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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

(Image: © Tom's Guide )

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

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

3. Navigate to Perplexity

(Image: © Tom's Guide)

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

(Image: © Tom's Guide)

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

5. Return to Shortcuts

(Image: © Tom's Guide)

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

6. Create a new shortcut

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To create a new shortcut, tap the + sign.

7. Find Perplexity

(Image: © Tom's Guide)

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

8. Start voice mode

(Image: © Tom's Guide)

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

9. Pin the shortcut

(Image: © Tom's Guide)

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

10. Add to Home screen

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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

(Image: © Tom's Guide)

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 who mainly covers technology, science, and current affairs. His stories have appeared in Tom's Guide, New Scientist, Live Science, and other established publications. Always up for joining a good discussion, Christoph enjoys speaking at events or to other journalists and has appeared on LBC and Times Radio among other outlets. He believes in giving back to the community and has served on different consultative councils. He was also a National President for Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global organization founded in the USA. You can follow him on Twitter @cschwaigermt.

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