Apple released updates a few days ago iOS 18.3 iPadOS 18.3 and macOS Sequoia 15.3, one of the most important features of which is the activation of the “Apple IntelligenceAutomatically on supported devices. Whether you have an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or even all three, and regardless of your opinion of Apple’s smart feature, there’s one reason you might want to disable it ASAP if you’re not using it: to save storage space. It takes up a fair amount of storage space, but you may need it someday. If you have a lot of storage space and it’s convenient for you, there’s no need to disable it unless you absolutely have to, as we mentioned.

From iPhoneIslam.com, a colorful, glowing abstract shape on a black background that resembles a loop or an intertwined knot with a vibrant gradient effect - like the smooth flow of Apple's intelligence that optimizes storage.


What is Apple Intelligence?

From iPhoneIslam.com, a photo of several Apple iPhones standing in a row, each displaying different apps and screens. Above the phones is the text "Apple Intelligence," a reference to exciting news and innovations expected to come in December.

Apple has been heavily promoting Apple Intelligence since its announcement at WWDC in June 2024. It first launched on compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs in October with minor updates to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, followed by further updates in December that added more AI-powered features. With the latest update, some of the functionality has been significantly improved.

However, Apple's intelligence features are still in beta, and opinions vary on how useful they are at the moment. But for some, the deciding factor in evaluating these features may be how much storage space they consume. According to Apple's support page, Apple's intelligence features require 7 GB Of storage space on each device.


 Why is it taking up so much space?

From iPhoneIslam.com, The iPhone screen showcases Apple’s intelligence in visualizing storage usage. The vibrant bar chart displays categories such as Photos, Apps, System, Media, Messages, and more, highlighting different levels of consumption.

7GB may seem like a lot, but it’s how Apple allows users to enhance their privacy. Many of Apple’s AI features run locally on the device itself, not in the cloud, requiring AI models to be downloaded to it, which takes up space. That means if you have an iPhone, iPad, and Mac, the total space consumed on those devices is 21GB, even if you never use those features.

7GB isn’t a maximum. Apple is expected to release iOS 18.4 in April, which will bring significant improvements to Siri’s capabilities, which could increase storage requirements. And don’t forget that iOS 19, which will be released later this year, could also increase storage significantly. That means that over time, Apple’s smart features will require more space on the device.


How to disable Apple's intelligence?

After updating to iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, or macOS Sequoia 15.3, Apple Intelligence is automatically enabled. If you want to disable it, you can easily do so. If you disabled it in previous updates but allowed the latest update to re-enable it, you’ll need to disable it again. However, if you chose “Set Up Later” when the automatic message appears, you don’t need to do anything, as the feature will remain disabled. Here are the steps to disable Apple Intelligence:

◉ On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings, then Apple Intelligence & Siri, then turn off “Apple Intelligence.”

From iPhoneIslam.com, two screens of the smartphone show the settings. The left screen shows “Apple Intelligence & Siri,” while the right screen shows the “Apple Intelligence” button activated, showing off its capabilities without the need for an additional 7GB of storage.

◉ On a Mac: Open System Settings, choose Apple Intelligence & Siri from the side menu, and turn off Apple Intelligence at the top of the window.

From iPhoneIslam.com, a screenshot of Mac Settings showing the “Apple Intelligence & Siri” section. The toggle next to “Apple Intelligence” is on, and displays features like Johnson and Savings to improve efficiency.


What do you lose by disabling Apple's intelligence?

When the feature is disabled, the following functions and features will stop working:

◉ Create Genmoji.

◉ Image Playground feature to create images using artificial intelligence.

◉ Image Wand feature is a tool in the Apple Pencil for editing images.

◉ Writing tools to automatically improve texts.

◉ Clean up photos to remove unwanted elements from photos.

◉ Create memory movies.

◉ Natural language search in images.

◉ Notification summaries.

◉ Focus mode to reduce interruptions.

◉ Priority mail.

◉ Smart replies in mail and messages.

◉ Siri improvements: such as product recognition, better order processing, a more natural voice, and the ability to type for Siri.

◉ ChatGPT integration with Siri and writing tools.

◉ If you don't notice any of these features on your device, it's likely that your device doesn't support Apple Intelligence features, so don't worry about it.


Conclusion

If you need to free up storage space on your devices, disabling Apple Intelligence can now free up 7GB on each device. It’s up to you and your preferences, and you may need to free up that space one day, so you know how to free up space in an emergency, even if only temporarily.

Is Apple's smart feature worth all that precious space? Let us know in the comments below.

Source:

macrumors

Related articles