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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Apple does not document a supported control for removing Apple Intelligence model files in macOS 27. You can check how much space they occupy in System Settings. Two workarounds have been reported: a manual deletion from macOS Recovery that AppleInsider tested on one Mac, and RemoveMacAI, an open-source third-party project. Neither is an Apple procedure, and both remove features you may rely on. Measure first, understand what you would lose, and only then decide whether a workaround is worth the risk.
Measure before you change anything
Apple’s documented route for checking storage is Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage. The categories you see depend on the apps and files on your Mac, so an Apple Intelligence entry may or may not appear.
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- Open Apple menu > System Settings > General > Storage.
- If an Apple Intelligence entry is listed, note its size.
- Note the available storage figure separately. Do not add it to the category size.
- Check the macOS and System Data categories as well. Apple describes macOS as covering macOS system applications and files, and System Data as covering logs, caches, virtual-memory files, temporary files, fonts, app support files, and plug-ins. Apple says the contents of System Data are managed by macOS and change with the Mac’s state, so you cannot clear them by hand in a meaningful way.
This is a measurement step. Apple’s storage guidance does not describe removing Apple Intelligence models, and nothing in it means that Storage’s generic cleanup suggestions authorize deleting protected system assets.
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Why the category size and free space disagree
Storage reports two different things. The category size shows what macOS attributes to a group of files. Available space shows what you can use right now, and Apple notes that it can include purgeable caches. The same bytes can therefore be counted as both available and used, so a drop in one figure does not translate directly into an equal gain in the other.
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The table below shows the figures AppleInsider recorded on its test Mac. They are one machine’s results, not a benchmark.
| Measurement | Value in AppleInsider’s test | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Intelligence category, before deletion | 27.59 GB | Storage category size reported before the change |
| Apple Intelligence category, after deletion | 3.07 GB | Storage category size reported after the change |
| Category decrease | 24.52 GB (calculated from the two readings above) | Not the same as the free-space gain |
GenerativeModels folder removed |
23 GB | Size of the single folder deleted in that test |
| Increase in available space | About 14 GB | Change in available storage, reported separately from the category |
AppleInsider attributes a separate figure to Apple: Apple Intelligence requires up to 14 GB of storage on Macs with an M3 or later chip and at least 12 GB of unified memory, and up to 8 GB on other compatible Macs. This is a required-storage figure, as AppleInsider reports Apple’s wording. It is not a measure of what any individual Mac can recover.
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What removing the models takes away
Removing the models turns off the features that depend on them. MacRumors’ October 6, 2026 report lists the following as becoming unavailable:
- Siri-related AI features
- Writing Tools
- Genmoji
- Image Playground
- ChatGPT integration
- Summaries and smart replies
- Inline predictions
- Photos Clean Up and Spatial Photos
- Xcode predictive completion
RemoveMacAI’s project documentation adds that apps built on Apple’s on-device Foundation Models stop working, along with the Shortcuts “Use Model” action, Visual Intelligence, and natural-language editing in Calendar. If you use any of these regularly, removal is a real trade-off rather than a cleanup step.
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- FAST RUNS IN THE FAMILY — The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro or M5 Max chip brings next-generation speed and powerful on-device AI to personal, professional, and creative tasks. With all-day battery life, double the starting storage,* and a breathtaking Liquid Retina XDR display, it’s pro in every way.*
- BUCKLE UP — Along with a next-generation CPU, faster unified memory, and up to 2x faster SSD storage,* M5 Pro and M5 Max feature a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance and on-device training capabilities. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
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- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.*
- MACOS RUNS APPS FAST — All your go-to apps run lightning fast in macOS, including built-in apps like FaceTime and Messages. Plus, built-in virus protection and free software updates help keep your Mac running smoothly and securely.
Option 1: Manual deletion from Recovery (reported, not Apple-documented)
AppleInsider published its account on September 24, 2026. It describes a procedure that removes one folder from the Data volume while the Mac is in Recovery. The article states that the procedure is not documented by Apple and reports one successful test. It is not an Apple-approved support workflow.
Before you start
- Make a complete backup of the Mac. The procedure touches the system’s data volume, and a mistake can cause data loss.
- Be comfortable working in Recovery, and do not follow the steps if you cannot confirm each one.
- Expect that the outcome may differ on your Mac, language settings, or macOS build.
Procedure as reported
- Enter macOS Recovery, then mount or unlock the Data volume.
- Check the volume’s actual mount name. Do not assume the default name.
- Confirm that the
AssetsV2directory is present where expected. - Remove only the folder
com_apple_MobileAsset_UAF_FM_GenerativeModels. Do not use a wildcard, and do not deleteVisual,Overrides, ordownloadDir. - Restart the Mac and recheck Storage.
AppleInsider warns that a wrong path can cause damage. If any folder name or path differs from what you see, stop.
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- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
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Limits of the reported test
- It is one publication’s test on one Mac. The Mac started normally afterward, but that does not show every configuration is safe.
- One successful removal and restart do not prove that the models will stay removed.
- A beta tester reported that the models were downloaded again. That is a tester’s observation, not an Apple statement, and it is not a verified persistence control.
- Low Data Mode was discussed in the report. It is set per network and may affect unrelated background transfers, so it should not be treated as a guaranteed block.
Option 2: RemoveMacAI (third-party project)
RemoveMacAI is an open-source project that offers a native app and a command-line tool. Its README says it removes the Apple Intelligence models through Apple’s asset service. It also says it installs a configuration profile that directs model download requests to a closed local port, keeps System Integrity Protection (SIP) enabled, does not modify anything under /System, and can undo its changes. These are the project’s claims. They are not Apple endorsements, and they have not been independently verified.
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- Apple silicon Mac
- macOS 27
- The README reports testing on macOS 27.0. It says macOS 27.0.1 requires version 0.2.3 or later.
Version requirements for third-party tools change. Check the project’s README before you install anything, and read its undo instructions before you start.
Best Value
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- HAPPILY EVER FASTER — Along with its faster CPU and unified memory, M5 features a more powerful GPU with a Neural Accelerator built into each core, delivering faster AI performance. So you can blaze through demanding workloads at mind-bending speeds.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- ALL-DAY BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Pro delivers the same exceptional performance whether it’s running on battery or plugged in.
- APPS FLY WITH APPLE SILICON — All your favorites, including Microsoft 365 and Adobe Creative Cloud, run lightning fast in macOS.*
Reported results and known behavior
MacRumors, reporting on October 6, 2026, described RemoveMacAI as an unaffiliated open-source command-line utility and cited storage reclamation of 12 GB or more. That is a reported figure, not a guarantee for your Mac. The project’s FAQ also says that Storage can keep listing Apple Intelligence until macOS deletes the files on its own schedule, so the category may not drop immediately.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Comparing the options
| Factor | Apple Storage view | Manual Recovery deletion | RemoveMacAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Documented by Apple | Yes for storage categories; no for model removal | No; AppleInsider states it is not Apple-documented | No; the project says it uses Apple’s asset service |
| SIP status | Not applicable | Not stated; the report does not say SIP must be disabled | Stays enabled, per the README |
| Reversibility | Not applicable | Not stated in the report | Project says changes can be undone |
| Feature impact | None from viewing | Features listed above become unavailable | Features listed above, plus the project’s additional list |
| Measured result | Category and available-space readings | One Mac: 23 GB folder, about 14 GB available-space increase | Reported 12 GB or more (MacRumors); not guaranteed |
| Main risk | None from viewing | Wrong path can cause data damage; evidence is one test | Third-party trust, version changes, delayed storage reporting |
Why the models may return or still appear
- Storage reporting can lag behind the actual deletion.
- One successful test does not show persistence across every Mac, network, language, or macOS update. The sources do not establish that the models stay removed after future updates.
- Reconnecting to a network may trigger a redownload, as one beta tester reported. Treat that as an observation, not a guarantee in either direction.
What does not remove the models
- Turning Siri off or changing Siri’s language. AppleInsider says these actions do not establish removal of downloaded files.
- Using generic delete suggestions in Storage. Apple’s documentation does not describe them as a route to model removal.
- Adding external storage. It adds capacity but does not remove models or reclaim internal storage.
- Disabling SIP. Neither the reported manual method nor the RemoveMacAI README says it is required, and you should not disable it for this task.
Developer caches are a separate matter
Apple’s developer documentation covers Core AI model specialization and app-managed caches. It says specialized assets may be invalidated after an OS update or a change to the source model, and that storage pressure can allow macOS to remove purgeable cached assets. This applies to apps that manage their own Core AI assets. It does not document controls for the consumer Apple Intelligence models, and it does not validate either removal method above.
Choosing a path
- If you only want to know what is using space, stop at Storage and read the two figures separately.
- If you use Writing Tools, Visual Intelligence, Image Playground, or other listed features, do not remove the models.
- If you are willing to follow a Recovery procedure carefully, have a full backup, and accept that it is a reported, single-test method, the manual route is the option with no third-party software.
- If you prefer a tool whose README describes SIP staying enabled and reversible changes, evaluate RemoveMacAI, confirm its version requirements against your macOS build, and read its feature notes before installing.
Whichever you choose, expect a smaller storage gain than the folder size suggests, and verify the result in Storage afterward.
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