Apple Intelligence can use up to 14 GB on some newer iPhones, iPads and Macs, and up to 8 GB on other supported models. If your device is nearly full, the important distinction is that switching off an AI feature is not the same as deleting its on-device models. Apple documents ways to clear other storage, but no button to remove those models.
How much space does Apple Intelligence need?
Apple’s figures are maximum requirements for iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate. The amount shown on your device can differ. Apple also says model storage may temporarily exceed the listed figure during and shortly after a software update while new models replace old ones.
| Device | Apple Intelligence storage (up to) |
|---|---|
| iPhone Duo, iPhone 17 Pro models and later, iPhone Air | 14 GB |
| iPad models with M4 or later and at least 12GB of unified memory | 14 GB |
| Mac models with M3 or later and at least 12GB of unified memory | 14 GB |
| Apple Vision Pro (M5) | 14 GB |
| Other Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro models | 8 GB |
| Apple Watch | 1.5 GB |
The 14 GB tier applies only to the models named above. For example, an M3 Mac without at least 12 GB of unified memory is not in that tier. Apple lists up to 1.5 GB for Apple Watch separately. These are storage requirements, not an estimate of how much space you will recover by changing a setting.
Check your free space first
On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings > General > iPhone Storage or iPad Storage. On a Mac, open System Settings > General > Storage. Look at the space available and the categories using the most storage. Apple does not document a dedicated Apple Intelligence entry on these screens, so do not expect to see an exact model size there.
If an update is due, leave room beyond the Apple Intelligence figure. The OS update and temporary model downloads also need space. Back up your device before clearing large libraries or installing the update. For Mac users, our Time Machine backup guide walks through that step.
Can you delete the Apple Intelligence models?
Apple does not provide a documented control to uninstall the models. Turning off Siri AI, summaries or another feature changes what that feature does; Apple does not say it removes the associated model files or returns a set amount of storage. Avoid cleaner apps that promise to delete operating system components.
If you want a feature off, use its own setting. For example, Apple’s iOS 27 guide places Siri controls under Settings > Siri. You can turn Siri off there or choose Siri Classic where offered. Other Apple Intelligence controls are spread across the apps that use them. This is about feature preference, not a dependable way to free gigabytes.
How to make room on iPhone and iPad
- In Settings > General > iPhone Storage or iPad Storage, review Apple’s recommendations before deleting anything.
- Tap a large app and choose Offload App if you want to remove the app while keeping its documents and data. Choose Delete App only if you no longer need its data.
- Remove downloaded videos, music and podcasts you can fetch again. Check large Messages attachments and the Photos library if those categories dominate the chart.
- If you use iCloud Photos, Optimize iPhone Storage can keep smaller copies on the device while full-resolution originals stay in iCloud. Make sure your library has finished syncing before relying on this.
These steps free ordinary storage. They do not shrink Apple Intelligence itself. Check the Storage screen again after cleanup and again after the update, because temporary files may take time to clear.
How to make room on Mac
- Open System Settings > General > Storage and review the recommendations and largest categories.
- Clear downloads and media you can download again, then empty the Trash. Moving a file to the Trash alone does not reclaim its space.
- Move a large Photos or video library to an external drive only after making a backup and following Apple’s library instructions.
- Remove apps or old device backups you no longer need. Check what each item is before deleting it.
If you are preparing for a macOS update, a current Time Machine backup is more useful than rushing to remove files. Once the backup is complete, free space and install the update with your Mac connected to power.
The practical answer
Treat Apple’s 8 GB and 14 GB figures as storage to plan around on eligible devices. You can turn individual AI features off, but Apple does not document that as a way to reclaim the models’ space. Check your device’s available storage, clear the categories you control and leave extra room before a major update.
