How to disable voice control on your iPhone

If you’re looking to disable or temporarily turn off voice control on your iPhone, there are some easy ways to do it. Voice control is an accessibility feature on iPhones that allows you to control your device using your voice instead of touching the screen. This functionality is particularly beneficial for individuals with limited dexterity or those who prefer hands-free control. However, there are times when voice control can be inconvenient, such as when it’s accidentally activated or interferes with other dictation features. So, for those looking to silence voice control for a while, this guide will walk you through how you can quickly disable it on your iPhones.

What is voice control on iPhone?

Powered by Siri’s speech recognition, voice control on the iPhone allows you to use your device entirely hands-free and with just your voice. The feature works even without an internet connection and can be used to navigate your phone, open apps, go back screens, or swipe up and down.

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This is particularly useful for people with limited dexterity, but also for anyone who wants hands-free control. Voice control also recognises specific elements on the screen. For example, by saying ‘tap,’ followed by the name of a button or icon, you can activate it. Similarly, saying ‘long press’ opens a menu. Dictation and text editing are also within voice control’s capabilities. You can dictate messages, emails, and more, and even use voice commands to delete or paste text.

How to disable Voice control on your iPhone

Here’s how to disable Voice Control on your iPhone:

1. Open the ‘Settings’ app on your iPhone.

2. Tap on ‘Accessibility.’

3. Depending on your iPhone model, look for one of these options:

i. For iPhone X and later: Tap on the Side button. 

ii. For iPhone 8 and earlier: Tap on the Home button. 

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4. Under the ‘Press and Hold to Speak’ option, you’ll see three choices: ‘Siri,’ ‘Voice Control,’ or ‘Off.’

5. Choose ‘Off’ to disable voice control. This will prevent your iPhone from activating Voice Control when you press and hold the designated button.

In conclusion, while voice control on the iPhone is a valuable feature for hands-free accessibility, there can be times when you might want to temporarily disable it. Whether it’s to prevent accidental activation or to use other dictation features, turning off voice control is pretty straightforward and just takes a couple of clicks.