I turned off Siri in macOS 27 — so why is it still running? Here’s what’s happening
Mac users are finding a Siri process still running after disabling Siri in macOS 27. Here’s why Spotlight may be responsible and what you need to know.
Some Mac users who have disabled Siri in macOS 27 are still seeing the Siri process running in Activity Monitor. The possible reason for this is that Siri has been integrated directly into Spotlight in macOS 27, meaning the same process handles both Spotlight and Siri. When Siri is disabled, the system may still need to keep the process running for search functionality to work.
Apple has not provided an explanation for why the Siri-branded process remains active after the assistant is disabled, leaving users confused about what the process is doing. The issue is more noticeable because Siri AI, which was rolled out with macOS 27, has expanded its capabilities and is integrated more deeply into the operating system.
Some users have tried workarounds, such as editing system settings or using Terminal commands, but these methods can cause problems and are not recommended. To disable Siri in macOS 27, go to System Settings > Siri and select "Turn Off Siri." For a permanent restriction, go to System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Siri, set "Allowed Siri Version" to "Don't Allow Siri," and click Done. Choosing "Siri Classic" in the same menu will give you a basic assistant without AI features.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
