How to Turn Off Apple Intelligence

Apple Intelligence is Apple’s built-in AI on recent iPhones (iOS 26): writing tools, notification summaries, a smarter Siri, and a ChatGPT connection. If it is getting in your way, using battery, or you simply did not ask for it, you can switch it off completely or trim it down to taste. Here is how, with the exact path for each setting.

Can you turn off Apple Intelligence?

Yes, fully, which is not true of every built-in AI. Apple puts a single switch in Settings that turns the whole thing off, and you can turn it back on anytime. You can also keep it on and disable only specific features. The table shows the fast paths, and the steps below walk through each one.

How do I turn off Apple Intelligence completely?

• Open Settings.
• Scroll down and tap Apple Intelligence & Siri.
• Toggle Apple Intelligence off.
• Tap Turn Off to confirm.

That switches off writing tools, summaries, and the rest in one move. Your iPhone keeps working normally, and classic Siri still answers questions and sets timers. You are only turning off the newer AI features layered on top.

How do I turn off just the annoying parts?

If you like some of it, keep Apple Intelligence on and switch off only the features you do not want:

• Message and Mail summaries: Settings > Apps > Messages or Mail, then turn off Summarize.
• Type to Siri: Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Talk & Type to Siri, then turn off Type to Siri.
• Writing Tools: lock it off in Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Intelligence & Siri > Writing Tools > Don’t Allow.

The Screen Time route is handy because it keeps a feature off even after a software update tries to switch it back on.

How do I stop notification summaries?

The AI summaries that rewrite your notifications are the feature people most often want gone, because a wrong summary is worse than none:

• Open Settings.
• Tap Notifications.
• Tap Prioritize Notifications.
• Turn the toggle off.

Your notifications go back to showing the real text instead of an AI guess at it.

How do I turn off ChatGPT in Siri?

Apple Intelligence can hand certain questions to ChatGPT. To stop that while keeping everything else:

• Open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri.
• Tap ChatGPT.
• Turn off Use ChatGPT.

Now Siri answers on its own and will not pass anything to ChatGPT without you asking.

Should you turn off Apple Intelligence?

It depends on what you use. The notification summaries are the weakest part and worth turning off for most people. Writing Tools and a smarter Siri are more useful, so you might keep those. If battery or storage is tight, switching the whole thing off helps a little. And if you want AI you actually control, a dedicated app like Claude gives you more than the built-in version. For the bigger picture on where Apple is headed, see our look at Apple’s AI strategy, and our roundup of the best AI tools for beginners if you want options.

Common questions about turning off Apple Intelligence

Does turning off Apple Intelligence disable Siri?

No. Siri keeps working as before. You are only turning off the newer AI features layered on top, like writing tools and summaries.

Will turning it off free up storage?

Some. Apple Intelligence downloads on-device models, so switching it off can free a bit of space. The main benefit, though, is fewer AI features you did not want.

Does Apple Intelligence drain battery?

It can use a little extra power for on-device processing. If battery life matters to you, turning it off or trimming features may help slightly.

Can I turn Apple Intelligence back on later?

Yes. Go back to Settings, tap Apple Intelligence & Siri, and toggle it on. You can switch it on and off as often as you like.

Sources

• Apple Support: Block access to Apple Intelligence features in Screen Time
• AppleInsider: How to turn off Apple Intelligence and keep it off

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