Most people use voice assistants only to set an alarm, check the weather or start some music. Yet Siri and Google Assistant hold a great many more features in the background that genuinely make daily life easier. In this article we have gathered the lesser-known commands that actually prove useful, the automation methods that let one command trigger several actions, and the privacy settings worth paying attention to.
Siri’s Lesser-Known Commands
Instant Translation
Without opening a separate app, it is enough to say “translate this into French: I have a headache, I think I’m going to sleep”. Siri reads the sentence back in the original language first and then speaks the translated version. It is genuinely practical when travelling abroad or when you need to communicate quickly with someone in another language.
Location-Based Reminders
Standard reminders only fire at a set time, but telling Siri “remind me to pay the bill when I get home” uses your phone’s location data to trigger the reminder when you arrive at that place. Reminders that fire when you reach the supermarket, arrive at work or leave the house can be set up the same way.
Voice Notes and Message Dictation
A note opened with the “take a note” command is a quick way to store short pieces of information such as an address or a phone number. In the same way, commands like “message Ahmet, what time are we meeting tomorrow” let you send a message without typing.
Multiple Actions in One Command with Shortcuts
Perhaps Siri’s least used but most powerful side is the Shortcuts app. It makes it possible to combine several steps under a single voice command. Say “I’m leaving work”, for instance, and the phone can send your partner a “on my way” message, start navigation home and open your favourite playlist, one after the other. Because all of this happens on the device, no data is sent to Apple.
In the same way, you can create a shortcut called “going out” that triggers low power mode, lowers screen brightness, turns off do not disturb and reads out the current weather in one go. The Shortcuts app comes preinstalled on the phone, and if it has been deleted it can be downloaded free from the App Store.
Google Assistant’s Lesser-Known Commands
The “Hey Google, that wasn’t for you” Command
When Google Assistant activates by mistake, saying “Hey Google, that wasn’t for you” automatically deletes that recording from your account activity. It is a simple but effective solution for anyone worried about the privacy implications of accidental activations.
Giving Commands from the Lock Screen
On devices running Android 8.0 and above, you can talk to the assistant by saying “Hey Google” even while the phone is locked. This saves time when your hands are full or you want to do something quickly without looking at the phone.
The “What Can You Do?” Question
Instead of learning every one of the assistant’s capabilities one by one, simply asking “what can you do?” produces a list of suggested commands specific to your device. It is a quick way to explore a new device.
Personalisation with Voice Recognition
Both Siri and Google Assistant let you create a personal voice profile. With this enabled, the assistant only responds to your voice and will not activate even if someone else in the house says the same command. On a shared smart speaker, each family member can reach their own calendar, messages and personal reminders separately through their own voice profile.
Practical Uses Common to Both Assistants
Setting an alarm while your hands are busy, converting a unit of measurement in the kitchen, replying to a message while driving: these are the scenarios where voice assistants step beyond their usual use. Both also work with smart home devices, carrying out commands such as “turn off the lights” or “set the thermostat to 22 degrees” in a single step.
Privacy Points to Keep in Mind
In 2026, both Google and Apple reached multi-million dollar settlements in lawsuits alleging that their voice assistants recorded users without their consent. Those developments were another reminder of how important it is to review a few settings when using a voice assistant.
In your device settings you can adjust the detection sensitivity for “Hey Siri” or “Hey Google”, and voice and command history can be cleared regularly from your account settings. Limiting apps’ microphone access with the “only while using the app” option is another simple way to prevent unnecessary listening. With automation tools such as Shortcuts, checking during setup which actions are being granted access to which apps helps you avoid unwanted surprises later.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, both assistants offer Turkish language support, although some advanced features (particularly complex multi-step commands) tend to work more smoothly in English.
Some basic actions such as setting an alarm can work offline, but most features, including making calls, translation and looking up information, require an internet connection.
On Google, through the “Data and Privacy” section of your Google account; on Apple devices, Siri and Dictation history can be removed through Settings.
Shortcuts is an Apple-specific app, but on the Android side there are third-party automation apps that do a similar job, as well as Google Assistant’s own routines.
Not once a voice recognition profile is set up. Each user’s commands are routed to their own account and data, so personal information such as calendars and messages does not get mixed up.
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