How to Use Apple Intelligence on Your iPhone

Apple Intelligence is Apple's built-in AI that helps you write, summarize, and find things — here's how to turn it on and try it out.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Check if your iPhone supports Apple Intelligence
2.Turn on Apple Intelligence
3.Try summarizing a long email
4.Use Writing Tools to improve a message
5.Search your photos with words

Check if your iPhone supports Apple Intelligence

~28s

Apple Intelligence requires an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model. It also works on iPad with an M1 chip or newer. To check your model, go to SettingsGeneralAbout and look at the "Model Name" line. If you have one of those models, you're good to go.

Quick Tip

If your iPhone is older than iPhone 15 Pro, Apple Intelligence is not available on your device. The iPhone 16 series is the first where all models support it.

Turn on Apple Intelligence

~26s

Go to Settings and scroll down to tap "Apple Intelligence & Siri." If you see a button that says "Turn On Apple Intelligence," tap it and follow the prompts. The setup may take a few minutes the first time as your iPhone downloads the AI models. Make sure you're connected to WiFi during setup.

Quick Tip

If you see a "Join Waitlist" button instead, Apple is still rolling out the feature in your region. Check back after the next iOS update.

Try summarizing a long email

~25s

Open the Mail app and find a long email — anything more than a few paragraphs works well. At the top of the email, look for a small "Summary" button or banner. Tap it and Apple Intelligence will give you a short plain-English summary of what the email says. This is a great first feature to try.

Quick Tip

Summaries work best on conversational emails and newsletters. They may not work on emails that are mostly images or attachments.

Use Writing Tools to improve a message

~24s

In any text field — Messages, Mail, or Notes — type something, then select your text by pressing and holding on it. In the menu that pops up, look for "Writing Tools" (you may need to tap the arrow to see more options). Tap it to see choices like "Proofread," "Rewrite," or "Make Friendly." Apple Intelligence will rewrite your text and show you the new version before you accept it.

Search your photos with words

~24s

Open the Photos app and tap the search bar at the bottom. Instead of typing a person's name, try describing a moment: "beach vacation," "birthday cake," or "red car." Apple Intelligence uses on-device AI to understand what's in your photos and find matching pictures — even if you never added a label or keyword.

Quick Tip

This feature keeps all your photos private — Apple Intelligence processes your photos on your iPhone, not on Apple's servers.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Use Apple Intelligence on Your iPhone

Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

Apple Intelligence is Apple's built-in AI assistant that can summarize emails, rewrite your messages, find old photos by describing them, and help with writing. It's free, already on your iPhone, and you don't need to download anything extra. It works on iPhone 15 Pro and newer, and on iPhone 15 and older models running iOS 18 or later with enough memory.

Rate this guide

How helpful was this guide?

apple intelligence

iphone

siri

ios 18