This guide shows you how to turn off Apple Intelligence to save storage and resources on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
You might be using Apple Intelligence on your iPhone or Mac without even realizing it. Apple's AI features are still quite limited compared to competitors, and if you don't frequently use features like AI photo editing, image creation, or notification summaries, disabling Apple Intelligence can free up system space and resources.
Here's everything you need to know about Apple Intelligence and how to turn these features off when needed.
Why should you turn off Apple Intelligence?
Since Apple Intelligence was introduced in iOS 18.1, some users have chosen to turn it off. The primary reason is storage space. Features like Image Playground, Genmoji, or message summaries can take up to 7GB of storage—a significant amount, especially if your device is frequently running low on memory.
Even if storage isn't an issue, many users simply don't see the need for these AI features. A recent survey found that only 19% of smartphone users in the US upgraded their devices to use AI. Another survey also showed that the majority of users have no intention of using most AI features, and only 8% are willing to pay extra for them.
Some AI features, such as photo editing, received higher ratings, with around 58% of users finding them useful. However, many remained dissatisfied with features like inaccurate content summaries or other tools that could be replaced.
Furthermore, Apple Intelligence is still under development. Some users don't want to be bothered or feel like they're testing a product on behalf of Apple.
Which devices does Apple Intelligence support?
Apple Intelligence currently only works on certain devices, including:
- iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air
- iPhone 17E, iPhone 16, iPhone 16E, iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro
- Macs and iPads use M-series chips.
- new generation iPad mini
If you are using a device not on this list, Apple Intelligence will not work.
Check how much storage space Apple Intelligence is using.
If you want to check how much storage Apple Intelligence is using, follow these steps:
- Open Settings
- Select General
- Choose iPhone Storage (or iPad Storage)
- Choose iOS (or iPadOS)
You'll see how much storage Apple Intelligence is using. Note that even if Apple Intelligence is turned off, this storage may still be displayed. However, the system will automatically reclaim storage if the device needs more memory.
How to turn off Apple Intelligence completely
To turn off Apple Intelligence on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac:
- Open Settings (or System Settings on a Mac).
- Choose Apple Intelligence & Siri
- Turn off Apple Intelligence
- Confirm by selecting Turn Off Apple Intelligence
After turning it off, you will lose the following features:
- Writing Tools
- Summary of the announcement
- Visual Intelligence
- Genmoji
- Image Playground (the app is still there but cannot create images)
- Supports ChatGPT for Siri
- Image Wand in Notes
However, the Clean Up tool in the Photos app can still function even when Apple Intelligence is turned off.
How to turn off individual Apple Intelligence features
If you still want to keep some features, you can disable each feature individually in the settings of each app.
For example, to turn off message summaries:
- Open Settings
- Select Apps
- Select Messages
- Turn off Summarize Messages
Some features, like Writing Tools, aren't tied to specific apps but run system-wide. To disable them, you need to turn off Apple Intelligence completely.
Additionally, in the settings of most apps, you'll find the Apple Intelligence & Siri option with the "Learn from this App" setting. This option only determines whether the AI learns from how you use the app; it doesn't directly affect the AI's features.
Turn off Apple Intelligence via Screen Time
You can also restrict Apple Intelligence through Screen Time:
- Open Settings
- Select Screen Time
- Select Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions if they are not already enabled.
- Select Intelligence & Siri
Here, you can turn features on or off, such as:
- Image Creation (Image Playground, Genmoji)
- Writing Tools
- ChatGPT Extension
This method allows for more detailed control over what Apple Intelligence can do.
Should you turn off Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence is still under development. Some useful features, such as notification summaries or photo editing, might be worth keeping, but if you don't use them frequently, disabling Apple Intelligence can help your device run more smoothly.
Ultimately, whether to turn Apple Intelligence on or off depends on your needs. If you prefer a simpler experience and want to save storage space, turning off Apple Intelligence is a sensible option.
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