To turn on Apple Intelligence, first check your exact iPhone model in Settings > General > About. Apple’s current requirements for iOS 27 include iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 models or later. Standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are not on the current compatibility list. On an eligible phone, install the required iOS release, then open Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri and choose Turn on Apple Intelligence (the wording can vary by iOS version or previous setup).
After activation, the iPhone downloads on-device Apple Intelligence models. Leave adequate free storage available and keep the phone connected to Wi-Fi and power until the download finishes.
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Which iPhones support Apple Intelligence?
Apple’s current compatibility requirements for Apple Intelligence on iOS 27 are limited to the following model groups:
| iPhone model group | Apple Intelligence status | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 Pro | Supported | Must be running the required iOS 27 release, with matching supported language settings and an eligible region. |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | Supported | Must be running the required iOS 27 release, with matching supported language settings and an eligible region. |
| iPhone 16 models or later | Supported | Install the current required iOS release and satisfy the language, storage and region conditions. |
| iPhone 15 | Not included in Apple’s current list | A settings change cannot add compatibility to this model. |
| iPhone 15 Plus | Not included in Apple’s current list | A settings change cannot add compatibility to this model. |
| Other older models | Not included in the current list | Check the exact model name rather than relying on the phone’s purchase date or appearance. |
The distinction is based on the hardware generation and chip capabilities Apple requires, not simply on whether a phone can install a particular iOS version. An unsupported iPhone cannot become compatible through a toggle, a language change or a software reinstall.
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Check your exact iPhone model before changing settings
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap About.
- Read the value beside Model Name.
Use the complete model name shown there when comparing your phone with Apple’s current list. “iPhone 15” and “iPhone 15 Pro” are different entries, and the standard iPhone 15 does not qualify even though it belongs to the same numbered generation as the supported Pro models.
If the model name is unclear, do not proceed by guessing from the case, camera layout or purchase year. The About screen is the reliable place to identify the device that iOS evaluates.
Requirements to meet before Apple Intelligence appears
Install the required iOS release
The current system requirement in Apple’s 2026 support information is iOS 27. On an eligible model, open Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest release offered for that iPhone. Keep the phone connected to power during a major update and make sure it has enough free space for both the update and the later model download.
Apple states that the next generation of Apple Intelligence is automatically available on eligible devices when they update to the 27.0 software releases across iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS and visionOS, provided the language and region are supported. “Automatically available” means the capability is supplied by the software update; you may still need to accept the on-device setup prompt or use the Apple Intelligence & Siri settings page to start the model download.
Leave room for the on-device models
Apple’s current guidance allows the downloaded Apple Intelligence models to use up to 8 GB on other supported iPhone models and up to 14 GB on certain newer, higher-memory models. These are maximum figures from Apple’s support information, not a promise that every phone will consume exactly that amount.
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- This product will have a battery which exceeds 90% capacity relative to new.
- Accessories will not be original, but will be compatible and fully functional. Product may come in generic Box.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 365 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
Check available capacity in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If space is tight, remove or offload items you can restore later, such as downloaded videos, duplicate photos or unused apps. Avoid deleting irreplaceable data just to make the feature appear; create a backup first and use the storage recommendations shown by iOS.
Match the device and Siri languages
The iPhone’s device language and Siri language must match one another and be set to a language Apple supports for Apple Intelligence. Apple’s current list includes:
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- English
- Danish
- Dutch
- French
- German
- Italian
- Norwegian
- Portuguese
- Spanish
- Swedish
- Turkish
- Vietnamese
- Simplified Chinese
- Traditional Chinese
- Japanese
- Korean
To inspect the settings, use Settings > General > Language & Region for the iPhone language and Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Language for Siri. The labels can differ slightly by release, but the two language choices need to agree. If you change them, iOS may need to download language resources before Apple Intelligence can finish configuring.
Check region and Apple Account conditions
Apple Intelligence availability varies by language and region. Apple says the features continue to work when you travel, but China mainland has specific current restrictions tied to where the device was purchased and to the region associated with the Apple Account. A phone that meets the hardware and software requirements can therefore still lack access in a particular regional configuration.
If you are in China mainland or recently changed your Apple Account region, treat those conditions as a possible cause of a missing setting rather than repeatedly reinstalling iOS. For other regions, confirm that the selected language is one Apple currently supports and that the device is not using a configuration that limits feature availability.
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- This product will have a battery which exceeds 90% capacity relative to new.
- Accessories will not be original, but will be compatible and fully functional. Product may come in generic Box.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 365 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
How to turn on Apple Intelligence on an eligible iPhone
- Identify the model. Go to Settings > General > About and compare the Model Name with the supported list above.
- Update iOS. Open Settings > General > Software Update and install the current required release. For the current generation, that means iOS 27.
- Verify language matching. Confirm that the device language and Siri language are identical and belong to Apple’s supported-language list.
- Prepare storage and a connection. Free enough space for the on-device models, connect to a reliable Wi-Fi network and plug the iPhone into power.
- Open the control panel. Go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- Start setup. Tap Turn on Apple Intelligence when that control is shown. On some iOS versions or phones that have already been configured, the page may show a different activation state instead of that exact wording.
- Wait for the model download. Keep Wi-Fi and power connected while iOS downloads and installs the on-device models. Interrupting the connection can delay completion even after the switch has been enabled.
- Reopen the page after installation. Return to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri to confirm that setup has completed and to review the controls available on that release.
The first download can take longer than the settings change itself because the phone is installing local model files. A toggle that changes immediately does not necessarily mean every model has finished downloading.
Why you might not see “Apple Intelligence & Siri” in Settings
A missing menu is usually a qualification problem rather than a hidden switch. Work through the checks in this order so that each test eliminates a different cause.
1. The iPhone model is not eligible
Return to Settings > General > About and read Model Name. If it is an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus or another model outside Apple’s current list, the Apple Intelligence & Siri page will not become available through a setting. Hardware compatibility cannot be added by updating iOS.
2. The software is below the required release
Open Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is offered, install it, restart if iOS requests a restart, and then check Settings again. The current requirement is iOS 27; an earlier release may not expose the current Apple Intelligence controls.
3. Device and Siri languages do not match
Check both language locations rather than checking only the keyboard language. The device language and Siri language must be the same supported language. For example, selecting a supported device language while Siri remains set to a different language can prevent the feature from appearing.
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- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length. There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
- This product will have a battery which exceeds 90% capacity relative to new.
- Accessories will not be original, but will be compatible and fully functional. Product may come in generic Box.
- This product is eligible for a replacement or refund within 365 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.
4. Storage is too low for the local models
Inspect Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Apple’s current guidance allows up to 8 GB on other supported iPhones and up to 14 GB on certain newer high-memory models. If the phone is nearly full, free space, restart the iPhone and revisit Apple Intelligence & Siri.
5. The model download has not completed
When the feature is enabled but not fully ready, connect to Wi-Fi and power and leave the phone idle long enough for the local files to download. A weak or metered connection, low battery or an interrupted update can postpone the process. Recheck the settings page after the connection has been stable.
6. Region or Apple Account conditions apply
Feature availability differs by region and language. If the phone was purchased in, is being used in, or is associated with an Apple Account tied to China mainland, review Apple’s current restrictions for that combination. Apple specifically links China mainland availability to device purchase location and Apple Account region.
7. The requirement changed with a newer release
Apple can adjust availability by software release, language and region. Use the requirements shown for the iOS version installed on your phone, not an older screenshot or an instruction written for an earlier release. If every hardware, software, language, storage and regional condition is satisfied and the menu is still absent, Apple’s current support guidance is the appropriate next source for a release-specific explanation.
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Supported and unsupported iPhones: what changes in practice?
| Check | Supported iPhone | Unsupported iPhone |
|---|---|---|
| Model generation and chip eligibility | iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or an iPhone 16 model or later | Any model outside Apple’s current compatibility list, including standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus |
| Installed software | Can install the required iOS 27 release and meet its feature requirements | Installing iOS does not add Apple Intelligence hardware compatibility |
| Storage | Needs room for downloaded on-device models: up to 8 GB on other supported models or up to 14 GB on certain newer high-memory models | Freeing storage does not make the hardware eligible |
| Language | Device and Siri languages match one of Apple’s supported languages | Changing language cannot overcome an unsupported model |
| Region | Uses a supported language and region; travel generally does not disable the feature | Regional rules still apply, including Apple’s current China mainland conditions |
| Settings result | Apple Intelligence & Siri appears after the requirements are met | The control may remain absent because there is no software switch that can create compatibility |
What happens after you enable it?
Apple Intelligence combines local model files on the iPhone with features that can depend on Apple’s servers. The local files are why storage, Wi-Fi and power matter during setup. They also explain why a software update can make the feature available before the phone has finished downloading every model.
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Some server-side capabilities have daily usage limits. Apple identifies Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground and certain Shortcuts models among the features whose limits can vary by feature and demand. These limits affect how often a feature can be used; they are separate from the hardware compatibility test and do not turn an eligible phone into an ineligible one.
Availability can also differ by language, region and software release. Seeing one Apple Intelligence control does not guarantee that every feature is offered in every language or country.
If your current phone is unsupported
There is no setting that upgrades an unsupported model to Apple Intelligence compatibility. If the About screen identifies a standard iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus or another excluded model, the practical hardware path is moving to a supported generation, such as an iPhone 16 model or later. Before buying, verify the exact model, the iOS version it can run, the storage you will have available and the language and region you plan to use.
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