Apple‘s virtual assistant, Siri, has been around for years, and its iconic wake phrase “Hey Siri” has become instantly recognizable. But what if you’d prefer to call Siri something else, something more personal, or just a bit more fun? With the new iOS 18 update, in beta testing now, you can finally do just that.

Apple introduced a new feature called Vocal Shortcuts, intended as an accessibility tool. It allows users to assign custom voice commands to launch shortcuts and perform various tasks on their iPhones and iPads. But tech-savvy users have discovered a clever way to leverage this feature and give Siri a new wake word.

Here’s how it works: By setting up a Vocal Shortcut, you can choose a new phrase – anything from “Computer” to your favorite superhero’s name – to replace “Hey Siri.”

The process is fairly straightforward. Just head over to your Settings app, navigate to Accessibility, and then tap on Vocal Shortcuts. From there, choose “Set Up Vocal Shortcuts” and select “Siri” (not “Siri Request”). Finally, type in your desired wake word.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you can activate Siri simply by saying your chosen wake word. It’s important to note, however, that there are a few limitations to this trick.

First, this custom wake word only works on the specific device you set it up on. It won’t magically sync across all your Apple devices. So, if you want to activate Siri on your HomePod, you’ll still need to use the classic “Hey Siri.”

Another thing to keep in mind is that there’s a slight delay when using a custom wake word compared to “Hey Siri.” With Siri, you can say an entire phrase like “Hey Siri, what time is it?” in one go. However, with a Vocal Shortcut, you’ll need to pause briefly after saying your wake word before giving your actual command.

This short delay might be a dealbreaker for some users who prioritize seamless voice interaction. Thankfully, the good news is that Siri will still respond to the traditional “Hey Siri” even if you’ve set up a custom wake word. So, you can choose whichever method works best for you.

While the custom Siri wake word through Vocal Shortcuts might not be perfect, it’s definitely a fun and interesting option for those who want to personalize their iPhone experience. But it’s important to remember that it’s primarily an accessibility feature designed for users who might need alternative ways to interact with their devices.

The bigger picture here is that Vocal Shortcuts offer a powerful new way to control your iPhone with your voice. You can create custom voice commands to launch any shortcut, perform actions within apps, take screenshots, adjust volume, and much more. You can even pair these voice commands with custom sounds instead of speech. This opens up a world of possibilities for users who want to maximize voice control on their iPhones.

So, while giving Siri a new name might be a neat party trick, the true potential of Vocal Shortcuts lies in its ability to streamline your iPhone experience and make it more accessible for everyone.