How much storage does Apple Intelligence use on a Mac?
By Vishva Variya · Updated · 4 min read
Short answer
Apple Intelligence downloads its on-device models in the background: Apple says they take up to 14 GB on Macs with M3 or later and at least 12 GB of memory, and up to 8 GB on other supported Macs. The models don’t appear in Finder; Storage settings count them as System Data. You can turn the features off in System Settings › Apple Intelligence & Siri, but macOS manages the model files itself, so the space doesn’t reliably come back on its own.
Where are the Apple Intelligence models stored?
In system asset folders that macOS manages, outside your home folder. Finder doesn’t show them and you can’t drag them to the Trash. In System Settings › General › Storage they are part of System Data, which is why that figure can jump by several gigabytes after you turn Apple Intelligence on or update macOS.
How do I turn Apple Intelligence off?
- 1Open System Settings › Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- 2Turn off Apple Intelligence.
- 3Restart, then check System Settings › General › Storage after a few minutes.
This turns off Writing Tools, Image Playground, Genmoji, notification summaries and the other features that need the models. Whether macOS then deletes the downloaded models, and when, is up to macOS.
Should I remove them?
- Yes, if the disk is nearly full and you don’t use Writing Tools, summaries or image generation.
- No, if you use those features: they stop working, and turning them back on downloads the models again.
- Check the rest of System Data first. Old iPhone backups, Time Machine local snapshots and Xcode data are often larger.
Seeing and removing the models with Peekaboo
Peekaboo’s Disk Usage page shows the Apple Intelligence models next to the rest of System Data, at the size Apple itself reports. On macOS 27 with Apple silicon it can also remove them: System Settings asks you to approve a profile that turns the features off and stops macOS downloading the models again, then Peekaboo releases each model set and measures what came back. It’s permanent, so it’s only offered once you turn on permanent removal in Settings › Cleanup. To undo it, remove the profile in System Settings › General › Device Management and turn Apple Intelligence back on.
- 1Open Disk Usage and find Apple Intelligence under System Data.⇧⌘U
- 2Choose to remove them, then install the profile System Settings shows you.
- 3Peekaboo removes the models and shows how much space it freed.
Questions
Why did System Data grow after a macOS update?
- Updates can download or refresh Apple Intelligence models; Apple notes their storage use may temporarily exceed the usual figure during and shortly after a software update. Leftover update files also sit in System Data until macOS clears them. Restart and give it a day before assuming something is wrong.
Can I delete the Apple Intelligence models from Finder?
- No. They live in folders macOS protects, and Finder doesn’t show them. Turning the features off, or a tool that asks macOS to release them, is the way.
Will turning off Apple Intelligence affect Siri?
- Siri keeps working. The features built on the on-device models, such as Writing Tools, summaries and Image Playground, stop.