Talking to Your Phone: A Plain-English Guide to Siri and Google Assistant
Voice assistants are arguably the most useful feature on a smartphone for an older adult — and the most under-used. The problem isn't the technology; in 2026 both Siri (on iPhone) and Google Assistant (on Android) understand natural speech remarkably well, including with strong regional accents, slower speech, and short sentences. The problem is that no one ever sits a senior down and shows them what to actually say. This guide is that sit-down.
What voice assistants actually do
A voice assistant takes a sentence you speak and turns it into an action on the phone. It can call a person, set a timer, send a text message, look something up on the web, turn on the flashlight, start a navigation, set a reminder for next Tuesday, or report tomorrow's weather. It cannot make decisions for you, give medical advice, or know things it hasn't been told.
The key insight: a voice assistant saves you from tapping. If a task takes more than two taps on the screen, a single sentence will almost certainly be faster.
Turning on Siri or Google Assistant
Siri (iPhone): Settings → Siri & Search → Listen for "Hey Siri" → turn it on. The phone will walk you through saying "Hey Siri" three times so it learns your voice.
Google Assistant (Android): Open the Google app → tap your profile photo → Settings → Google Assistant → Hey Google & Voice Match → set up. Speak the phrase a few times.
The wake phrase
To talk to Siri, say "Hey Siri" followed by your request. To talk to Google Assistant, say "Hey Google." You don't need to touch the phone — both assistants are listening for the wake phrase whenever the phone is on. (If "always listening" makes you uncomfortable, see the privacy section below.)
An alternative on iPhone: press and hold the side button for a second. Siri opens without the wake phrase. On Android: long-press the home button or swipe from the bottom corner. Most seniors prefer the spoken wake phrase because it works hands-free.
The four commands worth learning first
These four cover roughly 80% of voice-assistant value for an older adult.
- "Call [name]." Example: "Hey Siri, call my daughter." The assistant rings whichever contact you've labelled "daughter" (set up via Contacts → your card → Add Related Name). If you haven't labelled relationships, just say the person's first name.
- "Set a timer for [time]." Example: "Hey Google, set a timer for ten minutes." The kitchen timer is dead. This is the single most-used voice command in our reader surveys.
- "What's the weather?" The forecast for your current location, spoken aloud. Add "tomorrow" or "this weekend" for specifics.
- "Remind me to [task] at [time]." Example: "Hey Siri, remind me to take my pills at 8 PM." The phone will create a reminder and ring at the time you said. For medication specifically, see our medication-reminders guide — there are better options for that critical use.
Twelve more things that genuinely help
- "Send a text to [name] saying [message]."
- "What time is it in London?" (or any city)
- "How do you spell occasion?" (or any word)
- "What's $50 in euros?" (any currency conversion)
- "Translate good morning to Spanish."
- "Read my new messages." (only with Siri/iPhone fully)
- "Play the news." (plays your local NPR or BBC)
- "Turn on the flashlight."
- "Take a selfie in three seconds."
- "Navigate home." (after you've set your home address in Maps)
- "Find my phone." (only works when calling from a smart speaker)
- "How tall is the Empire State Building?" (any general knowledge)
Privacy — what voice assistants hear and don't hear
Both Siri and Google Assistant are designed to listen only for their wake phrase, not for everything you say. The phone processes audio locally — meaning the recording stays on the phone — until it detects "Hey Siri" or "Hey Google," at which point it sends the next sentence to Apple or Google for processing.
If you'd rather the recordings of your commands not be kept, both companies let you opt out. Siri: Settings → Siri & Search → Improve Siri & Dictation → off. Google: open the Google app → profile → Voice & Audio Activity → toggle off.
If you'd rather the wake-phrase listening be off entirely, both can be turned off. You'll then talk to the assistant only by pressing a button.
Frequently asked questions
The assistant doesn't understand me. What am I doing wrong?
Speak in short, complete sentences. "Call Mary" works; "Could you maybe see if Mary's available" doesn't. Also check the microphone — at the bottom of the phone, near the charging port. If it's blocked by a case, sound is muffled.
I have a strong accent. Will it still work?
In our testing with English speakers from a wide range of regional and second-language backgrounds, both assistants work well in 2026. The biggest factor is how clearly you speak the proper noun (a person's name, a place name) — those throw the assistants more than full sentences do.
Can the voice assistant unlock my phone or buy things by accident?
No — buying anything or accessing private data requires the phone to be unlocked first.
Does it work without internet?
Basic commands (timer, flashlight, opening apps) work without internet. Asking questions about the world or sending messages requires an internet connection.
I keep accidentally setting off Siri. Can I stop it?
Turn off "Listen for 'Hey Siri'" and use the side button only. Same on Android: turn off Voice Match and use the button.
Written by Margaret Holloway. Last verified 12 June 2026.