Apple Intelligence Eating Up Your iPhone Storage? Here’s How to Turn It Off

[justseyi]

If your iPhone or iPad is running low on storage, Apple Intelligence might be the culprit. This feature, introduced in iOS 18.1 and expanded in 18.2, now requires at least 7GB of free space for its AI tools like text summaries, Image Playground, and Genmoji. But if you’re not a fan of AI or simply need to free up space, turning it off is easy.

• Now Is the Time to Change These 8 iPhone Settings in iOS 18.2

What Is Apple Intelligence, and Why Does It Need So Much Storage?

Apple Intelligence processes features like image editing and text summaries on your device, which requires space for AI libraries, caches, and temporary files. While these tools can be handy, a recent SellCell survey found that 73% of Apple users see little to no value in AI features, making disabling them a viable option for many.

Devices That Support Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence is available on:

• iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro
• M-series Macs
• Latest iPad models (including the iPad mini)

How to Turn Off Apple Intelligence Completely

Follow these steps to disable Apple Intelligence on iPhone, iPad, or Mac:

1. Go to Settings (or System Settings on Mac).
2. Select Apple Intelligence & Siri.
3. Toggle Apple Intelligence off.
4. Confirm by tapping Turn Off Apple Intelligence in the dialog box.

Turning it off will disable:

• Writing tools
• Notification summaries
• Visual Intelligence (iPhone 16, 16 Pro)
• Genmoji
• Image Playground (you can’t create new images)
• ChatGPT support for Siri
• Image Wand in Notes

(Note: Some features, like the Clean Up tool in Photos, remain functional even after disabling Apple Intelligence.)

How to Turn Off Specific Apple Intelligence Features

If you find certain features helpful while others are unnecessary, you can disable them individually:

• To turn off text summaries in notifications:
  • Go to Settings > Apps > Messages.
  • Toggle off Summarize Messages.
• For app-specific learning:
  • Go to the app’s settings under Apple Intelligence & Siri and turn off Learn from this App.

How to Check Apple Intelligence Storage Usage

To see how much storage Apple Intelligence is using:

1. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
2. Tap iOS to view the storage breakdown.

Unfortunately, turning off Apple Intelligence doesn’t free up the storage it has already used, based on user testing.

If you’re not ready to fully embrace Apple’s evolving AI features, these steps can help you reclaim some control over your device while making room for what truly matters to you.

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