How to Opt-Out of Siri Audio Recordings on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV

Following the widespread criticism fortapping Siri conversations for grading, Apple has addressed the issue with a mature hand. After offering a clear cut way todelete Siri and Dictationacross iDevices includingMacand iPhone/iPad, the tech giant no longer enrolls consumers into the audio-grading program automatically without their consent. Moreover, users can opt-out of Siri audio recordings on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV as and when they want to do so. If you had taken part in the program but now want to get out of it due to privacy concerns, let me guide you through!

Stop Sharing Siri Audio Recordings on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV

Stop Sharing Siri Audio Recordings on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV

What’s the Catch and Whether or not the Trade-Off is Worth?

While everything about this move sounds clear, there is one catch that you must keep in mind. What is it? Well, you need to disable theImprove Siri & Dictation option on each of your iDevices(or wherever you use Apple’s virtual assistant). Do bear in mind, disabling this feature might affect your user experience as the personal assistant needs some data to offer accurate results.

Apple stores only a small proportion of voice recordings to boost Siri and dictation.To safeguard the private data, they associate it with a random identifier. And once the audio grading is over, they dissociate the data from the random identifier after six months. Though the explanation from Apple sounds seems reliable, if you think that the trade-off is worth it, get on with the steps below.

Note:Ensure that your iDevices are running the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS on the respectively.

Out-Out of Siri Audio Recordings on iPhone and iPad

Out-Out of Siri Audio Recordings on iPhone and iPad

  1. Navigate to theSettingsapp and choosePrivacy.

  2. Now, scroll down and tap onAnalytics & Improvements.

  3. Disable the switch next toImprove Siri & Dictation.

Stop Sharing Siri Recordings on Apple Watch

Unlike iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, Apple doesn’t offer a clear cut way to stop sharing Siri audio recordings. However, there is a workaround that may prevent Apple from storing your Siri voice recordings for grading.

  1. Head into theSettingsapp on your Apple Watch> Privacy > Analytics.

  2. Now, ensure that the switches forthe Share iPhone & Watch Analyticsand theShare iCloud Analyticsare turned off.

Disable Siri & Dictation Sharing on Mac

  1. Click onthe Apple menuat the top left corner of the screen and selectSystem Preferences.

  2. Now, click onSecurity & Privacy.

  3. Next, selectAnalytics & Improvementsin the left sidebar.

Note:Ensure that the Privacy tab is selected if it’s not already.

  1. Finally, uncheck the box forImprove Siri & Dictation.

Opt-Out of Siri Audio Recordings on Apple TV

Opting out of Siri audio recording on Apple TV is almost same. You first need to open theSettings appon your Apple TV and chooseGeneral.Now, selectPrivacyand then clickImprove Siri & Dictation.Click onImprove Siri & Dictationagain and make sure it’s turned off.

Stop Sharing Your Private Siri Recordings with Apple…

So, that’s the right way to prevent Apple from collecting your Siri voice recordings across iDevices. While I’m quite pleased with the wayApple has addressed the data grading issue, I wish the tech giant had offered a single switch to disable audio sharing across the devices synced with the same Apple ID. That could not only have further enhanced the seamless experience but alsoimproved security and privacy.

Rajesh Mishra

An old school bibliophile who turned a tech nerd out of obsession. When he is not digging into hacks and tracking down stories that are breaking the internet, you may find him reciting poems.

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