How to Turn Off Apple Intelligence on iPhone, iPad and Mac
On iOS 26 there's one switch. On iOS 27 the master toggle is reportedly gone, so you turn features off one by one. Here's where each control lives.
On iOS 26 and earlier, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and switch off Apple Intelligence; this also deletes the on-device models and frees several gigabytes. On iOS 27, multiple guides report that the single master switch is gone, so you turn features off individually, and Screen Time is the most complete way to do it.
Below are the steps for each version, the per-feature switches, and which devices get Apple Intelligence in the first place.
Which devices have Apple Intelligence?
Apple Intelligence only runs on newer hardware. If your device isn’t on this list, there’s nothing to turn off.
| Device | Models that support Apple Intelligence |
|---|---|
| iPhone | iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, all iPhone 16 models (including 16e), all iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air |
| iPad | iPads with an M1 chip or later, and iPad mini with A17 Pro |
| Mac | Macs with an M1 chip or later |
Availability also depends on your device and Siri language and your region. Some of the newest Siri features announced for iOS 27 are reported to need more recent chips and more memory than the list above.
How to turn off Apple Intelligence on iOS 26 or earlier
- Open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- Switch off Apple Intelligence and confirm.
Turning it off removes the on-device models. Apple’s requirement for iOS 26 was 7 GB of free space per device, so you’ll typically get several gigabytes back. If you turn it on again later, the models download again. On iPad the path is the same.
What changed in iOS 27
iOS 27 was released in mid-September 2026. Several independent guides and user reports say the one-tap master switch that existed in earlier versions is no longer there, and that Apple Intelligence becomes available automatically after updating in supported languages and regions. Turning off Siri doesn’t switch off the rest of Apple Intelligence either. If your device still shows the master toggle, use it; otherwise, use the methods below.
Reports also put the iOS 27 storage requirement at up to about 8 GB on most supported iPhones and up to about 14 GB on the newest models. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage before you update if space is tight; our guide to freeing up iPhone storage can help.
Turn off features with Screen Time (iOS 27, also works on iOS 26)
Screen Time’s restrictions are the closest thing to a full off switch, and they also work for a child’s device.
- Open Settings > Screen Time and turn it on if needed.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and switch it on.
- Tap Intelligence & Siri.
- Set Writing Tools, Image Creation and Intelligence Extensions (which covers third-party models such as ChatGPT) to Don’t Allow.
Set a Screen Time passcode if you want the settings locked. Menu labels have changed between releases, so look for the closest match.
Per-feature switches (any version)
If you like some Apple Intelligence features but not others, turn off just the ones that bother you.
| Feature | Where to turn it off |
|---|---|
| Notification summaries | Settings > Notifications > Summarize Notifications |
| Mail summaries in the inbox | Settings > Apps > Mail > Summarize Message Previews |
| Messages summaries | Settings > Apps > Messages > Summarize Messages |
| ChatGPT and other extensions | Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > ChatGPT (or Extensions), then turn it off |
| Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji | Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Intelligence & Siri |
Exact labels have shifted between iOS releases, so if a path doesn’t match, search for the feature name in the Settings search bar. Notification summaries are the feature most people disable first, because a summary can misstate what a message actually says. You can also keep summaries on but exclude specific apps from the same screen.
How to turn off Apple Intelligence on a Mac
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- Switch off Apple Intelligence, if the switch is shown. If not, use System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy to restrict the features, as on iPhone.
Each device is set separately. Turning it off on your iPhone doesn’t affect your Mac or iPad.
Is Apple Intelligence a privacy risk?
Apple says most requests are handled on the device, and larger ones go to its Private Cloud Compute servers, which it says don’t keep your data. The ChatGPT extension is different: requests you choose to send to ChatGPT go to OpenAI, subject to its policies. If privacy is your main concern, turning off the ChatGPT extension matters more than disabling on-device features. Apple’s overview is on its Apple Intelligence page.
Bottom line
On iOS 26 and earlier, one switch in Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri does the job and frees storage. On iOS 27, use Screen Time restrictions plus the per-app summary switches. While you’re in Settings, our list of iPhone settings worth changing covers the rest.
FAQ
Does turning off Siri turn off Apple Intelligence?
No. Siri and Apple Intelligence share a settings screen, but turning off Siri leaves features like Writing Tools, summaries and Image Playground available.
Will an iOS update turn Apple Intelligence back on?
It can. Some past updates switched it back on for users who had disabled it, and iOS 27 makes it available by default. Check your settings after each major update.
Does Apple Intelligence work offline?
Many features run on the device itself, but larger requests use Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers, and the ChatGPT extension always needs an internet connection.
How much storage will I get back?
It depends on the version and device. Apple listed 7 GB of required free space for iOS 26, and reports suggest up to 8–14 GB for iOS 27, so expect several gigabytes where full removal is possible.
