Perplexity Voice works as a Siri alternative on iPhone — here's how to use it

iPhone 16 Pro shown held in hand
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

If you're looking for a voice assistant for your iPhone that actually understands what you mean and provides hands-free help throughout your day, Perplexity Voice should be on your radar. Setting up a shortcut to Perplexity Voice on your phone means fast searches, booking reservations, and sending emails all through voice commands.

While Perplexity Voice can't fully replace Siri for complete iPhone control just yet, you can take advantage of its smarter and more conversational responses in the meantime. Here's how to set it up.

1. Get Perplexity

For this to work you’ll need to install the latest version of the Perplexity app on your phone first. You can get it from the App Store for free here.

2. Open Shortcuts

Next, you’ll want to open your Shortcuts app, which comes default with iOS.

3. Navigate to Perplexity

Scroll down through the listed apps, sorted in alphabetical order, until you reach Perplexity. Alternatively you can use the search bar. Then tap the app.

4. Start voice mode

Tap start voice mode to instantly launch Perplexity’s voice mode.

5. Return to Shortcuts

To speed up this process and pin this shortcut to your home screen, return to your Shortcuts app.

6. Create a new shortcut

To create a new shortcut, tap the + sign.

7. Find Perplexity

Scroll through the list of apps and tap the Perplexity app once you’ve reached it.

8. Start voice mode

Tap on start voice mode from the list of options presented.

9. Pin the shortcut

To pin this shortcut on your home screen, first press the share option.

10. Add to Home screen

Lastly, tap on add to home screen, to be able to quickly find this shortcut in the future. Select the color and icon of the shortcut and tap on add to confirm your request.

11. Launch your shortcut

To instantly launch Perplexity Voice to use it as your iOS assistant, navigate to your newly created shortcut and launch it.


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Christoph Schwaiger

Christoph Schwaiger is a journalist, mainly covering AI, health, and current affairs. His stories have been published by Tom's Guide, Live Science, New Scientist, and the Global Investigative Journalism Network, among other outlets. Christoph has appeared on LBC and Times Radio. Additionally, he previously served as a National President for Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global leadership organization, and graduated cum laude from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands with an MA in journalism. You can follow him on X (Twitter) @cschwaigermt.

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