In this step-by-step tutorial, we show you how to use a simple Terminal command to enable a secret, lightweight Siri interface that appears when you select text and helps you rewrite it or take another relevant action.
If you have updated your Mac to macOS 27 Golden Gate beta or installed this unreleased version on a partition, you can use a simple Terminal command to unhide a Siri feature that helps you check, edit, and transform your writing.
All you’ll have to do is select text in a writing app like Notes or TextEdit, and then click a tiny Siri icon to reveal relevant options, shown in the screenshot below.
Options include:
- Editing with Siri
- Asking how your current text sounds
- Rewriting it in a friendly, professional, or concise manner
- And proofreading your words to fix grammatical and other issues
In addition, you may also see options to add to contacts, message or email, create an event, open in Maps, track a flight, or track packages when you select relevant text like a phone number, email address, map address, flight number, tracking number, and so forth.
If you think this Siri UI would be helpful, then here’s how to enable it (thanks to pdfu for this tip).
Hopefully, Apple adds a simpler way to turn this on or off in System Settings when macOS 27 Golden Gate releases publicly in the fall for everyday users with an Apple silicon Mac.
Show a hidden Siri UI in macOS 27
1) Update your Mac to the latest version of macOS 27 developer beta.
Note: The original poster (pdfu) says this Siri UI is enabled by default in developer beta 4 and public beta 2, but it wasn’t the case on my MacBook running macOS 27 developer beta 5. You can check by creating a simple TextEdit document and selecting the text a few times. If it doesn’t show, follow the remaining steps.
2) Make sure Siri is set up correctly, and you have not switched from Siri AI to Siri Classic.
3) Open Terminal.
4) Copy and paste the following command and press the return / enter key.
sudo mkdir -p /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain && sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain/WritingTools LightweightUI_macOS -dict Enabled -bool true
5) Type your Mac’s password and press the return / enter key. Note that typing your password in Terminal does not show any visual confirmation.
6) Restart your computer.
7) Now, select text in Notes, Text Edit, and other such apps (all third-party apps may not work). You should see a small Siri popover icon; clicking it should show a relevant action menu.
Disable the Siri popover
If you don’t find it useful, or if it’s enabled by default for you and you don’t want that, just repeat the above steps, but this time use the following Terminal command, and don’t forget to restart your computer:
sudo defaults write /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain/WritingTools LightweightUI_macOS -dict Enabled -bool false
What do you think of this hidden little feature?
Also new in macOS 27: