With the release of macOS Sierra, Apple integrated Siri into the world of MacBooks and other Apple desktops. A persistent compliant leveled at Siri is that it does not work or cannot comprehend what you are saying half of the time.
We think that Siri on your MacBook is a very capable listener and can be used in use cases beyond checking Apple’s stock price or looking up the latest scores of your favorite team.
This short article will show you 7 ways in which you can use Siri to unravel the numerous MacBook System functions.
Use Siri to Find How much iCloud Storage You Have Got Left
When dealing with large files or working with the automatic desktop sync function on your MacBook, you may feel the need to check on the status of your iCloud Storage capacity. Instead of working through the various System preference clicks, simply invoke Siri and ask to get a quick answer
Using Siri to Find MacBook System Properties such as Memory
‘About this Mac’ item from the menu provides you with most of the relevant information that you need to find out about your MacBook. You can skip the step and simply ask Siri. Start by asking, “How much Memory does my MacBook have?” You can also enquire about your MacBook processor details.
You can also use Siri to check up on your MacBook Battery Status if you do not have the battery indicator set up.
How fast is my MacBook?
Use Siri to Check up on Day, Date and related functions
There are times when you need to check up quickly on the day of the week or today’s date when drafting up an email or setting up a meeting. You can just ask Siri and complete the action without even needing to open up a calendar.
If you are like me, you are always trying to figure out what day of the week a certain date falls on. Skip looking it up on the calendar and just use Siri on your MacBook to quickly reveal the day!
Sometimes you just want to know if you have any prior commitments for the day in question. Again, you don’t need to open up the Calendar app, Siri checks your calendar and answers you quickly.
I have come to love Siri’s versatility when it comes to working with day, dates and other system functions that are tied to it. If you have not yet tried it, go ahead and give it a shot! I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised.
Cannot Remember Night Shift Settings on Your MacBook? Siri to Rescue
The next time you want to turn on or off the Night Shift mode on your MacBook, holler at Siri and skip the settings hunt. You can use Siri to not only enquire about information from your MacBook but also use it to actually complete a system function on your MacBook!
Bring Up Activity Monitor or Other Utility on your MacBook via Siri
If you are a new MacBook user, you may not know all the details around the location of your MacBook Utilities. Take advantage of Siri to bring up the appropriate System Utilities without the need of navigating through folders and file path.
Simply Say “Siri Can You Open Activity Monitor for me?” and boom your MacBook automatically opens up the utility for you to use.
Increase the Volume of Your MacBook Speaker using Siri
You can use Siri to also control properties such as volume or brightness on your MacBook. It not only increases the volume by a few decibels but also provides you access to the slider so that you can set it up to your desired level.
The same holds true for your MacBook screen brightness. Make use of Siri!
Use Siri to Open Up Apps by Unique Filtering Criteria on Your MacBook
Not only does Siri help you open up the last document that you were editing, it can also be used to open up a category of apps from the app store based on your selection criteria.
“Can You Show me Apps for Kids” or use “Can you show me Email Apps”
Why is Siri on my MacBook Not Working?
If you are running Sierra or High Sierra, you should be able to use Siri on your MacBook without any issues. If you have run into issues with Siri, you can check out the following articles that will help you fix the issues.
Are you using Siri on your MacBook regularly? If you are not, trust me, its not so much Siri’s fault but it’s more a matter of habit. Sometimes when you are used to doing things a certain way, it takes time to change.
When Siri was first released for MacBooks, I used it extensively for a few weeks and then old habits stepped in and announced that Siri on MacBook was just another novelty that will fade away.
For the last few months since I started using High Sierra when I made a deliberate attempt to remind myself to use at least one Siri function a week and infact set up a weekly reminder just to do that.
Now, I’m really beginning to enjoy using Siri on the MacBook!
Hoping that you give it another try and rekindle the love affair. Please let us know if you have any comments or questions.
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.
In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
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