Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Apple Intelligence uses local storage for on-device models, and Apple says those models are removed when you turn Apple Intelligence off. Apple’s current macOS 27 guidance lists maximum storage requirements of up to 14 GB for certain newer Macs and up to 8 GB for other supported Macs. Those are not measurements of what your particular Mac is using or how much space you will recover.
How much storage can Apple Intelligence use?
Apple’s macOS 27 support guidance, published in 2026, says Apple Intelligence requires up to 14 GB on certain newer Macs with an M3 or later chip and at least 12 GB of unified memory. For other supported Macs, Apple lists up to 8 GB. These are maximum requirements, not a guarantee that every eligible Mac has downloaded or is currently using that amount. Your actual storage change depends on your Mac, so check its storage before and after changing the setting. Apple’s current device and storage requirements
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Apple’s earlier macOS 26.1-era guidance listed 7 GB. That figure is historical and version-specific; it should not be treated as the current universal estimate. Apple’s current requirements supersede that older figure for current guidance.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsTurn off Apple Intelligence on your Mac
- Open System Settings.
- Select Apple Intelligence & Siri.
- Turn off Apple Intelligence, confirming if prompted.
Apple’s Mac user guide documents this settings path. The exact control label or setup flow may vary by macOS version and whether Apple Intelligence has already been set up. Apple says turning the feature off removes its on-device models. Apple’s Mac user guide · Apple Support: Apple Intelligence setup and model removal
#1 Best Overall
- MADE FOR THE MAKERS: Create; Explore; Store; The T7 Portable SSD delivers fast speeds and durable features to back up any endeavor; Build your video editing empire, file your photographs or back up your blogs all in an instant
- SHARE IDEAS IN A FLASH: Don’t waste a second waiting and spend more time doing; The T7 is embedded with PCIe NVMe technology that brings fast read and write speeds up to 1,050/1,000 MB/s¹, making it almost twice as fast as the T5
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Afterward, open your Mac’s storage view to see what changed on that device. Apple’s published maximum requirements do not establish how much space an individual Mac will reclaim.
Want to keep some Apple Intelligence features?
You can leave Apple Intelligence on and disable selected experiences instead. Apple documents individual controls for features such as message, email, and notification summaries. These are feature-level choices; turning off a summary does not mean all on-device models are removed. Apple specifically ties model removal to turning Apple Intelligence off. Apple’s Mac guide to turning off or restricting features
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- Get NVMe solid state performance with up to 1050MB/s read and 1000MB/s write speeds in a portable, high-capacity drive(1) (Based on internal testing; performance may be lower depending on host device & other factors. 1MB=1,000,000 bytes.)
- Up to 3-meter drop protection and IP65 water and dust resistance mean this tough drive can take a beating(3) (Previously rated for 2-meter drop protection and IP55 rating. Now qualified for the higher, stated specs.)
- Use the handy carabiner loop to secure it to your belt loop or backpack for extra peace of mind.
- Help keep private content private with the included password protection featuring 256‐bit AES hardware encryption.(3)
- Easily manage files and automatically free up space with the SanDisk Memory Zone app.(5). Non-Operating Temperature -20°C to 85°C
- Turn Apple Intelligence off: choose this if you want the on-device models removed and do not want Apple Intelligence functionality.
- Disable selected features: choose this if you want to keep other Apple Intelligence experiences available.
Which Macs support Apple Intelligence?
Apple’s current support information says Mac support starts with M1 models, but eligibility also depends on the operating system and device requirements. Check Apple’s current requirements for your specific Mac before looking for the setting. Apple’s current Apple Intelligence requirements
Quick Recap
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- Capacity Display Variance: 250GB external ssd often appears as around 232GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 250 GB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
- 1050 MB/s Speed: Instantly access to your files with blazing-fast 10Gbps external SSD read up to 1050MB/s and write up to 1000MB/s. LED Light indicates USB SSD instant activity
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- NONSTOP SPEED: Race through projects with our fastest SSD for creators; Load, edit and transfer with sustained read and write speeds of up to 2,000MB/s1; The T9 Portable SSD performs at high speeds even during longer processes
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- Capacity Display Variance: 500GB external ssd often appears as around 465GB on Windows. MacOS can show full 500 GB capacity. This is binary calculation difference and doesn’t affect SSD hard drive actual physical storage
- 1050 MB/s Speed: Instantly access to your files with blazing-fast 10Gbps external SSD read up to 1050MB/s and write up to 1000MB/s. LED Light indicates USB SSD instant activity
- Data Security: Solid state drives S.M.A.R.T. health diagnostics and adaptive TRIM optimizing data block management ensures consistent write speeds and extends the longevity of the portable SSD
- USB-C & USB-A Cable: Both cables featuring rapid USB 3.2 Gen2, this USB SSD effortlessly bridges devices, enabling seamless cross-platform file transfers and backup between computers, smartphones, tablets and iPhone
- Always Fast: No slowdowns for large file transfers. With SLC caching (25% of current available capacity allocated as high-speed cache), this external SSD delivers steady 10Gbps for transfers within the cache capacity
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