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 your version of iOS, all three of these 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 doesn’t recommend a specific app, you can 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 green button to the right of Search, Suggestions & Shortcuts to turn it off/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 you with 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 to the 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, and then choose Remove.

If there's a green plus button next to the option, then Siri Suggestions is already 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.
Pick which apps Siri can learn from to make suggestions, and select Done when finished.