How to Make Siri Actually Helpful: 10 Commands That Save Time

Let’s be honest—most of us use Siri to set timers and ask about the weather. But buried under all the “I didn’t get that” replies are some seriously useful tricks that’ll make you wonder why Apple doesn’t advertise them better.

After years of yelling at my phone like a madman, I’ve uncovered the Siri commands worth memorizing. These aren’t gimmicks—they’re the ones I use daily to cheat my way through chores, avoid awkward moments, and generally feel like I’ve got a personal assistant.

1. “Read My Last Message”

When to use it:

• When your hands are covered in flour/cat hair/grease
• Driving and don’t want to glance at notifications

What happens: Siri reads your most recent text aloud and asks if you want to reply.

Bonus: Works with emails too (“Read my latest email from Mom”).

2. “What’s This Song?”

Why it’s better than Shazam:

• No app needed
• Identifies music playing around you (not just from your phone)
• Saves results in a “Siri Knowledge” list in Apple Music

Real-world win: Nailed the name of that obscure jazz track playing in a café last week.

3. “Turn On All Lights”

For smart home users:

• Works with HomeKit-compatible bulbs/plugs
• No need to specify room names if you’ve set them up

Life hack: “Turn off everything” when you’re halfway out the door.

4. “Remind Me About This Later”

How it works:

1. Have a webpage/text/email open
2. Say the command
3. Siri sets a reminder linked to what’s on your screen

Perfect for:

• Recipes you’ll forget by dinnertime
• Articles you swear you’ll read tomorrow

5. “How Much Tip for $87?”

Beats mental math:

• Calculates tip amounts at 15%, 18%, or 20%
• Splits the total between people (“Split $87 between 4 people”)

Bar trick: Ask in front of friends to look like a human calculator.

6. “Pause My Workout”

For fitness folks:

• Stops workout tracking without digging into apps
• Also: “Resume workout,” “How far have I run?”

Game changer: When you need a sudden bathroom break mid-run.

7. “Set a Timer for 12 Minutes Called ‘Laundry’”

Why named timers rule:

• Multiple timers can run simultaneously
• Siri announces which one went off (“Your laundry timer is done”)

My uses:

• “Pizza timer”
• “Parking meter timer”
• “Nap timer” (no judgment)

8. “What’s My ETA?”

When driving with Maps:

• Gives real-time arrival updates
• Adjusts for traffic without touching your phone

Safety win: Lets you keep eyes on the road.

9. “Add to Note”

For random thoughts:

• “Add ‘buy birthday candles’ to my Grocery note”
• Creates new notes if they don’t exist

Better than typing: When an idea hits during a walk.

10. “Take a Video”

The stealth photographer move:

• Opens camera in video mode instantly
• Hands-free recording for DIY tutorials/pet antics

Pro tip: Works with “Take a selfie” too.

Why These Actually Work (When Most Siri Commands Don’t)

These commands succeed because they’re:
 Specific (not open-ended like “Plan my vacation”)
 Tied to core iPhone functions (not third-party apps)
 Quick (under 5-second tasks)

Try one of these today. I bet you’ll be using it by week’s end.

Which one surprised you? Got a killer Siri command I missed? Throw it in the comments—I’m always collecting new tricks.

P.S. Share this with that friend who still says “Siri sucks.” Bet they’ll eat their words.