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Voice assistants like Siri have become ubiquitous in recent years. From quickly checking the weather to managing our smart homes, Siri has it all. Many of us rely on Siri every day. But have you ever stopped thinking about privacy? Although there are no arguments for Siri that will make our lives easier, its use raises privacy issues, including how Apple uses the recordings it receives when you use the voice assistant and how it uses that information.
After all, for Siri to work properly, she needs to know more about us. Our friends’ names, voice recordings, and our current location are just some of the things our devices send to Apple when we use Siri. Apple has taken steps to protect the information it collects, such as using a random identifier that isn’t linked to a user’s Apple ID or email address to match Siri requests with the device’s privacy protection. However, it’s important to remember that sharing your personal information with any company comes with risks, including misuse or unauthorized access.
The good news is, if you’re not comfortable trusting Apple with all that information, there are steps you can take to control and limit the information Siri collects. We’ll show you how to clear your Siri search history.
How to clear your Siri search history
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You may have chosen to send your data to Apple when you activated Siri on your device or during an iOS update. Apple often asks users to do this to improve Siri’s performance and accuracy. It stores information about your personal identifiers by default on its servers for six months unless you choose to delete them beforehand. Deleting your Siri search history removes all recordings and computer logs from Apple’s servers.
Follow these steps to check your Siri search history on iOS devices:
- Go to the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Scroll down and tap Siri & Search.
- Within the Siri & Search settings, find and tap on Siri & Dictation History.
- Select Clear Siri & Dictation History.
- Confirm that you want to delete your browsing history.
For Mac computers:
- Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
- Tap on Siri.
- In Siri settings, find and tap Clear Siri & Dictation History.
- Confirm that you want to delete your browsing history.
About Apple Watch:
- Open the settings on your Apple Watch.
- Tap on Siri.
- Select Siri Profile.
- Select Clear Siri History to remove your interaction with Siri from the device.
Remember that deleting your Siri profile on one device will not delete it from all your Apple devices. Instead, you’ll need to repeat this process on every device you use Siri on.
Why You Should Clear Your Siri Search History
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Whether you type to Siri on your iPhone or use voice commands on your Apple Watch, managing your information is the main reason to clear your Siri search history. When you use Siri, Apple collects personal information, including your preferences and preferences. Clearing your search history can help ensure that your previous Siri activity isn’t stored longer than necessary.
Although Apple uses the information it collects from Siri to improve its responses, its large profile can raise privacy and data security concerns over time. Apple has tried to address user concerns by implementing measures to reduce the anonymity of data, providing options to delete Siri’s history, and establishing an opt-in policy to share recordings with the company.
Despite these protections, any data stored or transmitted over the Internet is vulnerable to cybercriminals. Deleting your Siri profile periodically can help you protect your data, reduce the chance of your information being downloaded, and give you peace of mind.