What’s changing and how it affects daily workflows
Apple has reiterated that it remains on track to ship the new Siri this year, with features rolling out across iOS 26.x point releases. While internal targets reportedly shifted from iOS 26.4 to 26.5 or later, the promise stands: a more capable Siri that understands personal context, can run rich in‑app actions, and is aware of what’s on your screen. Practically, that means less time hopping between apps and more natural, precise voice requests that execute end‑to‑end workflows.
Personal context will make Siri feel like it actually knows you—not just generic commands. If your contacts, calendars, reminders, and current app state are available and tidy, Siri can act with specificity: “Move my 3 PM marketing sync to Thursday at the same time,” “Share the document I’m viewing with Priya,” or “Add this email to my task list and set it for tomorrow.” The assistant isn’t just guessing; it will use your data to resolve entities and parameters behind the scenes.
Rich in‑app actions are the other half. Third‑party apps that expose App Intents will become directly controllable via voice, Shortcuts, and on‑screen actions. Instead of: open app → tap → fill form → tap again, you’ll be able to say “Log a 30‑minute run in RunKeeper,” “Clip this article to Notion in Research inbox,” or “Create a bug in Jira in iOS team project” and have the app perform the task with properly typed parameters.
On‑screen awareness ties it all together, enabling questions and actions about what you’re looking at. Expect commands like “Summarize this email,” “Save this page as a PDF to Downloads,” “Fill this shipping form with my home address,” or “What’s the date mentioned in this message?” to be supported progressively. Under the hood, the first wave of capabilities will be backed by Google Gemini models through Apple’s announced partnership. A more ambitious chatbot experience is expected with iOS 27, but the 26.x rollout will focus on these practical enhancements.
Bottom line: be ready to update promptly to iOS 26.x point releases and prepare your data, settings, Shortcuts, and apps now. The more intentional your setup, the more accurate and useful Siri’s new features will be the day they land.
Configure iPhone settings to prime personal context and privacy
Start by deciding which apps you want to feed Siri’s understanding of your life. Go to Settings → Siri & Search → [choose app]. Toggle “Learn from this App” to allow or block signals from that app contributing to suggestions and intent resolution. While you’re there, consider “Show App in Search,” “Show Content in Search,” and “Show on Home Screen” to fine‑tune visibility. If an app handles sensitive work documents or health data, you might want to disable learning but keep search visibility so you can still find items quickly.
Next, manage what Apple retains about your interactions. Navigate to Settings → Siri & Search → Siri & Dictation History → Delete Siri & Dictation History to clear past requests. If you prefer stricter privacy, turn off “Improve Siri & Dictation,” which controls whether anonymized audio samples and transcripts are shared to help improve services. This won’t stop Siri from working, but it will limit analytics and training data sourced from your device usage.
Balance convenience with security at the lock screen. If you often need hands‑free actions, enable Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Allow Siri When Locked. If you work in shared or public spaces, you may want to keep Siri locked down to avoid accidental exposure of personal context from your device while it’s unattended. Combine this with biometric requirements wherever your workflows involve sensitive data (e.g., using “Require Face ID” to access specific apps).
Clean your data sources so Siri has high‑quality inputs. In Contacts, standardize names, add relationships (Mom, Spouse, Manager), and ensure addresses and emails are correct. In Calendars, normalize event titles (“Standup – iOS Team,” not “meeting”) and add locations. In Reminders, prune old lists and use consistent titles. If Siri needs to resolve “Share this with Sam,” it helps to have the right “Sam” linked and a known relationship. The same applies to having meaningful calendar names (e.g., “Personal,” “Work – Engineering”) so your requests map unambiguously.
Finally, anticipate on‑screen awareness by minimizing accidental leakage in notifications. Go to Settings → Notifications → Show Previews → When Unlocked. This ensures sensitive message previews aren’t visible if someone invokes Siri or looks over your shoulder when the phone is locked. For particularly sensitive apps, set their notifications to deliver silently or hide content entirely.
Build practical Shortcuts that mirror rich in‑app actions today
Shortcuts is your bridge to the new Siri. Map your top 10 repetitive actions and create a Shortcut for each so you’re ready for voice control and on‑screen triggers. Examples: “Log a lunchtime workout,” “Add task ‘follow up on quote’ to Work list due tomorrow,” “Save current page as PDF to Files,” “Email the latest meeting notes to my team,” “Start Pomodoro focus for 25 minutes.” The trick is to break tasks into parameters you’ll eventually pass by voice.
In Shortcuts, tap + → Add Action → choose an app and select its action. Many apps already expose actions via Shortcuts and App Intents—task managers (Things, OmniFocus, Todoist), note apps (Apple Notes, Bear, Notion), fitness trackers, email clients, and file managers. Build end‑to‑end flows: fetch content (e.g., “Get Current Web Page”), transform (“Make PDF”), and save (“Save File”) or share (“Send Email”). If your favorite app doesn’t expose actions, file a feature request—developers are motivated to prepare for Siri’s 26.x capabilities.
Add voice phrases for natural invocation. In a Shortcut’s details, tap “Add to Siri” and record phrases like “Log lunchtime workout” or “Clip this page to Notion.” Keep phrases specific enough to avoid collisions with built‑in Siri commands. When the new Siri arrives, these will dovetail nicely with richer parsing and context, but you’ll already have muscle memory for hands‑free execution.
Generalize with variables and “Ask for Input.” For example, build a “Share current page” Shortcut that asks for the recipient, includes the current Safari page title and URL, and lets you pick email or Messages. Add logic branches for “If app is open” or “If URL contains ‘pdf’” to simulate on‑screen awareness. Another useful pattern: “Fill address fields” using your Contact card—store your home and work addresses in variables, then prompt to pick which one to autofill in a form via copy/paste.
Make Shortcuts reliably accessible. Add them to the Home Screen for one‑tap launching and configure Back Tap via Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap (e.g., Double Tap → run “Save Page as PDF”). In noisy environments or while commuting, Back Tap plus an Apple Watch complication can be more dependable than voice. The goal is to have robust fallback triggers while Siri’s new features roll out region‑by‑region and app‑by‑app.
Developers: adopt App Intents to expose rich actions
Audit your app’s top five high‑frequency actions: create, update, share, log, search. Each should map cleanly to an AppIntent with well‑typed parameters. If users routinely “Create task,” “Add note,” “Log workout,” or “Share document,” make those a first‑class intent and ensure you can execute without showing UI. The upcoming Siri features will prefer intents with clear entities, sane defaults, and predictable side effects.
Design for language. Provide a good ParameterSummary that reads naturally, define synonyms for parameters, and supply example phrases. This helps Siri (and Shortcuts) resolve requests like “Create a high‑priority task due Friday in Personal” or “Log 30 minutes of yoga.” Favor enums and AppEntities over free‑form strings where possible to constrain ambiguities.
Support context handoff by associating intents with the item currently in view—document, note, message, or task. Use stable identifiers so on‑screen actions can target the exact content users are looking at. Implement a robust AppEntity with an EntityQuery that can resolve by ID, name, or selection. This will unlock “Share the document I’m viewing,” “Archive this email,” or “Add this page to Research” without requiring manual selection.
Test end‑to‑end: intent invocation from Shortcuts, voice, and on‑screen contexts; privacy prompts; cancellations; and error paths under poor network conditions. Validate performance on typical devices and ensure background work completes within expected limits. Provide in‑app controls that let users disable intent donation or background indexing for sensitive content, and document your data use clearly to build trust ahead of the Siri rollout.
// Example: Log a workout via App Intents import AppIntentsenum WorkoutType: String, AppEnum { case run, walk, yoga, cycle
static var typeDisplayName = "Workout Type" static var caseDisplayRepresentations: [Self: DisplayRepresentation] = [ .run: "Run", .walk: "Walk", .yoga: "Yoga", .cycle: "Cycle" ]}
struct LogWorkoutIntent: AppIntent { static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Log Workout" static var description = IntentDescription( "Logs a workout in the app with type, duration, and optional notes." )
@Parameter(title: "Type") var type: WorkoutType @Parameter(title: "Duration (minutes)") var duration: Int@Parameter(title: "Notes", default: "") var notes: String static var parameterSummary: some ParameterSummary { Summary("Log a \(\.$type) for \(\.$duration) minutes \(\.$notes)") } func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult { // Execute without UI; return a result for Siri/Shortcuts. try await WorkoutStore.shared.log(type: type, minutes: duration, notes: notes) return .result( dialog: "Logged a \(type.rawValue) for \(duration) minutes." ) }}
// Provide app shortcuts with example phrases struct FitnessShortcutsProvider: AppShortcutsProvider { static var appShortcuts: [AppShortcut] = [ AppShortcut( intent: LogWorkoutIntent(), phrases: [ "Log a (.shortcutParameter(\LogWorkoutIntent.$type)) workout for (.shortcutParameter(\LogWorkoutIntent.$duration)) minutes", "Start (.shortcutParameter(\LogWorkoutIntent.$type)) for (.shortcutParameter(\LogWorkoutIntent.$duration))" ], shortTitle: "Log Workout", systemImageName: "figure.run" ) ] }
// Example: Targeting the item currently in view with AppEntity
import AppIntents
struct DocumentEntity: AppEntity {
static var typeDisplayName = "Document"
@Property(title: "ID")
var id: String
@Property(title: "Title")
var title: String
static var displayRepresentation: DisplayRepresentation {
DisplayRepresentation(title: "Document")
}
struct Query: EntityQuery {
// Resolve entities by ID or name (used for on-screen targeting)
func entities(for identifiers: [String]) async throws -> [DocumentEntity] {
try await DocumentStore.shared.fetch(ids: identifiers)
}
func suggestedEntities() async throws -> [DocumentEntity] {
try await DocumentStore.shared.recent()
}
func entities(matching string: String) async throws -> [DocumentEntity] {
try await DocumentStore.shared.search(title: string)
}
}
}
struct ShareDocumentIntent: AppIntent {
static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "Share Document"
@Parameter(title: "Document") var document: DocumentEntity
@Parameter(title: "Recipient Email") var recipient: String
static var parameterSummary: some ParameterSummary {
Summary("Share \(\.$document) with \(\.$recipient)")
}
func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult {
try await DocumentStore.shared.share(id: document.id, to: recipient)
return .result(dialog: "Shared \(document.title) with \(recipient).")
}
}
Operational readiness for Gemini‑backed capabilities
Expect some requests to route through cloud models, especially complex summaries and contextual Q&A. Ensure reliable Wi‑Fi/5G where you work and commute, and keep an eye on data usage if voice interactions increase. If your organization uses network policies (e.g., per‑app VPN), verify that Siri and the apps you plan to control are permitted to reach needed endpoints without undue latency.
For enterprises, review MDM policies that control Siri, dictation, and app indexing. Many organizations disable “Allow Siri” or “Allow Siri while locked” by default; consider pilots that selectively enable these for trusted roles or devices, and document the risk trade‑offs. Check Spotlight and Siri & Search configuration payloads to manage whether apps can donate intents or index content for suggestions. For managed data, confirm that “Managed Open‑In” rules and DLP policies handle voice‑initiated shares correctly.
Stay current on updates. Enable automatic iOS updates (Settings → General → Software Update → Automatic Updates) and keep an eye on iOS 26.x release notes, as new Siri capabilities may land incrementally. Point releases often add frameworks and expand Siri’s domain coverage without a headline feature dump.
Watch app release notes, too. Many third‑party apps will ship App Intents and Siri enhancements independently of system updates. Turn on auto‑updates and skim for keywords like “App Intents,” “Siri,” “Shortcuts,” “On‑screen actions,” and “Context.” Maintain fallback workflows—your existing Shortcuts, manual flows, and quick access buttons—so teams aren’t blocked if a specific capability arrives later than expected or is phased by region.
Concrete scenarios to practice now
Summarize an email and file it: Create a Shortcut that takes the selected Mail message, extracts its content, runs “Summarize Text” (available in Shortcuts on recent iOS versions), then saves the summary into Notes with tags. Bind it to Back Tap. When on‑screen awareness arrives, you’ll be able to invoke this hands‑free while viewing the email.
Save a web page to PDF in a project folder: Build “Get Current Web Page” → “Make PDF” → “Save File” (choose a project folder in Files). Add “Ask for Input” to set the filename. Name it “Save page to Project PDF” and add a Siri phrase. This mirrors the upcoming “save what I’m reading” flow and teaches you to define parameters cleanly.
Parametric task creation: Make a Shortcut that asks for title, due date (default tomorrow), list (e.g., Work or Personal), and priority. Use your task manager’s App Intent to create the item. Adding variables here trains you to speak requests the way Siri will soon parse them: “Add a high‑priority task ‘revise Q3 deck’ due Friday in Work.”
Contextual share from Notes: Build a Shortcut that grabs the currently open note (if your notes app exposes a “Get Open Note” action), asks for a recipient, and sends via Mail or Messages. This tests how well your apps expose entities and whether you need developers to add queries or identifiers to support on‑screen targeting.
Checklist: be ready on day one
- Update Contacts with relationships and correct emails, addresses, and phonetic names.
- Normalize calendar names and event titles with locations for better entity resolution.
- Decide per‑app learning settings in Settings → Siri & Search; disable for sensitive apps.
- Clear Siri & Dictation History and adjust analytics sharing to your privacy comfort.
- Set “Allow Siri When Locked” based on environment; keep previews hidden when locked.
- Build 5–10 Shortcuts that encapsulate daily actions with variables and clear parameters.
- Assign Siri phrases and Back Tap triggers for reliable hands‑free execution.
- Developers: implement App Intents for top actions, with robust entities and summaries.
- Enterprises: review MDM controls for Siri, dictation, indexing, and managed open‑in.
- Enable auto‑updates; monitor iOS 26.x point releases and app changelogs for “Siri”/“App Intents.”
Why preparing now pays off
Apple’s reaffirmation that new Siri features are coming in 2026 means readiness translates into immediate productivity gains the moment they appear—whether that’s iOS 26.5 or a later point release. The personal context system can only be as good as the quality and structure of your data. App Intents will only feel magical if developers expose the right actions with sensible parameters. On‑screen awareness will only be safe if your notification and lock screen policies align with your privacy posture.
The initial capabilities will be backed by Google Gemini models, and a more expansive chatbot experience is expected in iOS 27. Don’t wait for the “big reveal” to modernize your workflows: Shortcuts and App Intents already deliver much of the plumbing, and the habits you build now—clean data, parameterized tasks, explicit triggers—will make the transition smooth. Prepare your environment, update early, and you’ll unlock Siri’s personal context and on‑screen actions faster and more safely than the average user.
Whether you’re a power user or developer, the path is the same: be intentional. Audit the tasks you do daily, codify them into actions, ensure your context is accurate, and set privacy boundaries that match your risk tolerance. When the new Siri drops, you’ll be able to say “Do the thing” and watch your iPhone actually do the right thing.
Written by
Tharun P Karun
Full-Stack Engineer & AI Enthusiast. Writing tutorials, reviews, and lessons learned.