(Note: This article covers how Siri works using the developer preview of macOS Sierra, the next version of the Mac operating system. Since this is pre-release software, Apple could makes changes to Siri between now and when Sierra is officially released in the fall. If Apple makes any changes, this article will be updated appropriately.)
When you install macOS Sierra, the installer will ask if you want to enable Siri. If you don’t want to enable Siri at installation, you can activate it later in the System Preferences.
When the Sierra installation is done, you’ll find Siri icons in two locations: In the Dock, and in your menu bar. By default, Siri’s Dock icon sits next to the Finder icon on the far left side. You can move the Siri icon in the Dock by dragging it.
Up in your menu bar, you’ll see Siri next to the Notifications icon on the far right. I think it’s the only color icon that Apple uses for its menu bar apps. (On my personal menu bar not pictured here, I have two third-party menu bar apps that use color icons.)
You can launch Siri by click on either of these icons. You can also set a keyboard shortcut in the Siri System Preferences. There’s also an option to activate Siri by pressing the fn key and Space at the same time. While using the Sierra preview, there isn’t a way to set a Trackpad gesture to launch Siri.
One thing that I often do with my iPhone is that I inadvertently launch Siri. This mostly happens when I am pulling my iPhone out of my pocket—my finger grabs a hold of the Home button and Siri launches. Inadvertently launching Siri isn’t as easy (for me) on the Mac, though I could see it happening with a mistyped keyboard combination. If it does happen, there’s no way to deactivate Siri except by moving your cursor to and clicking on the “close window” button on screen.
On iOS, I activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri.” Vocal activation isn’t available on the Mac version of Siri in the Sierra pre-release version, and I wonder if it will be available at all. Since I usually have my iPhone with me (and I usually take it out of my pocket when I sit at my desk), there needs to be a way to differentiate which Siri you want to use, such as a unique trigger phrase.
If you use the VoiceOver and Switch Control accessibility features on the Mac, Apple says that Siri will work with those features.
I’ll dive more into Siri’s settings in a bit. Let’s go into what you came here for: Siri for macOS in action.
Once you launch Siri through the Dock or menu bar icon, or by a keyboard shortcut, a Siri window appears in the upper right corner of the screen, along with the familiar two-beep Siri tone. If you don’t have an internet connection, Siri won’t work.
Since most people are used to using Siri on iOS, your first inclination is to use Siri for Mac as you would on your iPhone. For example, you might use Siri to look up showtimes at nearby movie theaters.
I then asked Siri about a current event. It took a little longer for a response. (My query was a little more generic than it probably should have been.)
For upcoming events, you can take the Siri results and pin them to Notification Center.
Siri for Mac is appealing as a tool for managing files. One of the Siri demos shown at WWDC was the ability to show file based on a given criteria. It worked for me, even with my files being saved to Dropbox.
You can also use Siri to make some changes in System Preferences. Siri is suited for settings you’d adjust on a frequent basis, like changing the sound volume, or adjusting the screen brightness. I was able to turn Bluetooth on and off, but when I asked Siri to “Activate FileVault in System Preferences,” it said it couldn’t do it.
Siri on the Mac, is, well, still Siri. It still has trouble understanding me sometimes. Maybe it’s the way I talk, I dunno. But I tried several times to have Siri tell me when the Copa América Centenario championship game will be played, and this is what I got.
Siri overall still needs improving in terms of understanding vocal commands and finding relevant results. But Siri for macOS will be a helpful UI tool.
Back to Siri’s settings to cover the other adjustments you can make.
Language: The default is English, but you can change it to another language.
Voice: Everyone is familiar with the female American Siri voice, but you can change it to British or Australian, and/or to a male voice.
Voice Feedback: With this setting on, Siri will always provide a voice response to your query.
Mic input: If you have external microphones, you can use this setting to select it.
If you click About Siri and Privacy, you get the following window.
Anything else you’d like to know about Siri on the Mac Let us know in the comments below.