How to Disable or Restrict Apple Intelligence on Your iPhone

Apple has made artificial intelligence a much bigger part of the iPhone experience with Apple Intelligence and the newer Siri AI features in iOS 27. While these tools can help summarize notifications, assist with writing and provide smarter responses, not everyone wants AI involved in their everyday phone experience.

Fortunately, Apple gives users several ways to reduce or disable these features. You can turn off Apple Intelligence completely, switch away from Siri AI, or selectively disable individual AI-powered functions.

Here's how to take control of Apple Intelligence on your iPhone.

Why Would You Turn Off Apple Intelligence?

There are several reasons an iPhone owner might want to limit Apple's AI features.

Some users simply prefer the traditional iPhone experience. Others may not find AI summaries and suggestions useful, while privacy-conscious users may prefer to minimize the amount of information processed by AI-powered features.

Apple Intelligence is also increasingly integrated throughout iOS 27. Apple says its latest software introduces AI capabilities across Siri and several apps and experiences.

If you don't want these features, you don't necessarily have to stop using your iPhone normally.

How to Turn Off Apple Intelligence

If your iPhone supports Apple Intelligence, you can disable the main Apple Intelligence feature from Settings.

Go to:

Settings → Apple Intelligence & Siri → Apple Intelligence

Then switch Apple Intelligence off.

After disabling it, Apple's AI-powered features that depend on Apple Intelligence will no longer operate normally.

Keep in mind that the exact options can vary depending on your iOS version, device and region.

Apple Intelligence in iOS 27 is available on supported models including the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 or later, although availability can vary by language and region.

You Can Also Turn Off Siri AI

You don't necessarily have to disable every Apple Intelligence feature just to stop using the new Siri experience.

iOS 27 gives users options for controlling Siri. According to Apple's documentation, users can use Screen Time restrictions to allow Siri Classic Version instead of Siri AI, or block Siri entirely.

For the normal Siri settings, open:

Settings → Siri

From there, you can change how Siri works or turn Siri off entirely.

This is useful if you want a more traditional voice-assistant experience without the newer AI-powered Siri features.

Disable AI Notification Summaries

Apple Intelligence can summarize notifications so you can quickly understand what has arrived without opening every individual notification.

If you don't want these summaries, go to:

Settings → Notifications → Summarize Notifications

Then turn the feature off.

You can also disable Prioritize Notifications if you don't want iOS to use AI to determine which notifications should receive greater prominence.

Apple's support documentation confirms that notification summaries can be controlled independently from other Apple Intelligence features.

Turn Off AI Summaries in Messages

Apple Intelligence can summarize conversations and incoming messages.

If you would rather see your messages normally, open:

Settings → Apps → Messages

Then look for the available summarization option and disable it.

This doesn't disable Messages itself. It simply removes the AI-generated summary functionality.

Disable AI Features in Mail

Apple has also added AI-powered features to Mail.

For example, Apple Intelligence can summarize incoming messages and provide AI-generated suggestions.

To reduce these features, open:

Settings → Apps → Mail

You can disable options related to message summarization and AI-generated responses.

If you don't want Smart Replies, you can also disable the personalization feature associated with them.

Your normal email functions will continue to work.

Turn Off AI Voicemail Suggestions

iOS 27 also brings AI-powered capabilities to the Phone experience.

Apple Intelligence can analyze voicemail information and provide suggestions based on what was said.

If you don't want these suggestions, open:

Settings → Apps → Phone

Then disable the relevant Voicemail Suggestions option.

Your voicemail service will continue working; you're simply preventing iOS from generating additional AI-based suggestions from voicemail information.

Apple Intelligence Isn't an All-or-Nothing Experience

One important thing to understand is that Apple doesn't force users to choose between having every AI feature enabled or removing everything.

Many Apple Intelligence functions have their own controls.

For example, you can disable notification summaries while continuing to use other Apple Intelligence tools. Similarly, you can adjust Siri separately from other AI-powered features.

Apple's support documentation specifically provides controls for individual features such as message summaries, Mail summaries and notification summaries.

This gives users more flexibility over how much AI they want integrated into their iPhone.

What Happens When You Disable Apple Intelligence?

Turning off Apple Intelligence doesn't turn your iPhone into a basic phone.

Your normal apps and standard iOS functions continue working.

You'll still be able to:

• Make and receive calls
• Send messages
• Browse the web
• Use the Camera
• Use Maps
• Install apps
• Use normal Siri functionality where available
• Access standard iPhone settings
• Use non-AI features throughout iOS

The main difference is that Apple Intelligence-powered functions will be unavailable or restricted.

How to Restrict Apple Intelligence on a Child's iPhone

Apple also provides parental controls for Siri and Apple Intelligence.

On iOS 27, parents can use Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → Siri to control access.

Apple says users can choose between blocking Siri, allowing the classic Siri experience or allowing Siri AI. Individual Siri AI capabilities can also be allowed or blocked.

This could be useful for parents who want tighter control over AI features on a child's device.

Should You Disable Apple Intelligence?

Whether you should turn it off depends on how you use your iPhone.

Keep Apple Intelligence enabled if:

• You like AI-powered writing tools.
• You want notification summaries.
• You use Apple's newer Siri features.
• You find AI image and editing tools useful.
• You want smarter contextual assistance.

Consider disabling it if:

• You prefer a simpler iPhone experience.
• You don't use AI features.
• You dislike automated summaries.
• You prefer traditional Siri.
• You want greater control over which AI features are active.

There's no requirement to use every AI feature simply because your iPhone supports Apple Intelligence.

Final Thoughts

Apple Intelligence is becoming an increasingly important part of Apple's software ecosystem, especially with the introduction of the newer Siri AI experience in iOS 27.

However, Apple still gives users considerable control over these features. You can disable Apple Intelligence, switch away from Siri AI, turn off notification summaries or restrict individual AI functions.

For users who prefer a more traditional iPhone experience, spending a few minutes adjusting these settings can make iOS feel much less AI-focused—without giving up the rest of the iPhone's functionality.