With the latest iOS 18.3 update, Apple Intelligence automatically activates on iPhones, iPads, and Macs during the update process. While this AI-powered feature offers various capabilities, some users may prefer to disable it - especially considering it uses around 7GB of storage space per device.
Quick Steps to Disable Apple Intelligence
On iPhone and iPad:
- Open Settings
- Navigate to "Apple Intelligence & Siri"
- Toggle off Apple Intelligence
On Mac:
- Open System Settings
- Select "Apple Intelligence & Siri"
- Disable Apple Intelligence
What Gets Disabled?
When you turn off Apple Intelligence, these features become unavailable:
- Image Playground and Visual Intelligence
- Genmoji
- Writing Tools with ChatGPT integration
- Smart photo features (Clean Up, Memory movies)
- AI-powered notification summaries
- Intelligent email and message features
- Safari web article summaries
- Enhanced Siri capabilities
Device Compatibility
Apple Intelligence works on:
- iPhone 15 Pro models
- iPhone 16 lineup
- iPads with Apple silicon (M1-M4)
- Macs with Apple silicon (M1-M4)
Storage Benefits
By turning off Apple Intelligence, users can recover approximately:
- 7GB on iPhone
- 7GB on iPad
- 7GB on Mac
For users with multiple Apple devices, disabling this feature could free up substantial storage space - up to 21GB across three devices.
Setup Tip
During device setup or updates, selecting "Set Up Later" when prompted about Apple Intelligence prevents automatic activation. This option gives users more control over their device's AI features and storage usage.