Apple’s New AI Features Are Eating Up 16GB of iPhone Storage

Some iPhone users are noticing that Apple's latest iOS 27 update is consuming a significant amount of storage due to the new Apple Intelligence features. User reports indicate that these AI-driven functionalities are using approximately 15GB of internal storage, with figures ranging from 9GB to 16GB. The issue is particularly concerning for those with iPhones equipped with 128GB of storage, as the operating system and AI features can occupy a substantial portion of the available space.

Certain users have also encountered difficulties accessing specific Apple Intelligence functions in their regions, leading to further concerns about storage usage.

Apple integrated substantial enhancements to Apple Intelligence with the iOS 27 update, incorporating more sophisticated AI capabilities and a refreshed Siri. However, these advanced features necessitate storage space on the iPhone to store AI models that operate directly on the device. Apple's official support documentation states that the new Apple Intelligence can require up to 14GB on certain supported devices, while other compatible models may necessitate up to 8GB.

Additionally, the company notes that storage usage may temporarily rise during or shortly after an update as new AI models are downloaded and older ones are discarded.

Despite these explanations, some users are observing even higher figures, with Apple Intelligence taking up as much as 16GB of storage. The problem becomes more pronounced on iPhones with limited storage capacity. For instance, some iPhone 16 users with 128GB models have reported that iOS, Apple Intelligence, and reserved system storage together consume around 30% of their device's capacity.

Efforts to remove Apple Intelligence and free up storage by disabling these features have proven largely ineffective, as reports suggest that simply turning off these functions does not always immediately erase the downloaded AI files. Some users have contemplated altering their Apple Account region to reclaim space, but this approach can introduce additional complications, as users may need to cancel subscriptions or use up their remaining account balance before switching regions.

Fortunately, a simpler workaround has emerged, which does not require modifying Apple Account settings. This involves changing Siri's language, which appears to reduce the storage occupied by Apple Intelligence. Users who have switched Siri from US or UK English to other English variants, such as Canadian, Irish, South African, or New Zealand English, have reported a significant decrease in storage usage.

To implement this solution, navigate to Settings, select Apple Intelligence & Siri, and choose a different English variant. Restarting the iPhone afterward may alleviate the storage issue, although its effectiveness may vary across different iPhones and iOS versions.

It is important to note that changing Siri's language might temporarily disable some Apple Intelligence features, particularly when the Siri language no longer aligns with the device language. Those who heavily rely on Apple's AI functionalities should weigh this consideration before making any adjustments. As of now, Apple has not released a specific software fix for the elevated storage figures reported by some iOS 27 users.

However, the company's official documentation confirms that Apple Intelligence requires substantial local storage and that usage can increase temporarily following software updates.

Users can monitor the amount of space Apple Intelligence occupies by accessing Settings, selecting General, and tapping on iPhone Storage. For the time being, adjusting Siri's language may prove beneficial for some users in reclaiming storage, albeit at the potential expense of certain AI features. It remains uncertain whether Apple will introduce additional controls to assist users in managing the storage occupied by downloaded AI models.