If your iPhone feels noticeably fuller since updating to iOS 27, you are not imagining it. Owners are reporting that Apple Intelligence is holding between 9GB and 16GB of storage for its on-device AI models — and iOS 27 offers no switch to delete them, even if you turn the features off.
There is, however, a workaround that shrinks the footprint to almost nothing. It comes with a real trade-off, so here is what is happening, what Apple’s own numbers say, and how to decide whether the trick is worth it.
Key Takeaways
- Users report Apple Intelligence models occupying 9GB to 16GB after the iOS 27 update, per GSMArena’s testing and owner reports.
- Apple’s own requirements page lists up to 14GB for the iPhone Duo, iPhone 17 Pro models and iPhone Air, and up to 8GB for other supported iPhones — some owner reports go past even those ceilings.
- Turning Apple Intelligence or Siri off does not free the space, and iOS 27 has no setting that deletes the model files.
- Changing Siri’s language to an unsupported English variant (Canadian, Irish, South African or New Zealand English) reportedly cuts the footprint to about 100MB — but you lose Apple Intelligence and the new Siri while it is set that way.
- Owners of 128GB iPhones feel it most: on some iPhone 16 units, iOS plus Apple Intelligence together take roughly 30% of total storage.
Why Your Storage Disappeared
Apple Intelligence runs largely on-device, which means its AI models live on your phone. After the iOS 27 update, those models download and expand automatically — owners say the files arrived without any opt-in prompt, and storage checks show them sitting under system data.
Apple’s requirements page (published October 22) frames the numbers as ceilings — “up to” 14GB on its newest models and “up to” 8GB elsewhere — and notes that usage can run higher temporarily while new models download and old ones are removed. Even so, multiple owners report figures above the stated ceilings, including around 16GB on some devices. Apple has not commented on the reports.
The frustrating part: this happens even where Apple Intelligence is not available. GSMArena found the storage taken on EU office iPhones too, in a region where parts of the feature set are restricted. Disabling Apple Intelligence, or Siri altogether, does not hand the gigabytes back.
The Workaround: Change Siri’s Language
The trick works because of how Apple gates the models: Apple Intelligence and the new Siri only operate when the device and Siri languages match a supported option — in practice, US or UK English. Point Siri at an English variant Apple Intelligence does not use, and iOS purges the model files.
Steps, as tested by GSMArena:
- Open Settings → Siri (label may read Apple Intelligence & Siri).
- Tap Language.
- Choose English (Canada), English (Ireland), English (South Africa) or English (New Zealand).
- Give the phone a little time, then check Settings → General → iPhone Storage — the Apple Intelligence footprint reportedly drops to around 100MB.
What You Give Up
This is a trade, not a free fix. While Siri is set to an unsupported variant:
- Apple Intelligence features stop working — no writing tools, summaries, Genmoji or AI photo features.
- The new Siri experience is unavailable; you are back to a basic assistant in that language variant.
- Switching back to US or UK English later will re-download the models, and the storage goes with them.
So the workaround suits people who do not use the AI features and need the space — especially on 128GB phones. If you use Apple Intelligence daily, the honest options are to live with the footprint or clear space elsewhere.
The Bottom Line
iOS 27’s AI comes with a storage bill Apple never put on the invoice: up to 14GB by Apple’s own numbers, more in some real-world reports, and no delete button. The Siri language workaround genuinely reclaims the space, but it switches the AI off to do it. Watch December’s iOS 27.3 — a proper “remove models” option, or a smaller footprint for 128GB phones, is the fix Apple actually owes here.
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FAQs
How much storage does Apple Intelligence use on iOS 27?
Apple’s requirements page says up to 14GB on the iPhone Duo, iPhone 17 Pro models and iPhone Air, and up to 8GB on other supported iPhones. Owner reports range from about 9GB to 16GB — in some cases above Apple’s stated ceilings.
Can I delete Apple Intelligence to free up space?
Not through any iOS 27 setting. Turning Apple Intelligence or Siri off does not remove the model files. The working method reported so far is changing Siri’s language to an unsupported English variant, which shrinks the footprint to roughly 100MB.
What happens if I change Siri’s language to free the space?
Apple Intelligence and the new Siri stop working while an unsupported language variant is selected, because the features require US or UK English. Changing back re-downloads the models — and uses the storage again.
Which iPhones are hit hardest?
128GB models. On some iPhone 16 units, iOS and Apple Intelligence together occupy around 30% of total storage, leaving much less room for photos, videos and apps.
